TUESDAY, Dec 24 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, December 24, 2024
(Print button is at bottom of post. To print with larger type, cut and paste content into a document, and print that document.)

NOTE: MORNING SIDEKICK will be off Wednesday, December 25 through Wednesday, January 1 for our annual Christmas holiday. For those of you on the air during this period, we will be posting our BEST OF 2024 collection of wacky news stories so you can treat your listeners to a review of the best morning show news items and features of the year. The link will be on our website prep page. We will be posting and emailing occasional stories during the break, and we will return with daily prep for Thursday, January 3rd, 2025.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, and thanks for making us your MORNING SIDEKICK!

COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: THE TUESDAY CLUSTERFLICKS

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.)

LAST MINUTE SHOPPER’S DAY

NATIONAL EGG NOG DAY
The Days of the Year website says this:
“Egg nog is a rich, chilled, creamy, and sweetened dairy drink traditionally created with milk and/or cream, sugar, whipped eggs which helps it gain it’s frothy texture, and sometimes mixed spirits. The origins of egg nog are highly debated as are the original ingredients used for it. The Oxford English Dictionary claims that nog was “a kind of strong beer brewed somewhere in East Anglia.” Egg nog may have developed from posset, a Medieval European beverage made with hot milk that curdled up when mixed with wine or ale and was then flavored with spices.”

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

WE SPEND FIVE DAYS A YEAR SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING TO WATCH ON TV

A new survey of 2,000 Americans, commissioned by UserTesting, finds that, despite having more TV content than ever before, viewers are struggling to find something worth watching. The average person now spends a staggering 110 hours per year — nearly five full days — simply scrolling through streaming platforms in search of something to watch.
Some other figures from the survey:
– Researchers found that 48% of subscribers have already abandoned cable television.
– 51% admit feeling overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of suggested content.
– 26% feel there’s an overproduction of original content.
* How much time have I wasted watching 20 minutes of a new show only to turn it off going, “No way I’m watching 8 more hours of THAT.”
* Dear Streaming TV: Please stop these things immediately:
– Shows about hit men.
– Shows about serial killers. (* For that matter, why not a show about a serial killer who becomes a hit man to fulfill that need. Call me, Hollywood – we’ll talk.)
– Shows where, on the first episode, there’s a sex scene in a public bathroom three minutes in.
– Shows where, on the third episode, there’s a flashback to where everyone’s younger played by a different actor.
– Shows where, on the fourth episode, suddenly there are a whole bunch of new characters doing an entirely different plot, that will somehow relate to the old characters two episodes in the future.
– Shows “From the World of John Wick.”
– Shows that disappear for three years. If you can’t produce more than ten episodes a year, go work for British TV. This is America, pal, where we used to have 32 episodes a year.

THE BUZZ

HOW TO GET RID OF A ONE-NIGHT STAND

With Christmas week and New Year’s coming up, you never know what kind of romantic entanglement you might face. Reddit asked its readers, “What are some of the most polite ways to ask your one-night stand to leave?” Some of the responses:
– “I can’t remember, did you bring a coat?”
– “Put your shoes on.”
– “Start talking about your favorite Pokémon.”
– “I hit the gym in the morning at 4am. You want to come with me?”
– “There’s a restaurant down the street that makes a great breakfast. Here’s a twenty.”
– “Start watching anime on the TV.”
– “So what are you doing today?”
– “Slap your thighs and say, ‘Welp…'”
– “Politely ask her name and say, “(Name), you’ve got to go.”
– “Mom will be home soon.”
– “He woke me up at 6am by playing the tuba. He apologized, said he had to practice, then continued to play as I very hastily left.”
* PHONE TOPIC: Do you have a favorite way of asking a one-night stand to leave? (* You slut!) Or did somebody ever use a good line getting you to leave?

U.S. NEWS

SUSPECT ASKS IF HE CAN KEEP GAMBLING TO MAKE BAIL MONEY

A contractor in the state of Maine has been charged with felony theft after allegedly accepting thousands of dollars for a home renovation project he never completed. Bangor police located and arrested 45-year-old Jason Bryant at a casino earlier this month. When officers arrived to arrest Bryant, he was playing a slot machine and asked if he could keep gambling to earn bail money.
* I’m sure the casino would have been fine with it.
* What do you suppose the odds were that police let him stay and gamble?
* In gambling terms, this is doing it the hard way.
* Hiring a contractor is always a gamble anyway, and this proves it.
* Crooked contractors! This could be a whole new genre for HGTV!

OHIO FUNERAL HOME WANTS TO START SELLING BOOZE

An Ohio funeral home wants to open the state’s first bereavement center with booze. Evergreen Funeral Cremation and Reception in Columbus has applied for a liquor license to allow patrons to mix mourning with merriment. Hunter Triplett, the owner, says he wants to be “a party planner for the dead.” He thinks funerals should be more of a celebration of life, and what better way to do that than serving liquor. Mr.Triplett wants to save bereavers thousands by rolling the whole funeral experience — wake, service, burial, reception — into one convenient package. His funeral home has sprawling facilities and is located directly across the street from a cemetery. “It’s kind of like a one-stop shop for funeral service.” Alcohol at funeral homes has been on the rise in recent years. Several states allow it.
* Everybody ends up as stiff as the deceased.
* What would you rather have – an undertaker, or a FUN-dertaker?
* Everybody can get three burial shrouds to the wind.
* The hearse is going to need a designated driver.
* Instead of crème de cacao they can offer crèmation de cacao.

WANT TO WORK FOR GOOGLE? YOU NEED GOOGLEYNESS

Google has recently laid off 10 per cent of its managerial staff as part of an ongoing effort to improve efficiency and redefine its corporate culture, which they like to call ‘Googleyness.’ ‘Googleyness’ is a term used to describe the traits and qualities that make an individual a good fit for the company. CEO Sundar Pichai recently declared that ‘Googleyness’ means prioritizing the company’s goals, and being both “Bold and Responsible” in decision-making. It also includes qualities like staying resourceful and having fun while working, emphasizing teamwork and a sense of unity.
* When you join Google, Sundar stops by to welcome you and gives you a glass of Google Kool-Aid to drink.
* Can you wear waders at work? ‘Cause it sounds like the crap is pretty thick.
* Something tells me that around Google, after Sundar passes by a cluster of smiling workers, they all roll their eyes.
* So you’d better be Googley, or you’ll be earning diddly. You won’t be able to afford food at the Piggly Wiggly.
* If I understand correctly, if you want to be Googley, you have to be giggly. Or D.L. Hughley.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

THE PLOT TO VOODOO ZAMBIA’S PRESIDENT

Two men have been arrested for allegedly plotting to harm Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema using witchcraft. The two were allegedly hired by the younger brother of a fugitive Zambian lawmaker named Jay Banda. Banda is wanted for aggravated robbery. But back to the voodoo: The two suspects were found in possession of assorted charms, including a live chameleon, and are alleged to be practicing witchdoctors. Their mission, according to police, was “to use charms to harm President Hichilema.” The men face charges of practicing witchcraft, possession of charms and cruelty to animals.
* In a statement about the failed witchcraft, President Hichilema said, “Buck buck bu-cawk!”
* After everything going on in America, it’s nice to see a country with normal politics.
* What kind of charms were these? Pink hearts? Yellow moons? Orange stars? Green clovers?
* Now the two men are going to jail for a spell.

TRENDING

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S NEXT MOVIE: THE ODYSSEY

Academy award-winning director Christopher Nolan has announced his next movie. It’s called The Odyssey, based on the famous epic poem of Homer. (* No, the other Homer.) It follows Odysseus, a Greek hero who travels home after the Trojan War. It’s a sprawling adventure featuring mythical creatures, battles, and maybe aliens. They’ve even got a cast lined up: Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o. The film is scheduled for release in two years, summer of 2026.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

TOMORROW – Christmas
Dec. 31, Tuesday – New Year’s Eve
Jan. 1, Wednesday – New Year’s Day

BIRTHDAYS

Louis Tomlinson (singer with One Direction) … 33
Ryan Seacrest (producer, TV host, “American Idol”) … 50
Stephenie Meyer (author, The Twilight Saga) … 51
Ricky Martin (singer) … 53
Diedrich Bader (actor, “Veep”, “The Drew Carey Show”, animation voice actor) … 58
Mark Valley (actor, “Body of Proof,” “Harry’s Law,” “Human Target,” “Fringe,” “Boston Legal”) … 60
Mary Ramsey (singer with 10,000 Maniacs) … 61
Ian Burden (bassist-synthesizer player with Human League) … 67

Today’s Birthdays grade: The author behind the “Twilight” phenomenon, a respectable roster of actors, musicians and singers … and … Ryan Seacrest. People either love him or are sick of his face, so today’s grade is your call!

[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 don’t have to prove myself again. I know that if someone writes a book about music history, there’ll be a good chapter on me.”

(A) Vanilla Ice
(B) M.C. Hammer
(C) Ricky Martin

ANSWER: (C) Ricky Martin

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2002 – Laci Peterson was reported missing from her Modesto, CA home by her husband, Scott, who was later convicted of murdering her and their unborn son.
* Not-So-Merry Christmas everybody!

1968 – The Apollo 8 astronauts, orbiting the moon, read passages from the Old Testament Book of Genesis during a Christmas Eve TV broadcast.
* That was way back when we used to mix religion with Christmas.

1951 – Gian Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” the first opera written specifically for TV, was first broadcast by NBC.
* Americans were so happy with high-quality culture on TV, opera became the TV staple it is today.

1906 – Canadian physicist Reginald A. Fessenden became the first person to broadcast a music program over radio, from Brant Rock, Mass.
* He was immediately sued by the RIAA.

1865 – Several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private social club in Pulaski, Tenn., called the Ku Klux Klan.
* Wow. Talk about sore losers.

1814 The War of 1812 officially ended as the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Ghent in Belgium.
* Wouldn’t that make it “The War of 1812 Through 1814”?

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2003 – Jack White of The White Stripes turned himself in to Detroit police to face aggravated assault charges stemming from a bar room altercation in which he allegedly attacked Jason Stollsteimer of The Von Bondies. White was also fingerprinted and formally booked on the charges before he was released on bail.

1988 – Nirvana started recording their first album “Bleach” using a $600 loan from an old school friend.

1976 – The Eagles sixth album, “Hotel California,” spent the first of eight non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard chart.

1965 – Elvis Presley proposed to actress Priscilla Beaulieu.

1818 – Franz Gruber composed “Silent Night.”

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. 3 out of 5 people admit to doing THIS while Christmas shopping. What is it?
Forgeting where they parked

2. The average person spends two hours and 19 minutes doing THIS for Christmas. What is it?
Buying ingredients or food for Christmas dinner

3. Each year, the average woman spends 2.5 hours doing THIS, the average man, 3 hours. What is it?
Decorating for Christmas

(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