Born on this day!! Actor Michael Learned (“The Waltons”) is 82. Country singer Margo Smith is 79. Actor Dennis Quaid is 67. Keyboardist Dave Innis of Restless Heart is 62. Talk show host Joe Scarborough (“Morning Joe”) is 58. Actor Mark Pellegrino (“Dexter”) is 56. Actor-model Paulina Porizkova is 56. Actor Cynthia Nixon (“Sex and the City”) is 55. Singer Kevin Martin of Candlebox is 52. TV personality Sunny Anderson (“The Kitchen”) is 46. Singer Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance is 44. Actor Keshia Knight Pulliam (“The Cosby Show”) is 42. Guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes is 41. Actor Charlie Hunnam (“Sons of Anarchy”) is 41. Actor Jay Baruchel (“Knocked Up,” ″Tropic Thunder”) is 39. Actor Annie Funke (“Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders”) is 36. Actor Jordan Masterson (“Last Man Standing”) is 35. Actor Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”) is 35. Singer-actor Jesse McCartney (“Summerland”) is 34. Singer Jazmine Sullivan is 34. Actor Kristen Stewart (“Twilight”) is 31. Actor Elle Fanning (“Because of Winn-Dixie”) is 23. Musician Lil Nas X is 22. Actor Isaac Hempstead Wright (“Game of Thrones”) is 22. Singer Jackie Evancho is 21.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1731 – Robert Jenkins’s ear was cut off, sparking the War of Jenkins?s Ear between Spain and England.
1865 – Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House.
1914 – The first full-color film, The World, The Flesh and the Devil, was shown in London.
1939 – Contralto Marian Anderson, after being denied performing at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., gave a concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
1942 – American and Philippine troops on Bataan were overwhelmed by Japanese forces during World War II. The “Bataan Death March” began soon after.
1959 – NASA announced the selection of America’s first astronauts, including Alan Shepard and John Glenn.
1963 – Winston Churchill became the first honorary U.S. citizen.
1992 – Former Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega was convicted of drug and racketeering charges.
2003 – American Marines pulled down Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad after U.S. commanders declared his rule ended.
2005 – Britain’s Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles.
Today Is: Appomattox Day, Jenkins Ear Day, Jumbo Day, National Cherish An Antique Day, National Dive Bar Day, National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, National Unicorn Day, Winston Churchill Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – McGyver / 9:00 – Magnum P.I. / 10:00 – Blue Bloods
NBC – 8:00 – Blacklist / 9:00 – Dateline NBC
ABC – 8:00 – Shark Tank / 9:00 – 2020
FOX – 8:00 – Friday Night Smackdown
CW – 8:00 – Whose Line / 8:30 – Whose Line / 9:00 – Penn and Teller Fool Us
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Kimmel: Jamie Foxx, Lauren Graham, AJR (R 3/31/21)
Seth Meyers: Ken Jeong, Eddie Izzard, Griff, Ash Soan (R 3/22/21)
James Corden: Mila Kunis, Robin Thicke (R 2/11/21)
Lilly Singh: Melinda Gates (R 3/26/21)
The View: Day of Hot Topics
The Talk: Ralph Macchio (R 1/11/21)
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Topher Grace, Marissa Mullen
Ellen DeGeneres: Susan Kelechi Watson, guest host tWitch
Wendy Williams: Liza Morales, Ed McFarland (R 3/17/21)
The Real: Guest co-host Ryan Michelle Bathe
Kelly Clarkson: Kevin James, Alyson Hannigan, Al Roker, Faouzia, John Legend (R 2/23/21)
Tamron Hall: Suze Orman (R 10/14/20)
Drew Barrymore: Bobby Flay, Lily-Rose Depp, Becky Wright & Kelsey MacDermaid
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: He’s planning a trip to MARS, but what is Elon Musk doing in his SPARE TIME?? One of his execs says he might construct a real JURASSIC PARK!!
QUESTION: Is she Gwyneth Paltrow’s PERFECT CUSTOMER? This 25-year-old didn’t know she has TWO VAGINAS.. until he doctor noticed as she GAVE BIRTH!! WTF??
QUESTION: Is she “back in black??” Canceled “Bachelor” contestant Rachael Kirkconnell has been seen coming and going from Matt Adams apartment!! Hmm..
QUESTION: Ewww?? Home inspector is caught on camera pleasuring himself with an “Elmo” doll in the nursery! He denied it until they showed him the VIDEO!!!!
QUESTION: Now that Caitlyn is ready to take care of Cali, who can we run for PREZ?? A new poll says THE ROCK already has 46% of all voters on his side!! Let’s DO IT!!
Tiger Woods Comments On Crash Investigation
Tiger Woods has released a statement following the conclusion of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office investigation into his February car crash — but he didn’t mention that he was found to have been speeding nearly 40 miles over the speed limit at the time. “In the last few days, I received words from the Los Angeles County She riff’s Department that their investigation regarding my traffic accident back on February 23rd in Los Angeles has been completed and closed,” Woods said in a statement shared on Twitter Wednesday. “I am so grateful to both of the good Samaritans who came to assist me and called 911,” he continued, also sharing his gratefulness to the first responders who helped him and took him to the hospital. “I will continue to focus on my recovery and family, and thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouragement I’ve received throughout this very difficult time,” he concluded. Earlier on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said that speed was the primary cause of Woods’ single-car rollover crash. Woods needed surgery after the accident and returned home in mid-March. Villanueva said Woods was driving between 84 and 87 mph in a 45-mph zone at the time of the crash in Rancho Palos Verdes. Woods’ car struck a sign in the center divider, sheared through a tree and landed in the brush alongside the road. His vehicle struck the tree at 75 mph.
********They concluded that nothing was amiss.. because he’s famous!!!
******In L.A., famous people are authorized to set their own speed limits!!!
******Early reports said he must have been asleep or passed out, because there was no sign of braking!!! But… whatever!!!
******It was Tiger’s worst drive ever!!!!
Jack Hanna Suffering From Dementia
Famed wildlife advocate and television personality Jack Hanna has been diagnosed with dementia and will no longer make public appearances, his family said. In a statement on Wednesday, his three children Kathaleen, Suzanne and Julie Hanna said doctors believe he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and his condition has degraded much faster than anticipated over the past few months. “Sadly, dad is no longer able to participate in public life as he used to, where people all over the world watched, learned and laughed alongside him,” his children said. “While dad’s health has deteriorated quickly, we can assure you that his great sense of humor continues to shine through. And yes — he still wears his khakis at home.” Along with being a mainstay of television talk shows, Hanna was also the director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo until he retired last year.
***********They knew he was in trouble when he looked at a Bengal tiger and said, “What’s this moose doin’ in here??”
*******Pretty sad when someone has a life worth remembering… and they can’t remember it!!!
LeVar Burton Wants To Host Jeopardy!
“Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton has once again joined the chorus calling for him to guest-host “Jeopardy!” Since the tragic death of host Alex Trebek, the game show has seen a slew of special guest emcees, including Katie Couric, Mayim Bialik, Aaron Rodgers and more. For some time now, fans have been calling for Burton, 64, to be given a shot on the show. A petition began circulating online after Trebek’s death, calling Burton to get a chance. On Monday he shared the petition on Twitter, hoping to rack up a few more signatures. “Leaving this here in the event the powers that be are listening…” he wrote in the tweet. The online message has so far received over 42,000 likes and well over 10,000 retweets. “Between hosting 21 seasons of the educational Reading Rainbow, playing the brainiac engineer Geordi La Forge on Star Trek: the Next Generation, and filling the roll of Kunta Kinte in the ever important mini-series Roots, LeVar Burton has inspired and shaped the minds of several generations of trivia-loving nerds. This petition is to show Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. and producers Mike Richards and Harry Friedman just how much love the public has for Burton, and how much we’d all love to see him as the next host of Jeopardy!” the petition reads. So far, the petition has received 181,884 signatures with a goal of reaching 200,000.
*********We gotta believe he’s got a better shot than Dr. Oz!!!
*******It’s 2021!! The black dude should get the gig!!
*****Right now he’s in hiding, so Katie Couric doesn’t scratch his eyes out!!!!
The Queen Is Opening Up The Palace Gardens
Queen Elizabeth II is opening her gardens to the public. It was announced that the Buckingham Palace gardens will welcome members of the public from July to September this year. Guests will be allowed to do a “self-guided garden tour for the first time,” according to a statement from the Royal Collection Trust. “Visitors will be free to explore a route through the garden that encompasses the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, plane trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the 3.5-acre lake,” the statement added. It continued: “The unique opportunity to enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns will be part of the visit. Features in the south-west of the garden, including the Rose Garden, summer house and wildflower meadow, can be viewed through one of the guided tours that will run each day.” Special guided tours will take place on weekends in April and May to teach visitors about the history behind the garden.
*********She’d like to plant Meghan face down, and use her butt for a bike rack!!!
*******Charles will be there to explain how he lives like a vegetable!!!
*******Once a day, Prince Phillip will pop up out of a pile of leaves to scare the kids!!!
Dr. Oz Not A Ratings Winner
“Jeopardy!” ratings have slipped for yet another week — 2% more under Dr. Oz’s stint as guest host. It was reported in late March that ratings had fallen 5% under Katie Couric’s second week at the helm, placing the show below “Family Feud” in household syndication ratings. Now, as the game show rolls into its second week with Dr. Mehmet Oz at the podium, its score has fallen to 5.2 on the ratings scale, compared to “Family Feud,” which is now at 5.4 for the week ending March 28. (Granted, CBS’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has hampered the syndication across the board.) This is the lowest “Jeopardy!” ratings have fallen since January, according to the Wrap, just before Alex Trebek’s final episodes — taped before his death in November 2020. Ratings during those last few weeks reflected some of the highest the show sees in a season at 6.6. His final episode on January 8 garnered 14 millions viewers — their largest audience in over a year.
********OK, let’s keep it real: a 5.2 rating is pretty damned good!!
******Do they really expect guest hosts to get the same numbers that Alex got on his death bed???
******We’ll take “Unfair Comparisons” for $1000!!
*****This sounds like something your program director would bring up!!!
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
Bella Bawls For Joy: Engaged to Benjamin!-(National Enquirer)
Former child star Bella Thorne, 23, is all grown up now that she’s engaged to 27-year-old Italian singer Benjamin Mascolo! The actress cried for joy while showing off her diamond ring on social media. “Yayyy we’re getting married. Celebration in Italy and America both,” posted Benjamin. Bella responded: “Yessss. I love you so much.”
Rihanna and Tom Wheel Real Deals-(National Enquirer)
It’s a high note for Rihanna! The “Diamonds” singer, 33, plunked down a cool $13.8 million for a new Beverly Hills mountaintop mansion that’s literally surrounded by noteworthy neighbors like Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey and Madonna, who live in the same exclusive star-studded cul-de-sac! The hitmaker’s five-bedroom, seven-bath abode boasts 7,600 square feet of luxe living space and sits on a half acre of La La Land……Speaking of pricey mountain highs, Tom Cruise is on a mission to unload his Rocky Mountain getaway for a staggering $39.5 million! He reportedly contemplated selling his 320-acre Telluride, Colo., ranch in 2014 for a whopping $59 million, but changed his mind and held onto the ritzy retreat.
Life On the Wild West-(Us Weekly)
Kim Kardashian might be getting the California home in her divorce from Kanye West, but the rapper, 43, is content living on his sprawling ranch in Cody, Wyo. The 9,000-acre property, purchased by West in 2019 for $14 million, includes eight parcels of land that each hold a luxury cabin, as well as a restaurant, meeting rooms and a saloon. The idyllic compound is where West “sees his life.”
More Celebs Down Under-(Star)
Melissa McCarthy
“Oh, the birds!” the 50-year-old, who traveled to Australia to shoot Nine Perfect Strangers but stayed for other projects, gushed of the wildlife. “I love that I’ve seen a spider the size of my head.” Ouch! On March 17 she revealed a huntsman spider had given her a nasty bite!
Throwback! Nicole Kidman-(Life & Style)
Although she’s appeared in countless TV shows and films, Nicole was incredibly introverted as a young child. “I had a stutter, which I slowly got over, but I still regress into that shyness,” the award-winning actress admits. “I don’t like going to a party by myself.”
Babies-(People)
Frankie Muniz, 35, and his wife Paige, welcomed their first child together, son Mauz Mosley. “I didn’t know it was possible to love anything as much as I love him,” Muniz says.
Prince Carl Philip, 41, and Princess Sofia, 36, of Sweden welcomed their third child, Prince Julian, the seventh in line to the Swedish throne. He joins older brothers Prince Alexander, 4, and Prince Gabriel, 3.
Last Laughs-(In Touch)
“There’s a new invention: tattoos that intentionally fade in nine to 15 months. I wish they‘d had this option before Ben Affleck and I got our matching back tattoos.”-James Cordin.
“Kanye West is now worth $6.6 billion. I hope this doesn’t go to his head.”-James Corden.
“There’s a new hotel in China built around a polar bear enclosure. It’s perfect for anyone who’s thought, ‘I like the zoo, but I wish I could see the animals sad at night.’”-Stephen Colbert.
“Angelina Jolie is really going for [Brad Pitt’s] throat! I guess it’s true what they say: Hell hath no fury like a woman whose ex-husband took a 27-year-old model to their chateau in France.”-DListed’s Kristian.
STUPID NEWS
Superman Comic Sells Big
A 1938 comic book featuring the first appearance of Superman sold for a record-breaking $3.25 million in an auction. Online auction house ComicConnect.com said Action Comics #1, which bore a price of only 10 cents when it was released in 1938, fetched a high bid of $3.25 million, setting a new record for the highest price paid for a comic book. The auction house said the seller had purchased the comic three years ago for a sum that was $1 million less than what it sold for in the auction. Vincent Zurzolo, co-owner of ComicConnect, said in a news release that the comic is in “near-pristine condition,” making it an especially rare find for collectors.
********If you were ten in 1938, and bought that comic book, you’d be over 90 now.. and you wouldn’t care that much!!
*******Batman’s a little jealous!! When his first edition comes up, he’ll bid the price up himself!!
*******Of course, 10 cents in 1938 is the equivalent of $3.25 million today!!!
iPhone Still Works After Found In Lake
A Taiwanese man who dropped his iPhone into a lake while paddleboarding said the phone was recovered when a drought caused the water to recede a year later — and it still works. The phone’s owner, a man with the surname Chen, posted in the Bao Fei 1 Commune group on Facebook that he dropped his iPhone 11 Pro Max into Sun Moon Lake while he was paddleboarding on March 15, 2020. Chen said the phone was in a waterproof case that he was wearing around his neck when the chain came loose and it plunged into the water. The man said he was contacted last weekend by locals who said the phone was found when a drought caused the lake’s waters to recede further than they have for over 50 years. Chen said the waterproof case functioned properly and the phone still functions perfectly. A Canadian teenager was recently reunited with his iPhone under similar circumstances eight months after he lost it while white-water rafting.
*******Of course that waterproof case worked!!! It was made in China!!!
******The first thing that flashed on the screen was, “Where have you been?? I’ve been stationary for a over a year!!!”
******There were a lot of pictures of naked fish!!!!
Man Runs From Disney To Disney!
A Texas man has become the first person to run from Disneyland in California to Walt Disney World in Florida, a journey of about 2,761 miles. Don Muchow said he began his run on Feb. 1, 2020, and had planned to complete the run in about 90 days, but the coronavirus pandemic led to some unexpected delays. He said the run still took about 90 days, but those days were spread out over the course of 14 months for safety reasons. Muchow, whose run was aimed at raising awareness of Type 1 diabetes, arrived at Disney World on Monday. “I never considered quitting even once,” Muchow told the Orange County Register. “COVID didn’t change my mission: I want every single person with Type 1 diabetes to see that we can still dream big, despite the very real 24/7 challenges and risks involved in balancing insulin, blood glucose, food and activity.” The runner said his original plan had been to run from the Pacific Ocean to Florida’s Space Coast with only a brief stop at Disneyland toward the beginning of his journey, but a conversation with a friend inspired him to change his plans and visit both Disney parks.
*****They told him, “You’re still not getting a discount on tickets!!!!”
*******The good news: Cinderella thinks he’s hot!!!
*****Now go back and do it barefooted!!!
Longest Fingernails Cut
The holder of the Guinness World Record for longest fingernails on a pair of hands broke her own record one last time before cutting her nails for the first time in nearly 30 years. Ayanna Williams of Texas first held the record in 2017, when her fingernails were measured at a total 226.9 inches, and they were measured again before being cut and the new record stands at 288.8 inches. Williams’ nails will now go on display at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando Odditorium in Florida. “It’s going to feel like it’s a wax [sculpture] of myself. Even though it’s just my nails, it’s going to be awesome. I can’t wait to see that,” Williams told Guinness. “Guinness World Records and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! are really on it. I’d rather for them to have them than anyone else. And one thing, it’s history for my kids and my grandkids. It’s very exciting.” See the video HERE.
********Now that she’s famous for her incredibly long nails, will she still work at the DMV???
******When she gets her claws into you, you really know it!!
*****She buys her nail polish from Sherwin Williams!!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: GUY MAKES A MACHINE THAT CAN MAKE A SANDWHICH.
VIDEO: PLANE DRAWS A SMILEY FACE!
A LIST FOR FRIDAY
How To Talk To Someone You Find Intimidating
Huffington Post
First, change the tone of your inner dialogue.
Self-talk is the way we speak to ourselves. For many of us, it’s that negative inner voice that’s always telling us we’re boring, unlikable, socially awkward and destined to screw up. Positive self-talk may not come naturally to everyone, but it’s something that can be cultivated with practice.
“People may rarely talk to themselves in a positive tone that is reassuring and supportive, yet it is pivotal in setting the mood and tone for your possibly intimidating social interaction,” said Kendra Witherspoon Kelly, a licensed professional counselor at the Resilience Project in Atlanta. “Say things that highlight your positive attributes or even the parts of you that are in progress of becoming better. Shine on yourself some!”
Some examples of positive self-talk might be: “I’m anxious about attending this work event, but I’m proud of myself for getting outside my comfort zone,” “I’ve never had a problem making friends in the past — so why would this be any different?” or “My small-talk skills are still a work in progress, but I ask great questions and I’m a good listener.”
Figure out the gist of what you want to say beforehand.
You won’t always be able to prepare for these conversations, as they sometimes happen on the fly. But when you can, it may help ease your nerves if you think about what you want to say ahead of time. You don’t need to write and memorize a whole script; coming up with a few bullet points should do the trick.
“The more ready you are before the interaction, the more confident you’ll be,” counselor Caris Thetford wrote in a post for The Muse. “This may not completely nix your nerves, but that’s OK — a touch of anxiety can help you perform under pressure. The idea is to reduce or prevent crippling fear.”
Remember that this person is human, too.
No matter how much status this other person has, they have physical and emotional needs just like you (and everyone else). To remind yourself of this commonality, try using the phrase “just like me,” said communication coach Jennifer Kammeyer, who teaches leadership communication at San Francisco State University.
“Say to yourself, this person eats breakfast, just like me. This person feels sad, just like me. It helps to shift your perspective of the person from ‘intimidating’ to ‘human,’” she said.
Know what value you add to the conversation.
Pinpoint your strengths: Maybe you’re a great storyteller, a creative problem-solver or have a wealth of knowledge on a particular subject.
“Before you engage, remind yourself why you are there,” Kammeyer said. “Somebody else invited you to the meeting or the social engagement for a reason. Tell yourself why you were invited and how you are adding value.”
Let that thought empower you to be yourself in the conversation. Sure, you might turn the volume up or down on certain parts of your personality, depending on who you’re talking to and the setting. But whether you’re chatting with the head of your company or an attractive acquaintance at a barbecue, it’s still “you.”
“Communicating as our authentic selves allows us to be free in our conversations,” said Amelia Reigstad, a communication consultant and coach in Minneapolis. “Know yourself, how you react in situations and how you best communicate. To be an authentic communicator, give thought to actively listening, respecting yourself and others, taking responsibility for your own feelings, and know that showing emotions in conversations is OK.”
Be aware of your body language.
During the conversation, try to stay physically grounded in your body, as that can help you feel more mentally steady, too.
“Stand with your feet hip width apart or sit with your knees hip with apart and both feet on the ground,” Kammeyer said. “Don’t cross your legs or your arms. Focus on the feeling of your feet literally grounding you. Focus on your posture being upright with a strong belly and back. Grounding yourself physically helps with confidence.”
Dive into the interaction before you psych yourself out.
“The longer you linger and avoid getting engaged in the conversation, the more stuck in your fears you will remain,” Weinberg said.
Then take a deep breath and tune into the here and now — focus on the sound of the other person’s voice, the color of their eyes or the texture of your clothes. That way, you’ll be more present in the conversation and less preoccupied with how you’re coming across.
“Obviously, this is hard to control, but try to bring yourself to the present moment, notice that your attention is creeping inward to your own fears and discomfort, and remind yourself to listen,” Weinberg said. “Get yourself out of your head and physical sensations by turning your attention to the present, grounding yourself through your senses.”
Embrace the discomfort.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re in an anxiety-inducing social situation is trying to force their way out of those uncomfortable feelings, Weinberg said. But it’s a paradox: The more mental energy you exert trying not to feel anxious or intimidated, the more anxious or intimidated you end up feeling.
“The more you try to get rid of it, the more intense and distracting your anxiety will become,” Weinberg said. “Practicing acceptance and allowing the presence of anxiety is a much more adaptive strategy. Even though it can understandably be uncomfortable to practice, it can teach you that anxiety is tolerable.”
The preceding material was compiled and edited by Brandon Castillo. The Editor-In-Chief is Gary Bryan. The Radio Genius Show Prep Service is licensed for use on-air only by subscribing radio stations. Other means of redistribution is forbidden.
© 2020 – Radio Genius Show Prep