Born on this day!! Humorist Garrison Keillor is 78. Singer B.J. Thomas is 78. Actor John Glover (“Smallville”) is 76. Actor David Rasche (“Sledge Hammer!”) is 76. Country singer Rodney Crowell is 70. Actor Caroline Aaron (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) is 68. Actor Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”) is 65. Singer Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden is 62. Actor David Duchovny (“Californication,” ″The X-Files”) is 60. Actor Delane Matthews (“Dave’s World”) is 59. Actor Harold Perrineau (“Lost,” ″Oz”) is 57. Jazz pianist Marcus Roberts is 57. Country singer Raul Malo of The Mavericks is 55. Actor David Mann (“Madea” films) is 54. Actor Sydney Penny (“The Thorn Birds,” ″All My Children”) is 49. Actor Greg Serano (“Power”) is 48. Actor Charlize Theron is 45. Drummer Barry Kerch of Shinedown is 44. Actor Eric Johnson (“Fifty Shades Darker,” ″Smallville”) is 41. Actor Liam James (TV’s “Psych,” film’s “The Way, Way Back”) is 24.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1789 – Congress established the U.S. War Department.
1947 – The wooden raft Kon-Tiki, which carried Thor Heyerdahl and five companions more than 4,000 miles, crashed into a reef in the Pacific.
1959 – The United States launched Explorer 6, which sent back a picture of Earth.
1964 – Congress passed the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which expanded President Johnson’s use of military powers in the Vietnam War.
1987 – Lynne Cox becomes the first person to swim from the United States to the Soviet Union, making the 2.7 mile trip through the frigid waters of the Bering Strait. Cox is surprised by the (relatively) warm welcome she receives from the Soviets.
1998 – U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed, by terrorists. Some 224 were killed and more than 5,500 injured.
2000 – Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Conn., was selected by Al Gore to be the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket.
2007 – Barry Bonds passes Hank Aaron on baseball’s all-time homerun list. The record, however, is discredited by many because of Bond’s alleged steroid use.
Today Is: Braham Pie Day or Homemade Pie Day, Brother’s Day, International Beer Day, Lighthouse Day, National Water Balloon Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day, Professional Speakers Day, Purple Heart Day, Tomboy Tools Day, Twins Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – Greatest At Home Videos / 9:00 – Magnum PI / 10:00 – Blue Bloods
NBC – 8:00 – The Blacklist / 9:00 – The Wall / 10:00 – Dateline NBC
ABC – 8:00 – Shark Tank / 9:00 – 2020
FOX – 8:00 – Friday Night Smackdown
CW – 8:00 – Masters Of Illusion / 8:30 – Masters Of Illusion / 9:00 – Being Reuben / 9:30 – Being Reuben
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Kimmel: Russell Wilson, Billy Strings, guest host Joel McHale (R 7/20/20)
Stephen Colbert: James Corden, Bright Eyes, Laura Benanti (R 6/22/20)
James Corden: Josh Gad, Anuel (R 6/15/20)
Lilly Singh: Tony Shalhoub, Ne-Yo (R 12/9/19)
The View: Mark Cuban (R 7/1/20)
The Talk: Regina King (R 10/18/19)
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Common, guest co-host Elaine Welteroth
Ellen DeGeneres: Julie Bowen (R 2/5/20)
Wendy Williams: Lena Waithe (R 11/20/19)
The Real: Tokyo Toni, Kim Fields, guest co-host Eva Marcille (R 11/8/19)
Kelly Clarkson: Simon Cowell, Sofía Vergara, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel, Terry Crews, Kate the Chemist (R 6/26/20)
Tamron Hall: Dennis Quaid, Jacques Torres, Holly Robinson Peete (R 4/24/20)
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: How WOKE is Oregon?? They’ve banned “Kindergarten Cop,” because it “glorifies policing in schools!!” (Maybe THEY have a tumor!!!!!!!!!)
QUESTION: Worst bank robber EVER??? He broke into a bank before it opened, and walked out with… HAND SANITIZER!!! (That’s right.. just hand sanitizer!)
QUESTION: Is it time to PANIC?? Now they’re talking about CANCELING HALLOWEEN due to the pandemic!! Hope you don’t own stock in CANDY COMPANIES!!
QUESTION: She was ALWAYS A BULLY? This man says Ellen bullied him when he was 10! (She was 20) She called him “fat,” and “stupid!” “Lose weight!!” Mean!
QUESTION: A new HOLLYWOOD COUPLE?? Jennifer Garner and Bradley Cooper hit the beach together… but she’s looking a little bit OVER-DRESSED!! Hmmm..
Cameron Diaz Found Peace After Quitting Hollywood
Cameron Diaz seems to have zero regrets when it comes to bowing out of the acting industry. She joined Gwyneth Paltrow for Goop’s latest episode of “In Goop Health: The Sessions” where the two touched on embarking on other things in addition to their respective careers in film. “What did it feel like to walk away from a movie career of that magnitude?” Paltrow, who is also 47, asked Diaz via People. “Like peace,” Diaz happily replied. “A peace in my soul because I was finally taking care of myself.” Diaz went on to note that she recognizes it’s a “strange” thing to say. “I know a lot of people won’t understand it — I know you understand it — but it was so intense to work at that level and be that public and put yourself out there,” Diaz added. “There’s a lot of energy coming at you at all times when you’re really visible as an actor and doing press and putting yourself out there.” For the last seven months, Diaz has taken on the role of becoming a new mom. She and her husband, Benji Madden, announced the birth of their baby girl in January.
******It only takes about 9 months for the audience to completely forget about you!!
******We’ve been “at peace” for a long time!!
******Does this mean there’s a job opening in the movie star business??
Jennifer Garner Splits With Boyfriend
Jennifer Garner and CEO boyfriend John Miller have reportedly split up. They are “no longer together,” a source told InTouch Weekly on Thursday. The couple apparently split up before COVID-19 hit the States. “They split up before L.A. went into lockdown,” the source told the outlet. “Jen and John remain on friendly terms so there’s a possibility that they could rekindle their relationship in the future, but right now it’s over.” Page Six previously reported in October 2018 that Garner was “casually dating” the 42-year-old Cali Burger chain owner. Garner finalized her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck that same month, nearly three years after they separated. They share three kids together, Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and Samuel, 8.
*******She’s available??? What’s in YOUR wallet??
Chef Selena Gomez
HBO Max is giving a glimpse of the new series Selena + Chef. They shared a trailer for the cooking show Wednesday featuring singer and actress Selena Gomez. The preview shows Gomez learn to cook with the help of Roy Choi and other celebrity chefs. Gomez and the chefs filmed from their respective homes due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to Choi, the series features chefs Angelo Sosa, Antonia Lofaso, Candice Kumai, Daniel Holzman, Jon & Vinny, Ludo Lefebvre, Nancy Silverton, Nyesha Arrington and Tonya Holland. Gomez’s family and friends serve as taste testers. Selena + Chef consists of 10 episodes. Gomez will highlight a food-related charity in each episode. “Having some of the best chefs open up their kitchens to me was a humbling and fun experience. I definitely discovered I have a lot more to learn,” she said in a press release. “I’m also really happy that we were able to highlight and raise money for some incredible charitable organizations.” Selena + Chef premieres Aug. 13.
********She should have called it: “Selena – Hot in the Kitchen!!!”
******Maybe this show is really about how bored celebrities are when they can’t work!!
Gwyneth Paltrow Opens Up About Chris Martin
Gwyneth Paltrow is getting candid about “consciously uncoupling” from Chris Martin. Although she was married to him for 11 years before announcing their split, she now admits that the pair “didn’t quite fit together.” “We were close, though we had never fully settled into being a couple,” Paltrow wrote in an essay for Vogue UK published on Thursday. “We just didn’t quite fit together. There was always a bit of unease and unrest. But man, did we love our children.” They share 16-year-old daughter Apple and 14-year-old son Moses. Paltrow shared that she accepted that “unrelenting trickle of truth” while on a trip to the Tuscan countryside with Martin for her 38th birthday. “Between the day that I knew and the day we finally relented to the truth, we tried everything,” she wrote. “We did not want to fail. We didn’t want to let anyone down. We desperately didn’t want to hurt our children. We didn’t want to lose our family.”
********But… you did???
******They broke up because she was spending too much time with her “Vagina Steamer!” (available on GOOP!)
******Maybe they felt that they had run out of baby names!!!
Mariah Carey’s Sister Trashes Mom
Mariah Carey’s sister has claimed in a court filing that their mother let strangers abuse her when she was just 10 — and made her watch child sex orgies and sacrifices during satanic rituals. Alison Carey made the allegations against her 83-year-old mother, Patricia, in a Supreme Court summons earlier this year in Ulster County, records show. She said she wants to use New York’s Child Victims Act — which temporarily waives the statute of limitations in underage-sex cases — to sue her mom, claiming the alleged abuse caused PTSD, depression and the drug abuse that derailed her life. She claimed her mother “allowed and encouraged” strangers “to engage in sexual acts” with her when she was “approximately 10 years of age,” her initial court summons alleges. The mom also forced her to “witness adults engaged in sexual acts with both adults and children during middle-of-the-night satanic worship meetings that included ritual sacrifices,” her summons claims. It is unclear what else these “satanic worship meetings” and “ritual sacrifices” involved. Mariah, who is estranged from her sister, has previously partially blamed her troubled childhood for her own bipolar disorder.
********Wow… now, THAT’S a shocking back story!!
*******We thought we’d heard it all!!!
Tom Hanks To Play Geppetto
Tom Hanks is reportedly in early negotiations to play the part of Pinocchio’s toy creator, Geppetto, in a live-action remake of the 1940 Walt Disney animated classic. Deadline reported that, after reading the script, Hanks reached out to director Robert Zemeckis to express his interest in being in the film. The pair have a decades-long working relationship — both won Oscars for their work on 1994’s “Forrest Gump,” which Zemeckis directed. Disney has long been gunning to cast Hanks as the father in a reimagining of the classic story of the wooden puppet boy. The company approached him about the part years ago, when a Paul King-directed “Pinocchio” remake was in the works, according to Deadline. That production was never made, though. The outlet believes that Hanks and Zemeckis’ significant history together bodes better for this incarnation of the project.
*****He’ll have to yell at Pinocchio!! Tom Hanks yells in EVERY movie!!
*******Jiminy Cricket will be played by Kevin Hart!! He’ll do it in “green face!!”
******It’s an edgier version.. because Pinocchio’s nose isn’t the ONLY thing that starts growing!!
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
“Shore” Enough-Vinny’s Seeing “Too Hot” Francesca!-(National Enquirer)
“Jersey Shore” star Vinny Guadagnino hopped states to enjoy a cozy dinner with influencer Francesca Farago in New York City-sparking rumors he’s courting the “Too Hot to Handle” beauty! Vinny, 32, was spotted giggling with Francesca, 26, who has described herself as a “free spirit and thrill-seeker.” The two were so busy exchanging meaningful stares they paid no attention to the food!
Gerard’s Romance Roller Coaster!-(Globe)
All aboard! Perennial bachelor Gerard Butler, 50, just can’t get off that romantic roller-coaster ride with Morgan Brown. After breaking up with the 49-year-old brunette beauty for the umpteenth time, the “300” action star’s made another about-face-and is back to seriously canoodling with Morgan in Malibu! Seems the Scottish actor, who started dating the L.A. interior designer back in 2014, is always just inches from committing to a walk down the aisle. Odds it sticks this time? Place your bets!
Happy Camper-(Us Weekly)
Norfolk, England, July 22
For Prince George’s seventh birthday, Prince William and Duchess Kate “organized a small camping-themed barbecue party” at Anmer Hall a source says. The future king was gifted a yurt, says the source, which William plans to outfit with furniture they’ll build together. George’s siblings, Charlotte, 5, and Louis, 2, also joined in the fun, adds the source: “They helped Kate bake and decorate a chocolate sponge cake for him.”
Did Shailene Come Between Aaron & Danica?-(Star)
Aaron Rodgers and Danica Patrick surprised fans by announcing they’re going their separate ways after two years of dating. Now people are wondering whether Shailene Woodley is the reason behind their split. An anonymous tip published on sports gossip website, Terez Owens claimed the NFL player, 36, and the Big Little Lies star, 28, were seen getting cozy in Tahoe. Days later, the pro race car driver, 38, fueled speculation by sharing a cryptic post about paying attention to “gut feelings” on Instagram. Those in the know may not be surprised that the athlete’s already moved on. “Aaron has a habit of bolting right when he’s expected to make a long-term commitment,” a buddy says. “He’s a sucker for variety and a pretty face-and Shailene checks off both of those boxes.”
Demi & Max: Engaged!-(Life & Style)
She said yes! Demi Lovato is engaged to soap star Max Ehrich after just five months of dating. The 27-year-old singer revealed that the Young and the Restless alum, 29, popped the question in Malibu on July 22 with a massive diamond ring. Max presented Demi with a 8-carat emerald-cut diamond, set in a platinum or white-gold band and surrounded by trapezoid-shaped accent diamonds. It is estimated the stunning sparkler would have set him back around half a million dollars.
Tom Sturridge & Maya Hawke: New Couple?-(People)
The 34-year-old British actor (and ex-boyfriend of Sienna Miller) enjoyed a beach day in the Hamptons on July 21 with the Stranger Things actress, 22, who’s the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.
Last Laughs-(In Touch)
“Justin Bieber posted on Instagram that he still can’t believe his wife, Hailey, chose him as her partner. ‘Um, I get it!’ said Justin’s accountant.”-David Spade.
“White Castle is testing a burger-flipping robot named Flippy. And to handle customers who really love White Castle burger, they have a robot named Forklift.”-Joe Toplyn.
“Boston entered Phase Three of its reopening plan, which allows gyms and movie theaters to open to the public. So either way, you’re gonna see Mark Wahlberg.”-Seth Meyers.
STUPID NEWS
Radio Guy Breaks Hot Wheel Record
An Australian radio host set up a Hot Wheels track on a rural road and broke a Guinness World Record by making a toy car travel down about 2,624 feet of track. Michael “Wippa” Wipfli, one half of Nova FM radio duo Fitzy & Wippa, pledged in April that he would break the Guinness record for the world’s longest Hot Wheels track. Initial attempts at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo and Centennial Park failed when the toy car failed to stay on the track for the entirely of the run, which needed to break the previous record of 2,176 feet, 2 inches, which was set in 2019 in Pennsylvania. Wipfli said it took more than 20 attempts on his third day of trying for the record, which took place on a rural road in Oatley Park. Video of the final attempt shows the toy car making it across 2,624 feet of track. See the video HERE.
*******At least no one died!! That’s our criteria for a successful promotion!!
******He had the kind of huge crowd you’d expect for this stunt!! No one was there!!
*******We can’t relate to anything that’s actually real anymore!! It’s gotta be virtual!!
Tourist Damages 200 Year Old Statue
An Italian art museum said an Austrian tourist has apologized after damaging a 19th century sculpture while posing for a photo. The Museo Antonio Canova in Possagno, Italy, shared security camera footage showing the man sitting on Antonio Canova’s 216-year-old plaster sculpture of Pauline Borghese Bonaparte, Napoleon’s sister, as Venus, the Roman goddess of love. The museum said a guard later discovered three of the sculpture’s toes had been broken by the man. The tourist was initially not identified, but the museum said he has now contacted officials to apologize after hearing about the damage from Austrian media. The man said he had been unaware of the damage he had caused. “I apologize in every way,” the man said in a message to the museum. Officials thanked the man for his apology and said he has offered to make amends for his actions. Museum officials said they are working on a plan to repair the artwork. It was unclear whether the tourist would be fined. See the video HERE.
TOPIC: The dumbest thing you’ve done in a public place!! (Besides THAT!)
Reunited Twins
A pair of long lost twin brothers were reunited in Vietnam after being adopted by different families 43 years earlier. Tran Van Canh and Tran Van Truong, both 52, said they were given to separate families at age 5 when their parents lost their home and found themselves impoverished due to mounting medical bills for the men’s father, Tran Van Trang. Tran Van Canh said he was a teenager when he met a woman who was believed to be his biological mother, but he later discovered the woman’s son had been given up around the same time under different circumstances. Tran Van Thanh was reunited with his biological family at age 25 and joined his mother, Pham Thi Lien, in searching for his twin brother. Canh and his mother’s family had separately sent letters in 2007 to TV program Nhu Chua He Co Cuoc Chia Ly — As If There Was No Separation — which specializes in reuniting family members. The show’s producers eventually made the connection between the letters, but they were unable to contact Canh until this year because he had moved and changed his phone number. Canh requested a DNA test to confirm his relation to the family, and after the test came back positive he was reunited with his mother, twin brother and the rest of the family. He said he was unaware that he had a twin brother and was shocked to discover the other man looks exactly like him.
********That sometimes happens with identical twins!! Look into it!!
*******Now they can start doing all those cool “twin things,” like sleeping with each other’s wife!!
TOPIC: Have you located an unknown family member through 23 and Me???
Alligator Caught In Idaho
Police and wildlife officers in Idaho responded to a resident’s property to remove a trespasser that was highly unusual for the area — an alligator. The Nampa Police Department said officers responded to a late night call from a man who reported an alligator had crawled under the camping trailer on his property. The responding officers confirmed the call was not a hoax or a case of mistaken identity with an inflatable toy and contacted the Idaho Department of Fish and Game for assistance. Fish and Game dispatched wildlife officers that helped the police officers wrangle the gator. “A 6′ alligator? In Nampa? This was a first,” Nampa police tweeted. It turned out to be an escaped pet. The alligator was returned to its owner. See the pic HERE.
*******What kind of person has a 6′ gator as a “pet??” Just askin’!!
******Where does a 6′ gator sleep?? Anywhere it wants!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: HOW TO HAVE FUN IN A HURRICANE!
VIDEO: TREE VS. PLAYHOUSE!
A LIST FOR FRIDAY
8 Secrets of The Wealthy That Most of Us Ignore
The Penny Hoarder.com
- They Spend $5 to Own a Piece of Amazon, Google or Other Companies
Take a look at the Forbes Richest People list, and you’ll notice almost all the billionaires have one thing in common — they own another company.
But if you work for a living and don’t happen to have millions of dollars lying around, that can sound totally out of reach.
That’s why a lot of people use the app Stash. It lets you be a part of something that’s normally exclusive to the richest of the rich — buying pieces of other companies for as little as $1.
That’s right — you can invest in pieces of well-known companies, such as Amazon, Google or Apple, for as little as $1.
The best part? When these companies profit, so can you. Some companies even send you a check every quarter for your share of the profits, called dividends. It takes two minutes to sign up, plus Stash will give you a $5 sign-up bonus once you deposit $5 into your investment account.
- They Don’t Waste Hundreds on Homeowner’s Insurance
You’re probably wasting money right now. And it’s probably on something you’d never expect — your homeowners insurance policy.
This isn’t something you actively think about — you just know you’re required to have it.
The problem is, you’re paying too much. Luckily, an insurance company called Lemonade makes it easy to find out how much you’re overpaying.
Lemonade’s policies start at just $25/month. And just because you’re saving money doesn’t mean you’re skimping on coverage. Lemonade will make sure you have what you need.
Just answer a few questions about your home to get started.
- They Grow Their Money 11x Faster — Without Risking Any of it
Putting your money under a mattress or in a safe will get you nothing. And a typical savings account won’t do you much better. (Ahem, .09% is nothing these days.)
Act like the rich and use a debit card called Aspiration to earn up to 5% cash back and up to 11 times the average interest on the money in your account. Plus, you’ll never pay a monthly account-maintenance fee.
It takes just five minutes to sign up for an Aspiration Spend and Save account.
- They Have at Least $1M in Life Insurance
Have you thought about how your family would manage without your income after you’re gone? How will they pay the bills? Send the kids through school?
Now’s a good time to start planning for the future by looking into a term life insurance policy.
You’re probably thinking: I can’t afford $1M in life insurance. But rates start at just $8 a month at Bestow.
The application takes just minutes, but the peace of mind of knowing your family is taken care of is priceless.
If you’re under the age of 54 and want to get a fast life insurance quote without a medical exam or even getting up from the couch, get a free quote from Bestow.
- They Don’t Get Stuck With Credit Card Debt
If you have credit card debt, you know. The anxiety, the interest rates, the fear you’re never going to escape…
Your credit card is getting rich by ripping you off with insane rates, but a website called Fiona could help you pay them off tomorrow.
Here’s how it works: Fiona will match you with a low-interest loan you can use to pay off every credit card balance you have. The benefit? You’re left with just one bill to pay every month, and because the interest rate is so much lower, you can get out of debt so much faster. Plus, no credit card payment this month.
Fiona won’t make you stand in line or call a bank. And if you’re worried you won’t qualify, it’s free to check online.
It takes just two minutes, and it could save you thousands of dollars. Totally worth it.
- They Don’t Waste Money on Car Insurance
How often are you even using your car right now? Regardless, there’s one thing we’re nearly certain of — you’re overpaying on car insurance.
That being said, shopping for car insurance is a pain which is why we like using a free service like Gabi. In just a few minutes you can see if any other companies are offering a cheaper rate with the same coverage and deductibles you already have.
You don’t have to fill out any forms. Just link your existing insurance account and enter your driver’s license, and it will start looking for cheaper coverage.
They save customers an average of $825 a year. Plus, after you sign up, Gabi will keep looking for savings and alert you if there’s ever a way to reduce that monthly bill even further.
- They Don’t Miss The Opportunity to Get up to $500 in Free Stocks
Yes, the stock market certainly is scary. Stock prices shoot up and down like a roller coaster ride, and it’s all just so unpredictable. But, what if you could get stock for free?
A company called Robinhood is doing just that by giving free shares of companies like Microsoft and Facebook.
Yeah, you’ve probably heard of Robinhood. Both investing beginners and pros love it because you can start investing with just $1. Plus, they don’t charge commission fees, and you can buy and sell stocks for free — no limits.
To get your free stock, download the app and fund your account with at least a few bucks (it takes no more than a few minutes), Robinhood drops a share of free stock into your account. It’s random, though, so that stock could be worth anywhere from $5 to $500 — a nice boost to help you build your investments.
- They Cut Their Cell Phone Bill to as Little as $5
How long have you been with your cell phone company? Probably a while, right? Which means you’re probably paying way too much.
But we found a discount wireless company called Tello that offers plans starting at just $5 a month. How much are you paying now? Exactly. Imagine cutting that to just $5.
Tello operates on Sprint’s nationwide network, offering 4G LTE data everywhere Sprint does. It lets you choose a wireless plan based on how many minutes and how much data you want, and you can even use Tello’s coverage tool to see how strong its network is where you live.
You can bring your own phone (Tello works with any Sprint-compatible phone), or buy a new one through them. Even better — there are no early termination or activation fees, no contracts or phone-exclusive plans, no tricks of any kind.
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