Born on this day!! Singer Ramblin’ Jack Elliott is 91. Blues musician Robert Cray is 69. Singer Michael Penn is 64. Singer Joe Elliott of Def Leppard is 63. Rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy is 62. Guitarist Suzi Gardner of L7 is 62. Rapper Coolio is 59. Singer Adam Duritz of Counting Crows is 58. Director Sam Mendes (“Skyfall,” “American Beauty”) is 57. Country singer George Ducas is 56. Guitarist Charlie Kelley (Buffalo Club) is 54. Actor Jennifer Gareis (“The Bold and the Beautiful”) is 52. Actor Tempestt Bledsoe (“The Cosby Show”) is 49. Actor Jason Momoa (“Aquaman,” “Game of Thrones”) is 43. Singer Ashley Parker Angel (O-Town) is 41. Actor Taylor Fry (“Kirk,” ″Get a Life”) is 41. Actor Elijah Kelley (2007′s “Hairspray”) is 36. Actor James Francis Kelly (“Rocky Balboa”) is 33.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1790 – The first U.S. census was completed, showing a population of 3,929,214 people.
1876 – Colorado became the 38th state in the United States.
1936 – Adolf Hitler presided over the opening of the Berlin Olympic Games.
1946 – President Truman signed the congressional acts that established the Atomic Energy Commission and the Fulbright Scholarship program.
1981 – MTV made its debut at 12:01 AM. The first video shown was Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.
Today Is: Assistance Dog Day, Girlfriend’s Day, International Can-It-Forward Day, Lammas Day, National Mahjong Day, National Minority Donor Awareness Day, Respect For Parents, Rounds Resounding Day, Spider-Man Day, US Air Force Day, World Lung Cancer Day, World Wide Web Day, World Scout Scarf Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – The Neighborhood / 8:30 – Bob Hearts / 9:00 – NCIS / 10:00 – NCIS Hawaii
NBC – 8:00 – America Ninja Warrior / 10:00 – Weakest Link
ABC – 8:00 – The Bachelorette / 10:00 – Claim To Fame
FOX – 8:00 – Don’t Forget The Lyrics / 9:00 – Beat Shazam
CW – 8:00 – Roswell, New Mexico / 9:00 – In The Dark
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Kimmel: Dwayne Johnson, Wiz Khalifa, Lizzo, guest host Kerry Washington (R 7/20/22)
Jimmy Fallon: Chance the Rapper, the cast of “Reservation Dogs”, Chance the Rapper featuring Joey Bada$$
Stephen Colbert: Patton Oswalt, Jennifer Granholm, James Taylor
Seth Meyers: Jeff Goldblum, D’Arcy Carden, Joe Russo (R 6/9/22)
James Corden: Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine (R 4/5/22)
Watch What Happens Live: Mzi “Zee” Dempers, Tumi Mhlongo
The View: Kal Penn
The Talk: Joey King
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Diego Luna, guest co-host Luke Bryan
Ellen DeGeneres: Sarah Paulson (R 11/9/21)
Kelly Clarkson: Nick Jonas, Robert Herjavec, Tears for Fears (R 5/25/22)
Tamron Hall: Tools every parent needs to know to keep tweens safe online (R 2/18/22)
Drew Barrymore: Michelle Pfeiffer, Katie Sturino (R 11/8/21)
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: Should Saturday Night Live just CALL IT QUITS after the 50th season?? That’s what KENAN THOMPSON thinks, and he’s the longest-running cast member!!
QUESTION: Is this happening to YOUR child?? Young women in Australia are developing UNCONTROLLABLE “TICS!” Doctors say it could be TOO MUCH TIK TOK!!
QUESTION: Are you ready to LOOK TO THE SKY?? August will bring many astronomical events, starting with the last SUPER MOON OF ’22, and a meteor shower!!
QUESTION: How can we lose BILL RUSSELL (88), LIEUTENANT UHURA (89) and the VOICE OF URSULA (95) in the same weekend?? Heaven must be expanding!!!
QUESTION: Didn’t we TELL YOU to go to Chicago and buy that winning Mega Millions ticket?? That’s how WE remember it!! And now, somebody ELSE won $1.3 billion!
Shakira Faces 8 Years In Prison
Shakira was indicted Friday on six counts of tax fraud in Spain, where she faces eight years in prison and a fine of nearly $24.5 million. Prosecutors say Shakira didn’t pay income taxes on some $14.8 million between 2012 and 2014, when she became a regular in Barcelona in the early days of her relationship with soccer star Gerard Piqué, according to El País. Lawyers spent weeks in negotiations with tax authorities, hoping for a deal that would’ve quashed charges and excluded jail time. In May, judges threw out a defense appeal to have the case dismissed, El Mundo reported. But this week Shakira rejected the state’s settlement offer, maintaining her “absolute innocence” and blasting the prosecution for “trampling her rights,” El País reported. Shakira has maintained throughout the proceedings that she lived in the Bahamas and spent much of that time traveling for work, officially moving to Spain in 2015. Yet her defense team is in for a tough fight to prove her residence was elsewhere in those two years.
*****If we identify as a woman, can we be her cellmate??
******”Shakira Behind Bars” sounds like an incredible reality show!!!
*******The Kardashians are shocked!! “You mean a hot chick can go to jail??”
****The Spaniards are like R.. Kelly: they see a woman, and they want to lock her up!!
Taylor Swift Accused Of Polluting The Earth
Taylor Swift is being accused of polluting the earth by flying in her private jet 170 times between Jan. 1 and July 29, according to Yard, a sustainability marketing agency that prides itself on “cutting-edge data and analysis.” However, a representative for Taylor said, “Taylor’s jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals. To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect,” according to TMZ. The research gathered by Yard shows results for “which celebrities are the worst private jet CO2 emission offenders,” with Swift racking up more than 22,000 minutes in the air, or the equivalent of 16 days. Swift’s total flight emissions for the year total 8,240 metric tons, or 1,185 times more than the average person’s total annual emissions, according to the report. The study also alleged other celebrities are guilty of polluting the planet. Boxer Floyd Mayweather ranks second as the “worst private jet CO2 emission” offender. He comes in closely behind Swift, emitting 7,077 metric tons of carbon dioxide while flying private this year, 1,011 times more than the average flyer annually, according to the study. He’s also guilty of having the record for the shortest flight for a total of 10 minutes while flying to Las Vegas and emitting 1 ton of carbon dioxide. Other celebrities accused of not being climate conscious are Jay-Z, former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, Blake Shelton, Steven Spielberg and Oprah.
********Now they’re all gonna change their lifestyle!! NOT!!!!
******They’ve got to fly around the world, so they can tell everyone how to cut THEIR emissions!!
*****When WE fly on jets, even the lavatory isn’t private!!
*****We were on one of those “cheap” airlines, and the smoke detector was smoking!!!
Johnny Depp’s Art Collection Sells Out Fast
Johnny Depp’s debut art collection “Friends & Heroes” sold out within hours on a London art gallery’s website Thursday, earning the actor millions. Castle Fine Art Gallery listed 780 prints featuring pop art-style portraits of Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Taylor, Al Pacino and Keith Richards. “This world-first release proved to be our fastest-selling collection to date, with all titles selling out in just hours,” the gallery announced on Instagram. Depp focused on “people he has known well, and who have inspired him as a person,” according to the gallery. “Each image is an intimate reflection of their character in Johnny’s eyes; a portrayal of how they have revealed themselves to him.” Depp earned over $3.6 million from Thursday’s sales, according to the Sunday-Times.
*********Take THAT, Hunter Biden!!! He only made a BILLION from his “collection of bribes!!”
*******He painted a picture of Amber Heard!! It’s called “A Study in Brown!!”
Prince Philip’s Will Sealed
The contents of Prince Philip’s will are to remain a secret. Last year, a judge ruled that the will of Queen Elizabeth’s late husband would be sealed and kept private for at least 90 years. The Guardian, a U.K.-based outlet, challenged the decision to exclude media from a July 2021 hearing that made that ruling. But on Friday, judges rejected the claim, saying there were “exceptional” circumstances for the hearing to be held in private, The Telegraph reported. According to the outlet, judges Sir Geoffrey Vos, Dame Victoria Sharp and Lady Justice King said the press could not be alerted to the private hearing “without risking the media storm that was feared.” “The hearing was at a hugely sensitive time for the sovereign and her family, and those interests would not have been protected if there had been protracted hearings reported in the press rather than a single occasion on which full reasons for what had been decided were published,” the judges said in the ruling. Wills in the U.K. are usually public record after someone’s death. However, it has been common practice for over a century to keep the wills of royal family members sealed. “It is true that the law applies equally to the royal family, but that does not mean that the law produces the same outcomes in all situations,” the judges said. “These circumstances are, as we have said, exceptional.”
*********His collection of “Royal Barbies” goes to Andrew!!
******Strangely, most of his money will go to a 19-year-old underwear model!!
JLo’s First Husband Speaks Out
Jennifer Lopez’s first husband is “not convinced” her marriage to Ben Affleck will last. Ojani Noa – who was married to Jennifer from February 1997 to January 1998 – told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “I wish her and Ben the best, but I’m not convinced it will last. Jen loves being in love but she’s been engaged six times. Ben is husband number four. I was husband number one and she told me I was the love of her life. When we lay in bed on our wedding night, she said we would be together for ever… “I’m happy she has gone back to Ben but I have a feeling this won’t last. “I think she’s someone who will be married seven or eight times. I can’t see her ever settling down with one person. She pushes herself to constantly go forward in her professional life, which is why she’s had a three-decade career, but she also moves on in her private life.” Ojani’s life was turned “upside down” when Jennifer landed the lead role in ‘Selena’, the movie which made Jen a megastar. He reflected: “She went from Jen to being J Lo, this big business bringing in millions. She had all these new people around her, all wanting to make money off her. I would call and an assistant would say, ‘Sorry, she’s not available.’ ” But even after they married, things got worse in their relationship as photos of Jennifer with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – who was producing her album – began to circulate and she told her spouse she “couldn’t” have children yet because it would damage her career. He said: “I rang Jen and asked why she was going out with him on dates and she said, ‘It’s just business. This is what I’m being told I have to do.’ I was jealous and would scream, ‘But you are married!’
**********Diddy asked about her husband and she said, “We’re separated!! He’s at home and I’m here!!”
*******J Lo’s heart is a carbon-based substance. But then again… so is charcoal!!
*******Anyone who can fake a pregnancy with Marc Anthony is capable of anything!
Chris Rock Jokes About Will Smith After Apology
Hours after Will Smith took to social media to apologize for slapping Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars, he took to the stage comparing Smith to former Death Row Records executive Suge Knight. “Everybody is trying to be a f—ing victim,” Rock said during a gig at Atlanta’s Fox Theater Friday night. “If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims. Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith … I went to work the next day, I got kids.” “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” Rock added, according to People. Smith’s latest apology — as he also apologized to Rock via social media days after the incident — found the actor revealing that Rock has refused to speak to him just yet about the moment he deems “unacceptable.” “I reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, but when he is, he will reach out,” Smith said in the video posted to YouTube. “I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.” Smith also apologized to Rock’s mother and brother Tony Rock.
*********America has a pretty short memory!! Already, people are saying: “Why did Chris Rock slap Will Smith in the face?”
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
Chatter-(People)
“The Internet has been trying to break me for years. It gave me no other choice.”-Ryan Gosling, on breaking the Internet with photos of him as Ken in the upcoming Barbie movie.
“From Summer Body to Pasta Body in one week! I love them both!”-Lupita Nyon’o, on indulging during her trip to Italy.
“I’m the worst cook, and my friends make fun of it. But I’m a really good host.”-Priyanka Chopra Jonas, on enjoying entertaining more than cooking.
STUPID NEWS
Misspelled Highway Sign
Officials in New Mexico said a highway sign in the East Mountains was corrected after travelers pointed out the word “Albuquerque” was missing its “r.” The sign for Interstate 40 was recently installed on Route 66, and social media users pointed out the name of the city was misspelled as “Albuqueque.” A New Mexico Department of Transportation spokesperson said the department was flooded with calls this week from travelers and residents pointing out the typo. The spokesperson said the sign has now been corrected.
*******Without looking, see if anyone on your show or audience can spell “Albuquerque!!”
*******They corrected the sign with a bucket of paint and a brush!!
******They’re lucky that Albuquerque is not in “Massachusetts!!”
Unexpected Hole-In-One
Golfer Mark Hubbard dropped his club in disgust and called his tee shot “embarrassing” on the 11th hole before he watched the ball roll in for a hole-in-one in the first round of the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic. The odd sequence occurred Thursday at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. Hubbard carded a 1-under 35 through his first nine holes. He then made par on No. 10 and walked to the tee box on No. 11, a 216-yard, par 3. Hubbard made contact, dropped his club, looked at the ground and said “that’s embarrassing” as his shot flew over the fairway. The ball then dropped onto the green and bounced about four times. It then rolled quickly toward the flag, spun around the hole and dropped in for an ace. Hubbard, who was shocked by the result, put his hand over his face when he realized he was quite wrong about his initial impression of the shot. See the video HERE.
********How many times has this happened to us?? Never!!!
*******This proves that even the pros don’t know what they’re doing!!
Have You Seen My Missing Zebra??
A Missouri man is on the hunt for a zebra that escaped from his property in Miller County and has been on the run for four days. Joe McDevitt said he bought Marty the zebra about three months ago and the animal escaped through a fence on his property four days ago. McDevitt posted a video to TikTok showing Marty narrowly evading capture when the zebra briefly joined a herd of cattle. He said he is also currently building a new enclosure for Marty to prevent future zebra escapes. Zebras are legal to own in Missouri with the approval of the state Department of Agriculture.
*********Look for the horse with a prison uniform on!!
********The cattle looked at the zebra like, “It’s Beetlejuice!!”
One Mega “Billions” Winner
The chase for the second-largest Mega Millions jackpot has ended — with a single ticket sold in the Chicago area for the whole $1.337 billion. One ticket bought in Des Plaines hit the top prize in Friday night’s drawing, according to the Illinois Lottery, securing the third-largest jackpot of any US lottery game and ending a buildup that began when Mega Millions last drew a jackpot winner in mid-April. The winning ticket was purchased at a Speedway gas station in Des Plaines, roughly a 20-mile drive northwest of downtown Chicago, the Illinois Lottery said Saturday. “We have not heard from the winner yet. We don’t know whether … they even know that they won a prize. So I encourage everybody to check your ticket,” Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays told reporters Saturday morning in Chicago. The Speedway convenience store in Des Plaines will receive $500,000 for selling the winning ticket. The ticket holder has a year from the drawing to claim the prize, and can choose to withhold his or her name from the public, Mays said. In Illinois, winners of more than $250,000 can ask the lottery to keep their name and hometown confidential.
*****How do you know it wasn’t us?? Because we’re here today!!
*****Right now, there’s a guy who forgot to buy a ticket at the Speedway in Des Plaines who’s crying his eyes out!!
*******Forget 23 and Me.. the best way to find your lost relatives is winning the lottery!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: CRAZY DASHCAM VIDEO SHOWING DUMB CRASHES.
VIDEO: MAKING A REMOTE CONTROLLED LAWN MOWER.
A LIST FOR MONDAY
How To Get Hotel Perks Without Paying A Ton
HUFFINGTON POST
Try booking with the hotel directly…
“Book directly with the hotel,” advised budgeting expert Andrea Woroch. “You will be surprised that sometimes you can get a better deal when you book directly with the hotel because [they’d] rather not lose any of the reservation payment to a third-party booking site. They will also be more likely to give you some free amenities in that booking, as it may come with a special on their site.” Once you’ve received your confirmation, consider sending an email to the hotel with the details of your stay, and tell them how much you’re looking forward to your time there. That personal touch might flag your visit to the hotel for special attention. “Look for hotels that offer perks upfront, like a hotel with free breakfast and free parking,” Woroch said. “I like using a site like Hotels.com to see which hotels are available in the area I’m traveling to and seeing which free perks are included, since they do a good job at promoting them on the site.”
Third-party booking sites are great for reviewing various options and comparing the prices and amenities included in the rates. Woroch recommended comparing your preferred option from the Hotels.com search with the booking price that’s listed on the hotel website directly. If it’s the same price and you’re trying to build up hotel loyalty, you might as well go ahead and book right with the brand. Still, there can be perks to booking on a third-party website. “Hotels.com will price-match cheaper options, and when you book 10 nights with the site, you get a free night, so that’s a great way to get free hotel bookings in the future,” Woroch noted.
Travel blogger Esther Susag said she likes Booking.com for free upgrades and amenities. “Sometimes I just need something quick or easy and will use Booking.com,” she explained. “This year I became a genius level three and I have noticed a huge advantage and benefit of their loyalty program. I have saved hundreds of dollars just in the last month alone because I automatically get at least 20% off, if not more, for most hotel stays booked through them. I also get upgraded almost every time for no extra charge because of that.”
Tell the hotel you’re celebrating
Chris Hutchins, a “financial optimizer” and host of the podcast “All the Hacks,” endorses booking directly with the hotel and sending a personal email. In fact, he recommends going a step further. “Tell them if you’re celebrating anything special,” he said. “Then follow up again [a] few days before arrival to confirm you’re still coming. I’ve seen this work so many times I stopped counting, and people have gotten upgrades, free breakfast, a bottle of champagne and, one time, the hotel actually monogrammed the guest’s initials on their pillows.”
Remember that hotels are in the hospitality business, so most will try their best to earn your loyalty. “So many hotels want to make sure you have the most memorable experience and will make your stay extra-special, whether it’s for a birthday or anniversary, etc.,” Susag said. “And it’s a bonus for them if you post the kind gesture that they do on social media, too.”
Join the hotel loyalty program
“Becoming a loyal member of a hotel via credit cards, or just signing up for their membership, is the best way to get extra perks,” Susag said, pointing to popular hotel rewards programs like Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Hilton Honors. “It allows you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for room upgrades, free stays, and more. Also, they tend to come with other perks the more that you use those hotels, like free breakfast, free parking, later checkout times, etc.” Susag also believes hotel staff are extra accommodating when you’re a member of the loyalty program. Still, when it comes to sticking with one brand, there can be downsides as well as upsides.
“This is great if you don’t mind staying in the same hotel chain every time, but you give up a lot of flexibility on where you might stay every trip,” Hutchins said. “That said, I always recommend signing up for the hotel loyalty programs and earning points on every trip.” If you decide to earn more points toward loyalty status by getting a hotel-branded credit card, be sure to compare the rates and benefits among the various options. Woroch recommends checking sites like CardRates.com.
Do your research
“A great resource when it comes to answering all your questions about the hotel or resort you’re staying at is Tripadvisor reviews,” Hutchins said. “You can search them for all kinds of topics, like whether you need to make reservations in advance at the hotel restaurants, whether the hotel offers free sunscreen at the pool (some do) or how much they charge for parking (and if they do, whether you can park nearby for less).”
If you see a resort fee on your reservation, try to familiarize yourself with everything it includes before your trip. “Oftentimes there might be free fitness classes or free rentals for snorkel gear, kayaks or bicycles,” Hutchins said. “Or if you want to avoid the resort fee, Hyatt and Hilton waive resort fees when you book with points.”
Hotels may also offer specific perks based on their locations. “Staying near airports can be extremely beneficial for anyone who has either early or late flights, because the hotels in that area tend to be extra accommodating in terms of allowing you to have extra-early or late check-in or checkout times,” Susag said. “I just had a hotel in Abu Dhabi allow me to check in at no extra cost at 8:30 a.m. because they pride themselves on being accommodating to guests arriving early or leaving very late due to flights.”
Sometimes hotels in big cities partner with nearby restaurants, gyms or other vendors to offer discounts to guests. They may have on-site happy hours, performances or special fitness classes. The concierge can fill you in on any such options. “I don’t think people take advantage of their hotel concierge as much as they should,” Hutchins said. “They’re available to you as soon as you’ve booked your room, and they can be incredibly helpful at organizing just about anything you need ― planning activities, making restaurant reservations, organizing child care and anything else you might need during your stay.”
“They’re also great at asking questions about the hotel,” he went on. “For example, we’re going on a family trip to Hawaii this fall, and the hotel already has a Pack ’n Play and a crib held for our room at no extra cost.”
Just ask for upgrades
“Perhaps the easiest way to get hotel perks is by asking when you check in,” said travel blogger Sean Lau. “Depending on the hotel’s occupancy rate, how long you are staying, and other factors, the reception might just give you an upgrade free of charge. After all, they want every guest to be happy. And if it doesn’t affect how they run their business, the hotel is usually more than happy to accommodate your request.”
It’s always worth a shot to see if you can get a room upgrade, free parking or other amenities. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. “It doesn’t hurt to ask,” said Stephanie Be, a travel blogger and founder of the travel website Buena. “I never expect anything ― try phrases like ‘Is there any way…’ ‘I know the chance is low, but I was wondering if…’ Also, state the reason for the request ― a friend’s birthday, a big celebration, work has been hard, you really want to make the most out of this stay.”
Use a travel agent
“If you think travel agents are a thing of the past, you might be overlooking another great way to get perks and upgrades, because many luxury hotels have a set of special perks like free breakfast, upgrades and resort credits that they offer to clients of travel agencies they work with,” Hutchins said.
This tip might not apply to your average trip, but keep those connections in mind if you’re looking to splurge a little. “If you’re taking a luxury vacation, it’s absolutely worth reaching out to an agent, especially because you usually won’t have to pay a higher rate,” Hutchins said.
Be nice
“Build that personal connection,” Susag advised. “I really prefer calling the hotel itself, because it puts a voice to a name and hotel staff are much more likely to help you out. Finally, just be kind and polite. You never know how far a little kindness can go!”
Hutchins offered similar advice. “If all else fails,” he said, “I’ve found that being nice to the person checking you in and just asking if there’s anything special they can do for your stay can sometimes result in an unexpected surprise during your stay.”
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.
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