Born on this day!! Singer Cindy Birdsong of The Supremes is 81. Drummer Dave Clark of the Dave Clark Five is 78. Drummer Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge is 74. Actor Don Johnson is 71. Actor Melanie Chartoff (“Rugrats,” ″Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”) is 70. Director Julie Taymor (Broadway’s “The Lion King”) is 68. Actor Justin Ross (“A Chorus Line”) is 66. Bassist Paul Simonon of The Clash is 65. Country singer Doug Phelps (The Kentucky Headhunters, Brothers Phelps) is 60. Writer-director Reginald Hudlin is 59. Actor Helen Slater is 57. Actor Paul Kaye (“Game of Thrones”) is 56. Actor Molly Price (“Third Watch”) is 55. Actor Garrett Wang (“Star Trek: Voyager”) is 52. Actor Michael Shanks (“Stargate SG-1”) is 50. Actor Stuart Townsend (“Queen of the Damned”) is 48. Actor Geoff Stults (“Grace and Frankie,” new “Odd Couple”) is 44. Crowd-hyper Kito Trawick of Ghostown DJs is 43. Actor Adam Brody (“The O.C.”) is 41. Actor Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”) is 39. Actor George O. Gore II (“My Wife and Kids”) is 38. Actor Camilla Luddington (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is 37. Guitarist Alana Haim of Haim is 29. Actor Maude Apatow (Film’s “Knocked Up,” TV’s “Euphoria”) is 23.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1791 – The Bill of Rights took effect with Virginia’s ratification of it.
1890 – Sioux Indian chief Sitting Bull was killed by Native American police.
1916 – The French defeated the Germans in the Battle of Verdun.
1939 – The movie Gone With the Wind premiered in Atlanta, Georgia.
1944 – Band leader Glenn Miller disappeared in a plane crash over the English Channel.
1961 – Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death by an Israeli court for organizing the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.
1964 – Canada adopted its national flag, a red maple leaf on a white background.
1966 – Animated-cartoon pioneer and movie producer Walt Disney died in Los Angeles.
1989 – A demonstration that turned into a popular uprising in Romania began the downfall of Nicolae Ceausescu.
Today Is: Bill of Rights Day, Cat Herders Day, International Tea Day, National Cupcake Day, National Wear Your Pearls Day, Zamenhof Day (Esperato Literature Day)
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – Play On: Celebrating Music / 9:00 – NCIS / 10:00 – FBI
NBC – 8:00 – The Voice / 9:00 – The Voice
ABC – 8:00 – The Bachelorette / 10:00 – Big Sky
FOX – 8:00 – Cosmos / 9:00 – Next
CW – 8:00 – Swamp Thing / 9:00 – Tell Me A Story
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Wiig, Graham Norton, Jack Harlow
Stephen Colbert: Whoopi Goldberg, Father James Martin
Seth Meyers: Amanda Seyfried, Craig Robinson, Mehdi Hasan
James Corden: Keegan-Michael Key, Roddy Rich
Watch What Happens Live: Anderson Cooper, Kaley Cuoco
The Talk: Gabriel Iglesias, Sherri Shepherd, Maddie & Tae, guest co-host Amanda Kloots
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Gal Gadot, Lance Ulanoff, guest co-host Andy Cohen
The Real: Neil Degrasse Tyson, Tayshia Adams
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: Are you a CLEVELAND INDIANS FAN?? Not anymore!! The team has responded to pressure by announcing a name change! “Baseball Team?????”
QUESTION: Are we lucky, or what?? We get to see Meghan Markle in a RARE PUBLIC APPEARANCE as she males a visit to CNN’s “Heroes” special Sunday!!!!!!!
QUESTION: Wait.. he’s not a good guy?? Ex-Howard Stern staffers are spilling the tea… they say he’s super-cheap, and abusive to his loyal workers!!! SHOCK!!!!!!!
QUESTION: Is this the ULTIMATE DUI?? Russian astronauts have used hollowed-out books and bottles in their space suits to smuggle BOOZE onto the ISS!!!!
QUESTION: What’s that giant emerald ring doing on her RING FINGER?? Is Dakota Johnson engaged to Coldplay’s CHRIS MARTIN??? We’re thinking.. yes!
George Clooney Wants To Reclaim His Title!
George Clooney joked about People magazine honoring him twice for “Sexiest Man Alive” in an interview with SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Show.” In a video teaser shared Friday, Cagle introduced Clooney as a “producer, director and star.” Clooney interjected: “And two-time ‘Sexiest Man Alive.’” “Which is better, the Sexiest Man Alive or the two Oscars?” Cagle asked with a laugh. “I mean, I think you know,” Clooney teased. “I’m lobbying for a third one, no one’s ever won three.” Clooney previously won the coveted title in 1997 and 2006. He was the third actor to achieve the double honor, following Richard Gere and Brad Pitt. Johnny Depp became the fourth man to become a two-time honoree in 2009. “I worked with some people, Matt Damon and Brad Pitt on, you know, their [‘Sexiest Man’] campaigns. I thought they did a very good job,” Clooney shares. “So, I feel like now I’m looking at Michael B. Jordan to see if he wants me to work with him to get a repeat… I’m more of a counselor now.”
*****He took his case to the Supreme Court, but they threw him out!! “We’re busy!!!”
*******Do they have a “Sexiest Old Man” issue???
******If you’re wondering what it takes to be the sexiest man alive, you probably don’t have it!!!
Eddie Van Halen Was Cremated
Eddie Van Halen was reportedly cremated and his ashes were delivered to his son, Wolf. Eddie was cremated 22 days after his death, according to a death certificate obtained by TMZ. The outlet reports that his final wish was for his ashes to be scattered in the Pacific Ocean near his hometown of Malibu, Calif. It’s unclear if Wolf has made good on those wishes yet, but TMZ reports he’s expected to do so. Wolf has been very outspoken about the grieving process he’s going through since his father’s death. In November, he sat down for an interview with Howard Stern for his SiriusXM show, where he was honest about the fact the he wasn’t doing well since it happened but was grateful for the time medical treatment gave them together. “At the end of 2017, he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and the doctors were like, ‘You have six weeks,'” he told Stern. “And then he went to Germany, overseas. Whatever the f— they do over there, it’s amazing because I got three more years with him.”
*******Wolfgang is NOT happy that TMZ is spilling the tea on his dad!!
*****His tweet simply said, “TMZ is scum.” True dat!!!!
Blue Ivy Is A Grammy Nominee
Beyonce’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter is officially a Grammy nominee. When the Recording Academy announced the nominees for the 2021 Grammys last month, Beyoncé scored a nomination for best music video for “Brown Skin Girl.” Absent from the nomination was her daughter, Ivy Carter, who is credited as a featured artist on the track. However, the Grammys recently updated its website to now include the 8-year-old. The update also includes Nigerian singer Wizkid, who appears on the song and video. SAINt JHN — who is featured on the track but was not in the video — was still not listed as a nominee. The best music video Grammy is awarded to the main and featured artists on the track, as well as the video’s director and producer.
********Should an 8-year-old really get a Grammy?? Shouldn’t she pace herself a bit?? Leave something for your teen years!!
******She still has a ways to go to catch up with mom!!!
*****Has she had her first plastic surgery???
Clooney Comments On Sold Out Flow-bee!
George Clooney went viral earlier this month when he revealed that he’s been using Flowbee’s “vacuum haircutting system” to cut his own hair at home for decades. “I’ve been cutting my own hair for 25 years,” Clooney said during an interview on CBS’ “Sunday Morning.” “My hair’s really like straw, and so it’s easy to cut, can’t really make too many mistakes.” He later showed off his skills with the retro tool on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” proving that the superstar really does use it to give himself an at-home trim. Following that, Flowbees are now completely sold out online — and he’s kicking himself for not cashing in. “I should have gotten stock in that company before I told that story. I really screwed up on that one,” he said in an interview with Sirius. “So now I know: Next time I endorse something, I’m going to own some stock before I do.”
********We didn’t know they even made Flowbees in 2020!!
******When he says “Life sucks,” he’s talking about his haircut!!
TRIVIA: What kind of hair pomade does George use in “O Brother, Where Art Thou??” (It was called “Dapper Dan,” and you can still buy it!!)
Oprah Plugs Meghan
Oprah Winfrey gave an endorsement of a luxury instant latte that Meghan Markle gave her as a “Christmas gift” — hours before Markle announced she’s an investor in the brand. In an Instagram video posted early Monday morning, the billionaire beamed as she flaunted an enormous gift basket of drinks from California based Clevr, which bills itself as “woman-led, mission-driven wellness company.” Markle and husband Prince Harry have been close pals with Oprah and her BFF Gayle King for years, and the couple live close to the media mogul in their $14 million Montecito, California, mansion. In the clip, Oprah demonstrates how to make one of the company’s oat milk and turmeric drinks. She captioned it: “On the first day of Christmas my neighbor ‘M’ sent to me… A basket of deliciousness!” She added, not so subtly, “Yes that M” — alongside a crown emoji. She added that the $28-a-bag beverage is her “new drink of choice for the morning and night” writing, “Wish I had @clevrblends sooner cause I would’ve added it to my Favorite Things list.”
********And THAT’S how you afford a mansion in Montecito!! Plug each other’s products!!
*****Somehow, an oatmeal and turmeric latte doesn’t sound like it would hit the spot!! Are we missing something?
******How long before Harry is plugging his new hair restoration product???
New Films Added To National Registry
Twenty-five films, including “The Dark Knight” and “The Blues Brothers,” have been selected to join the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for 2020. Each year, the National Film Registry selects 25 of America’s most influential motion pictures that have not already been added to the list and inducts them into the coveted spot for preservation in the Library of Congress.
The films selected for the 2020 National Film Registry are:
- Suspense (1913)
- Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)
- Bread (1918)
- The Battle of the Century(1927)
- With Cara and Camera Around the World (1929)
- Cabin in the Sky (1943)
- Outrage (1950)
- The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)
- Lilies of the Field (1963)
- A Clockwork Orange (1971)
- Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)
- Wattstax (1973)
- Grease (1978)
- The Blues Brothers (1980)
- Losing Ground (1982)
- Illusions (1982)
- The Joy Luck Club (1993)
- The Devil Never Sleeps (1994)
- Buena Vista Social Club (1999)
- The Ground (1993-2001)
- Shrek (2001)
- Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege (2006)
- The Hurt Locker (2008)
- The Dark Knight (2008)
- Freedom Riders (2010)
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
Lady Gaga’s Pitt Stop-(National Enquirer)
“Just Dance” singer Lady Gaga hopes to tango with Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt and insiders claimed they’re close to making a love connection! The 34-year-old songbird and the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” star, 56, have been in deep talks about working on a big-screen thriller, and sources said the conversations have turned up close and personal. “These two have more in common than people realize,” a source spilled. “Brad’s always been a huge music nerd and Gaga wants to throw herself into movies in a big way after the success of ‘A Star Is Born.’”
Cybill Shepard’s Comedy Comeback-(Globe)
Cybill Shepherd, 70, is once again taking the lead-literally! The former “Moonlighting” star’s returning to the small screen in the new Showtime comedy “I Love This for You”-playing the icy boss of a home-shopping network! Already sounds hilarious. She’ll star alongside former SNL comic heavyweights Vanessa Bayer and Molly Shannon. Interestingly, funnygal Vanessa’s role was actually inspired by her real-life past. She’ll play a home-shopping host who, like herself, overcame childhood leukemia to achieve her lifelong dream job!
Things You Don’t Know About Me: Jordin Sparks-(Us Weekly)
The American Idol winner gets in tune.
- I love ‘80s music! I grew up [with] it. When I went back to American Idol to perform “I Am Woman” [in 2011], I couldn’t resist going over to [then-judge] Steven Tyler and planting a kiss on him!
- My favorite singer is Nat King Cole. There is no one that can top that [voice].
- My secret crush [is] my husband [Dana Isaiah]. I don’t need to look anywhere else!
- We were introduced by our moms in a group text.
- I love to read and get lost in a good book. You can live so many lifetimes and go so many places when you read!
J.Lo’s Double-Take!-(Star)
Look familiar? Jennifer Lopez faces criticism after fans accuse her of copying Beyonce’s 2014 Grammy Awards performance. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Jennifer Lopez’s steamy “Pa’TI” and “Lonely” duet with Colombian singer Maluma at the American Music Awards on Nov. 22 left a lasting impression on the show’s 4.4 million viewers. But it wasn’t all positive. Fans roasted the 51-year-old for putting on a presentation too similar to Beyonce and Jay-Z’s “Drunk in Love” performance for the 2014 Grammy Awards.
Katie: Pining For a Proposal-(Life & Style)
Things are moving fast between Katie Holmes and her boyfriend, Emilio Vitolo Jr. Although they’ve only been dating for a few months, a source says the Dawson’s Creek alum, 41, is already pushing for a proposal from the NYC based restaurateur, 33. “Katie’s birthday is coming up on Dec. 18, and Emilio is organizing something special for the occasion,” spills the source. “She doesn’t know exactly what it is yet, but she’s been dropping hints that an engagement ring would be the best gift ever.”
Chatter-(People)
“I’ve learned a lot about love with this guy….sometimes it’s messy and uncomfortable and ugly.”-Camila Cabello, on her relationship with Shawn Mendes.
“Very kind but hard pass. If traffic sucks, everyone will say, ‘Ryan Reynolds is a mess’ or ‘Ryan Reynolds is really backed up.’”-Ryan Reynolds, reacting to a petition asking for a street to be named after him in his native Vancouver.
“Elvis called me a chicken that had just been hatched, so I’m wondering if I look weird?”-Goldie Hawn
Number of the Week-(In Touch)
62 million
-viewers in 28 days who watched The Queen’s Gambit, making it Netflix’ most-viewed limited scripted series ever.
STUPID NEWS
Man Climbs On Wing Of Jet Airliner!
A man was taken into custody after he climbed onto the wing of an Alaska Airlines plane at the Las Vegas airport Saturday. Flight 1367 from Las Vegas to Portland was preparing for takeoff from McCarran International Airport when the pilot noticed a person coming toward the aircraft and notified the control tower, Alaska Airlines said in a statement. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and airport officials took the man into custody, airport spokesman Joe Rajchel told CNN. The man had hopped a perimeter fence and was observed by airport staff around 1:40 p.m. PST. Video shot by a passenger shows the man sitting and walking on the wing. He then removes his socks and shoes before trying to climb the Boeing 737’s winglet, the upturned end of the plane’s wing. As police officers approach the man, he slides down the winglet and falls to the tarmac below. Officers took the man into custody and he was taken to a medical facility. The plane returned to the gate for a full inspection following the incident, the statement from Alaska Airlines said. See the video HERE.
********Does this remind you of a Twilight Zone episode?? Except in that one, the plane was flying!!
******He also didn’t have a mask on!! So he’s in REAL trouble!!
******It’s a good thing they spotted him before they took off!!
*****A lady looked out the window and said, “That’s some real social distancing!!”
Santa Claus Goes Undercover
Video shows the arrest in Southern California of two suspected car thieves by a Santa Claus and a holiday elf who happened to be undercover police officers. It happened in Riverside Thursday afternoon as the undercovers were conducting an operation targeting shoplifters and got word that there were “three suspicious men” casing vehicles to steal, police said. The video shows the elf holding a gun on one of the suspected car thieves. “What’s wrong is you tried to steal a car but your buddy stole the car,” the elf says. The video also shows the Santa running up to the other suspected car thief, grabbing him from behind and wrestling him to the ground. “Get him Santa,” a voice is heard saying to Santa as he runs toward the suspect. The Riverside Police Department said the third suspect got away in a stolen Honda SUV that was later found abandoned. See the video HERE.
********”Elf With a Gun” sounds like a holiday movie!! Starring Will Ferrell and Bruce Willis!!
*******After Santa arrested him, he gave him some cookies and hot cocoa!! Because he’s Santa!!
Creepy Amazon Guy Breathes On Window!
Jonathan Doblips was disturbed by camera footage he saw showing a delivery person breathing on his window and doodling an unintelligible message, reports Deadline News – a Scotland-based newspaper. The unidentified delivery person then leaves the package at Doblips’ doorstep before marching back to his nearby van. The incident, which appears to have happened recently at Doblips’ Ilkeston, Derbyshire home, was posted to Amazon.co.uk’s official Facebook page on Sunday. “Excuse me but what is this delivery driver doing on my window?” Doblips wrote alongside the accompanying security footage. Under the same Facebook post, Doblips shared he felt unsettled that the delivery person took a moment to peer into his window. He went on to call the behavior “highly inappropriate.” The e-commerce giant’s Amazon Help page quickly replied to Doblips’ inquiry with a statement that suggests the matter is being investigated. See the video HERE.
*******He was writing, “Your package is here!!”
******Remember when we used to go to stores to buy things?? Those people were creepy, too!!
Macaw Parrot Rescued In Arizona
Animal rescuers in Arizona shared photos from the successful capture of an unusual visitor to the area — a wandering macaw parrot. The Pima Animal Care Center said the county received a call for assistance from the Paradise Parrot Rescue after the colorful bird was spotted flying around a neighborhood in the Old Pueblo area of Tucson. Officers arrived on the scene and attempted to capture the parrot, but the bird evaded them by staying in the branches of tall trees. The rescuers were finally able to capture the parrot when it settled onto a shorter tree.
*********The parrot wasn’t wearing a mask!!
*******Somebody had a nice dinner that night!!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: LEAVE THE WEATHER TO THE PROFESSIONALS!!!
VIDEO: “NOT” WORKIN’ FOR A LIVIN’!
VIDEO: CONSTRUCTION WORKER SYNC’S HIS WORK TO THE BAND PRACTICE.
A LIST FOR TUESDAY
11 Little Things To Do When You’re Feeling Lonely During The Holidays
Huffington Post
Organize virtual holiday hangouts with loved ones.
We’ll highlight the most obvious solution first: Stay in touch with your loved ones through video chats, phone calls and texts. Virtual gatherings are a simple, effective and safe alternative to seeing others in person, and you still reap the benefits of connecting with loved ones and feeling less lonely.
Try arranging weekly video check-ins, or maybe add a fun twist to the call by hosting a gift exchange or a virtual movie night (bonus points if it’s holiday-themed).
Get out of the house for a bit.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists holiday travel as an increased risk factor for contracting the coronavirus, you don’t have to go very far or jeopardize your health or others’ in order to get a change of scenery.
Darla Timbo, a licensed professional counselor at Atlas Counseling Services in Pittsburgh, recommends fighting off feelings of isolation by “at the very least … stepping out on your front porch, taking a couple of deep abdominal breaths and taking in some of that fall or winter air.”
Additionally, “talking to your neighbor while maintaining social distance will still provide some connections with people that might combat some of that loneliness,” she said.
Simply being in the presence of others can help to counteract some of the effects of loneliness, Martina Witter, a cognitive behavioral therapist and founder of Rapha Therapy Services in the U.K., told HuffPost. That could mean taking a walk in the park, taking a drive through town or going to the store (if it’s safe to do so, of course).
Implement a morning routine.
Being strategic about how you spend your mornings can offer a salve, since it helps build structure — “even if it’s just sitting down, having a cup of coffee and being mindful of how it tastes,” Timbo said, adding that having a set routine can help boost a person’s overall well-being.
If you can, spend time with pets.
We’ve seen animals work their healing magic in various settings ― including airports, nursing homes and hospitals ― and those same benefits can extend to one’s personal life at home, too.
“Research suggests that pets can help with combating loneliness and enhancing an individual’s mental health,” Witter said.
If you don’t have a pet of your own, Witter recommends becoming an animal’s foster parent. (You can visit your local animal services site or shelters to find foster programs.) Even spending some time by a dog park could help.
Talk about your loneliness.
Nothing feels lonelier than suffering alone. It may feel uncomfortable to talk about what you’re experiencing, but reaching out to a friend or family member you trust can build a sense of connectedness.
“We know that you can feel lonely even if [you have] many friends, family or are an extrovert,” Witter said. “Beginning to open up to family and friends about how you truly feel can allow you to authentically connect and develop more robust relationships.”
Start that new hobby you’ve been wanting to try.
“Learning a new language, learning a new skill such as cooking or writing or something aligned with your values can help to combat loneliness,” Witter said.
Not only does participating in a new activity potentially connect you with others who have the same hobby, but research shows that it can put you in a mental state of “flow,” which can help combat adverse mental health effects caused by the pandemic.
Volunteer online.
Volunteering can help someone who’s lonely by offering a sense of camaraderie and positive change, Timbo said. You’ll be making a difference in other people’s lives ― people who may also be dealing with isolation right now.
By volunteering, you might be able to help someone else out “just by interacting and engaging in conversation and encouraging that person,” she said. “It opens the door for people to begin to talk about something that they’re struggling with,” which can help ease loneliness.
Check out some virtual volunteer hubs to find an opportunity that appeals to you.
Create your own traditions.
Loneliness can often trick you into thinking that you lack control (because after all, no one chooses to feel this way). Combat this by creating your own holiday traditions. It helps you feel like you have a say in the circumstances right now.
Prepare special meals, choose holiday decor themes, create a holiday movie marathon or organize a gift exchange with others who are also lonely. This can help divert your focus to something that gives you a sense of anticipation and cause for celebration.
Adjust the way you use social media.
Your newsfeed may offer the mirage of feeling connected to others, but scrolling too often provokes the opposite. Research shows that spending just 30 minutes a day on social media can reduce loneliness and depression. However, prolonged, mindless scrolling can hurt your well-being.
Add the barrage of gift and smile-filled selfies of people seemingly having the best holiday of their lives during one of the most dire and consequential parts of the pandemic and it’ll only make things worse. Focus on protecting your peace: Reduce the time you spend on social media, mute accounts that make you feel bad about your circumstances and use your devices as mindfully as you can.
Start practicing any coping strategies now.
Whether it’s a combination of some of the tips above or a plan entirely of your own making, be proactive about implementing coping strategies. Address holiday loneliness as soon as possible so you don’t feel like you’re taking on too much at once.
“I would start now — kind of get into the habit of implementing small things and then try to keep it going throughout the year,” Timbo said. “Sometimes, I think we bite off more than we can chew. … The goal is too big and daunting, and then we’re overwhelmed.”
But by implementing tasks slowly, “we’ll have a hodgepodge of things we can do [to combat loneliness] throughout the holidays, and then throughout the year in general,” Timbo said.
Remind yourself why you’re staying home this year and that whatever you’re feeling is OK.
If this is your first year spending the holidays alone, remind yourself of the reason: You’re keeping your loved ones, your community and yourself healthy and safe. If this year isn’t the first time you’re dealing with holiday loneliness, know that it’s normal if it doesn’t feel any easier.
Regardless of your circumstances, whatever you’re feeling is valid. If it becomes too much to manage, reach out to a mental health professional or a mental health text line. There are people who can help you deal with what you’re going through right now.
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