Born on this day!! Singer Bonnie Bramlett is 78. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 73. Former “Entertainment Tonight” host Mary Hart is 72. Former Playboy CEO Christie Hefner is 70. Actor Alfre Woodard is 70. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 68. Guitarist Pearl Thompson (formerly Porl Thompson) of The Cure is 65. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 61. TV chef Gordon Ramsay is 56. Actor Courtney Thorne-Smith is 55. Actor Parker Posey is 54. Singer Diana King is 52. Bassist Scott Devendorf of The National is 50. Actor Gretchen Mol is 50. Actor Matthew Rhys (“The Americans,” “Brothers and Sisters”) is 48. Actor Tara Reid (“Sharknado,” ″American Pie”) is 47. Singer Bucky Covington (“American Idol”) is 45. Actor Dania Ramirez (“Devious Maids,” ″Entourage”) is 43. TV personality Jack Osbourne (“The Osbournes”) is 37. Actor Jessica Lowndes (“90210″) is 34. Singer SZA is 33. Singer-actor Riker Lynch (“Glee”) is 31. Singer Lauren Alaina (“American Idol”) is 28. Actor Van Crosby (“Splitting Up Together”) is 20.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1889 – Montana became the 41st state.
1892 – Former president Grover Cleveland beat incumbent Benjamin Harrison and became the only president to win nonconsecutive terms in the White House.
1923 – Adolf Hitler attempted, and failed, to seize control of the German government in the Beer Hall Putsch.
1960 – John F. Kennedy defeated Richard M. Nixon for the presidency of the United States.
1966 – Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts became the first African American to be elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction.
1994 – After a 40-year Democrat domination, the Republican Party gained control of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as a Senate majority.

Today Is: Abet and Aid Punsters Day, Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day, Dunce Day, Election Day, Intersex Day of Remembrance, National Parents As Teachers Day, National S.T.E.M./S.T.E.A.M. Day, Shakespeare Authorship Mystery Day, World Orphans Day, X-ray Day

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 – Election Night
NBC – 8:00  – Election Night
ABC – 8:00 –  Election Night
FOX – 8:00 – The Resident  /  9:00 – Monarch
CW – 8:00 –  The Winchesters /  9:00 – Professionals

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Kimmel: George Conway, Breland
Jimmy Fallon: Pre-empted
Stephen Colbert: John Dickerson, Mike Birbiglia
Seth Meyers: Pre-empted
James Corden: Pete Buttigieg, Simone Biles, Jessie Baylin (R 9/7/22)
Watch What Happens Live: Laverne Cox, Antoni Porowski
The Talk: Melissa Fumero, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Constance Zimmer
Kelly Clarkson: Terry Bradshaw, Brandon Kyle Goodman, Mergui
Tamron Hall: Angela Bassett
Drew Barrymore: Pete Buttigieg
Jennifer Hudson: Shania Twain, Jodie Turner-Smith

WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!

QUESTION: Crook of the week?? A thief at a Louis Vuitton store in Seattle grabs $18,000 worth of purses, then runs full-speed into a plate glass window, knocking himself out!!

 

QUESTION: How DARE you?? Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw is under fire after he made an inappropriate ad-lib this weekend on “NFL Sunday” with the word “suicide!!!!!!!” 

 

QUESTION: How DID this mom DROP 30 POUNDS and CLEAR UP HER SKIN?? A diet that consists only of BUTTER, BACON and BURGERS!!! Hey… WE could so THAT!!!!!!!!!

 

QUESTION: Is it ELECTION DAY?? That means CHELSEA HANDLER must “encourage people to vote” by pulling out her GIGANTIC, FLABBY BOOBS!!! Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!

QUESTION: Planning a trip to a national park, to LICK A TOAD AND GET HIGH?? We thought so!! Well, the Parks Service says, “PLEASE DON’T LICK THE TOADS!!!!”

Jimmy Kimmel To Host Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the 95th Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles on March 12^th.   He previously hosted the Oscars broadcasts in 2017 and 2018.  Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner will serve as executive producers and showrunners for the 2023 prize presentation by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  “Jimmy is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars. His love of movies, live TV expertise, and ability to connect with our global audiences will create an unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang said in a joint statement Monday.  Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes hosted the 2022 edition of the Oscars.
****He should be very comfortable… since he’s slept with most of the audience!!
*****In the past, very popular, highly-rated late night hosts have emceed the Oscars.. but this year, all we’ve got is Kimmel!!
*******If HE gets slapped, he’ll start sniveling as usual!!
****By the second hour, we’ll be slapping OURSELVES just to stay awake!!

Jessica Simpson Responds To Critics

Jessica Simpson says she’s feeling “angry” and “defensive” over comments she received on her now-viral ad for Pottery Barn.  She posted a video of herself passionately singing along to her song “Party of One” with emphasis on the “‘I don’t give a f–k about you” line.  “I needed to be in my studio today because this is where I ground myself and heal,” she began her lengthy Instagram message.  “As much as I have learned to block out destructive noise … people’s comments and judgments can still hurt deeply with their incessant nagging ‘You will never be good enough.’”  Simpson noted that she’s five years sober from alcohol and through that journey, she learned she can get through any battle that comes her way — no matter what trolls say.  Simpson concluded her message with a note of advice for her followers: “Live inside your dreams and move through them. Don’t give up on yourself because someone else did. Stay true to YOU.”
********Why would we take advice from someone who’s a hot mess???
*****Remember: those people on social media aren’t real unless they have blue check marks!!

Rebel Wilson Is A New Mom

Rebel Wilson announced on Instagram Monday that she welcomed her first child, a baby girl named Royce Lillian, via surrogate.  “Beyond proud to announce the birth of my first child, Royce Lillian, born this past week via surrogate I can’t even describe the love I have for her, she’s a beautiful miracle!” Wilson captioned a photo of her newborn lying down on a blanket.  She said she was “forever grateful” to everyone involved in her surrogacy journey and called out her “gorgeous surrogate who carried her and birthed her with such grace and care.”  “Thank you for helping me start my own family, it’s an amazing gift. The BEST gift!!” Wilson concluded. “I am ready to give little Roycie all the love imaginable. I am learning quickly…much respect to all the Mums out there! Proud to be in your club.  Wilson also shared a photo of herself holding pink balloons as she stood next to stacked blocks that read “BABY.”
*****Very heartwarming!!

Sylvester Stallone Looks At His Priorities

In a new cover story for The Hollywood Reporter, Sylvester Stallone discussed making a reality series with his family and whether his recent reconciliation with wife Jennifer Flavin will be included in the show.  “Of course it’s part of the show,” said Stallone. “It’s the John Lennon thing: ‘Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.’ Hopefully you’re involved with people who understand the foibles of life and the fragility of it and how rare a real good relationship is.”  “Sometimes I put the work ahead of [my family], and that is a tragic mistake which won’t happen again,” he added.  He explained that he feels “as though I wasted a lot of time” in his career and “now I realize there are only so many bullets left in the gun.”  “When you’re young, you’re just haphazardly shooting wildly and hope you hit something. Now you don’t have the luxury of missing — especially with the family and the kids. I find that to be my biggest regret,” said Stallone. “Everyone goes, ‘I wish I’d shown love more,’ or ‘I wish I’d spent more time with the kids.’ I’m riding that boat. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do the reality show that I’ve been taking a lot of s— for.”  He added of the reality show, “This is a chance where I’m going to be with my kids under a work condition where they get to see me in action and I get to see them in action. What you will see is the real truth. This is a great opportunity.”
********That Reality Show Curse will REALLY put his marriage to the test!!
********When we think of keeping our marriage together, we do NOT think, “Let’s do a reality show!!”
****Many of his fans think that Rocky WAS a documentary!!

Britney Spears Says She Suffers From Nerve Damage

Britney Spears revealed to her fans and followers that she has nerve damage on the right side of her body.  She opened up about the health issues she’s been experiencing while sharing another one of her dancing videos on the social media platform.  Revealing there’s’ no cure’ for her nerve damage, she confessed the pain and numbness has affected her sleep, but has found that dancing helps alleviate some of the symptoms.  ‘I’m dancing in time now Victoria … yes … nerve damage on the right side of my body … there’s no cure except God I guess,’ she began in the caption, without explaining exactly who Victoria is. She continued: ‘nerve damage is caused sometimes when you don’t get enough oxygen to your brain … your brain literally shuts down … blah blah blah old story … in that place I didn’t breathe when I was there … nerve damage causes parts of your body to go numb.’  Spears revealed she wakes up ‘like three times a week in bed with my hands are completely numb’ and feelings of ‘pins and needles’ on the right side of her body.  ‘It shoots up to my neck and the part that hurts the worst is my temple on my head … it stings and it’s scary,’ she explained, adding how ‘the last 3 years since I got out of that place I’ve been in a mild unconscious state … I couldn’t face it.’
********She gets on OUR nerves, that’s for sure!!
******We must have nerve damage, because we get a “numb skull” every morning!!

 

Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!

Billie Goes Bonkers For Singer Jesse-(National Enquirer)

Singer Billie Eilis, 20, has a new man in her life!  The “Happier Than Ever” singer was spotted smooching singer-songwriter Jesse Rutherford-who is 11 years older than the “Ocean Eyes” hitmaker.  Just two days after they were seen grabbing a bite to eat, Eilish and The Neighborhood frontman were celebrating deliciously spooky times together at Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights!

 

STUPID NEWS

Hungry Bear

A bear broke into a car in British Columbia and destroyed a door while seeking out some leftovers from the owner’s lunch.  Stefan Halas said his car was parked outside of his Maple Ridge home when the bear was apparently attracted to his vehicle by some left-behind food. “There was a window on the ground and paw prints on the door,” Halas told Global News. “We knew instantly it must have been a bear. It kind of turned my car into a pop can and crushed it.”  Halas’ car was badly damaged, but it wasn’t the bear’s only target.  “All of our car doors were open and our neighbor’s car doors were open too,” Halas’ mother, Anne Taylor, said.  Black bears across North America are more active currently as they work to consume about 20,000 calories a day in preparation for hibernation.
*********Sounds like our teenage son!!!
*******The most important thing you can have in bear country is.. a garage!!
*******The FBI is working to collect paw prints for their database!!

Deer Heads Into JC Penney

A JCPenney store at a Pennsylvania mall was closed temporarily when a deer wandered into the store and made its way to a dressing room.  Employees at the Qdoba restaurant at the Park City Center mall in Lancaster said the deer entered the mall through a door near the eatery and ran into the nearby JCPenney store.  Witnesses said the deer wandered through the store and ended up in a dressing room.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission was contacted and personnel responded to escort the deer back outdoors.
*****As Homer Simpson would say: “Doe!!!”
*******She was taken out of the store, but was able to bite off a few anti-theft tags along the way!

Dog Paints With His Tongue

A one-eared dog named Van Gogh is channeling his namesake by using his tongue to create works of art at a Connecticut rescue.  Van Gogh, a 7-year-old boxer-pit bull mix, was rescued from a North Carolina dog fighting ring and had ear injuries so severe it had to be amputated, the Happily Furever After Rescue said.  Jaclyn Gartner, the founder of the rescue group, said she taught Van Gogh to paint with his tongue by putting paint and canvas into a plastic bag coated with peanut butter.  The rescue held a gallery show for Van Gogh, but only two people came to see the canine’s artwork. His paintings have since gone viral online, leading to about 30 of his works being sold for $40 each to benefit the rescue.
********His paintings aren’t that good, but he gets a lot of dates!!!
*****If Hunter Biden can do it, so can he!!!

Fastest Clapper!

An Iowa man broke a Guinness World Record by clapping his hands 1,140 times in one minute.  Dalton Meyer, 20, of Davenport, said his interest in speed clapping began when he was in elementary school and he saw a YouTube video of Kent French, who was once known as the fastest clapper in the world.  “It came naturally to me, it was like I didn’t even have to practice,” Meyer told the Quad-City Times. “Really, I just for some reason knew how to do it.”  Meyer said his record attempt used the wrist clapping technique developed by the previous Guinness World Record holder, Eli Bishop, who managed 1,103 claps in one minute. Wrist clapping is a technique that involves using the wrist and fingers to slap the palm of the other hand.  See the video HERE!
*********All of that masturbation finally paid off!!!

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

 

VIDEO: GUY PLAYS MOZART ON HIS ACTUAL PIANO!

VIDEO: DOGS ALMOST BURN DOWN THE HOUSE.

 

A LIST FOR TUESDAY

 

9 Moves to Make Before the End of 2022 to Save Money on Taxes Next Year

The Penny Hoarder

 

1. Step Up Your 401(k) Contributions

Lowering your taxable income is one of the best ways to pay less in taxes.  The easiest way to reduce your taxable income is to contribute to tax-deferred retirement accounts, like your company’s 401(k) plan or some other type of workplace retirement plan, like a 403(b) plan.  Money you contribute to a 401(k) is pre-tax money and it helps lower your taxable income for the year you make the contribution. Less income means less money you pay to the government.  So, if you make $50,000 in 2022 and contribute $3,000 to your workplace 401(K), it looks like you only made $47,000 in the eyes of the IRS.

For 2022, you can contribute up to $20,500 for those under 50, and up to $27,000 for those 50 and older. This doesn’t include the amount your employer contributes to your plan.

2. Max Out a Traditional IRA

Just like that company-sponsored retirement plan we were talking about, the funds you contribute to your traditional individual retirement account (IRA) don’t count toward your taxable income.  This type of retirement account is different from a Roth IRA, where contributions are taxed today but then grow tax-free thereafter.  For 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000 to an IRA, or $7,000 if you’re over the age of 50.

You have until April 18, 2023, to max out your IRA contribution for the 2022 calendar year.  An important caveat: You may not get the full tax benefit of contributing to both a 401(k) and an IRA if you or your spouse is covered by an employer-sponsored retirement plan.

If you have access to a 401(k), you need to make less than $68,000 in 2022 as a single person (or $109,000 as a married couple) to get the full IRA tax deduction. The tax benefit phases out for people with higher incomes who are covered by an employer retirement plan.

Head to the IRS website for full details on these phase-out limits.

3. Contribute to a Health Savings Account

A health savings account (HSA), is a great tax-exempt option if you have a high deductible health plan.  Your payroll contributions to an HSA are made with pre-tax income (aka you’re not taxed) and neither are your withdrawals, as long as they’re used to pay medical expenses that are qualified.  In 2022, the annual contribution limit is $3,650 for self-only coverage and $7,300 for family coverage. People 55 and older can contribute an extra $1,000 as a catch-up contribution

You can also make direct contributions to your HSA on your own and claim a tax deduction for that amount when you file your tax return. This can be a quick and easy way to reduce your tax burden before the end of the year.  Just remember: Your payroll HSA contributions and your personal contributions combined cannot exceed the annual limit.

You can leave funds in your HSA indefinitely since they’re not subject to required minimum distributions. (And if you’re like most of us, you’ll have more health care-related costs as you get older, anyway.)

4. Don’t Forget Your FSA or Dependent Care Expenses

A flexible spending account (FSA) is similar to an HSA in that you’re allowed to contribute pre-tax dollars from your paycheck each year.

And yes, that means you can reduce your taxable income with an FSA, therefore paying less in taxes.

The limit in 2022 is $3,050.

Keep in mind you’ll have to use up the money during the calendar year on qualifying expenses for you and qualifying dependents.

Have dependents — aka children or elderly members of your household — you’re taking care of? If your employer offers a dependent care FSA account, you can contribute up to $5,000 in pre-tax dollars to go toward expenses such as day care, after-school care and preschool.

Why not save money on child care and on your tax bill at the same time?

5. Save Money for Your Kid’s College Fund

If you’ve got kids, chances are you’re already gritting your teeth thinking about paying for college.

According to the National Center of Education Statistics, the average cost of college tuition is about $9,400 per year at a public school and $37,600 per year at a private institution (yikes!).

To help pay these costs and hopefully save yourself some money on taxes, consider opening a 529 savings plan.

This account is an investment vehicle specifically built for educational savings. You can use it to pay for your kids’ college tuition or even to send yourself or your spouse to school.

The exact tax benefits vary by state — more than 30 states offer full or partial tax deduction or credits on 529 contributions.

6. Pay Off Some Student Loan Debt

Depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), you may be able to deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest when you file taxes.

This is an “above-the-line” deduction, which means you can take it even if you opt for the standard deduction.

Borrowers can now apply for up to $20,000 in federal loan forgiveness now through Dec. 31.

If you still have a loan balance after receiving the forgiveness, consider paying off some interest on your loans before the end of 2022 to receive a tax deduction.

7. Know Your Itemized Deductions

Several tax deductions are only available if you itemize.

A majority of Americans — about 85% — take the standard deduction, which is $12,950 for single filers or $25,900 for joint filers for the 2022 tax year.

Itemizing only makes sense if you have enough deductions to exceed the standard deduction — which most people don’t.

If you itemize your taxes, here are a few deductions that can help lower your tax bill.

Major medical bills: In general, if you’ve spent more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) on qualified medical expenses, you may be able to write them off if you itemize your deductions.

Charitable donations: Looking for a way to pay less in taxes … and get that warm, fuzzy feeling? Charitable contributions are tax-deductible if you itemize your deductions. Make sure to track the estimated value of your contributions to save you time when you file.

Mortgage interest and local property taxes: These may both be eligible for partial deductions, though you’ll need to itemize your tax return.

Business-related deductions: If you’re a freelancer or you work from home, you should also look into business-related deductions, like the cost of your home office space.

You might also be able to deduct certain supplies, travel expenses and even meals and entertainment.

8. Take Advantage of Tax Credits

In certain scenarios, the IRS extends tax credits to eligible taxpayers. Tax credits count as an actual reduction of your total tax bill. (Remember: Tax deductions reduce your taxable income.)

If the tax credit is refundable, you’ll get a refund if your tax credits exceed what you owe.

For instance, if you would have owed $500 and claim $1,000 in tax credits, not only will your payment be waived — you’ll also receive a $500 tax refund.

Here are a few tax credits you may qualify for:

American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credits: Depending on your enrollment status, AGI, and how you’ve paid for educational expenses, you may be entitled to the American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning Credits. (Check out this quick quiz from the IRS, which will tell you if you’re qualified in just 10 minutes.)

Earned Income Tax Credit: Low- to moderate-income workers may be eligible to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the federal government’s largest refundable tax credits. You could be eligible for up to $6,935 in federal income tax credits, though the exact amount depends on your income, marital status and number of qualified dependents.

You can also qualify as a single person with no dependents if your AGI is below $16,480 in 2022. (College students and retirees with part-time jobs — we’re looking at you.) For details, check out the IRS’ Earned Income Tax Credit fact sheet.

Saver’s Credit: If you’re a low- or middle-income worker, you can claim the Saver’s Credit by adding money to a 401(k) or IRA. The credit is worth up to $1,000 for single filers or $2,000 for married couples.

Your AGI needs to be below $34,000 if you’re single or $68,000 if you’re married to qualify for the Saver’s Credit. But get this: You can claim the credit in addition to any tax deduction you receive by making qualified retirement savings contributions.

9. Adjust Your Withholdings

The W-4 tax form is one you give to your employer specifying how much of your wages should be withheld for taxes.

It might seem intuitive to keep your withholdings as low as possible to keep more of your paycheck. However, if you find you owe taxes in April, you might want to go in and tweak your withholding claim so you don’t run into the same problem each tax season.

 

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.
© 2022 – Radio Genius Show Prep