Born on this day!! Actor L.Q. Jones (“The Virginian”) is 93. Actor Debra Paget (“Love Me Tender”) is 87. Actor Diana Muldaur (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 82. Singer Johnny Nash is 80. Actor Jill St. John is 80. Singer Billy J. Kramer is 77. Country singer-songwriter Eddy Raven is 76. Singer Ian Gillan of Deep Purple is 75. Actor Gerald McRaney is 73. Actor Jim Carter (“Downton Abbey”) is 72. Singer-guitarist Elliot Lurie of Looking Glass is 72. Bassist John Deacon of Queen is 69. Actor Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 68. Actor Peter Gallagher is 65. Actor Adam Arkin is 64. Singer-songwriter Gary Chapman is 63. Actor Martin Donovan is 63. Singer Ivan Neville is 61. Actor Eric Lutes (“Caroline In The City”) is 58. Actor John Stamos is 57. Actor Kyra Sedgwick is 55. Actor Kevin Dillon (“Entourage”) is 55. Country singer Lee Ann Womack is 54. Former MTV reporter Tabitha Soren is 53. Country singer Clay Walker is 51. Actor Matthew Perry (“Friends”) is 51. Rapper Fat Joe is 50. Actor Tracie Thoms (“Cold Case”) is 45. Actor Erika Christensen (“Parenthood”) is 38. Actor Melissa Fumero (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) is 38. Actor Tammin Sursok (“Pretty Little Liars”) is 37. Singer Karli Osborn (SHeDaisy) is 36. Rapper Romeo (formerly Lil’ Romeo) is 31. Actor Ethan Cutkosky (TV’s “Shameless”) is 21.
THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY
1812 – The U.S. frigate Constitution, Old Ironsides, defeated the British ship Guerriere during the War of 1812.
1934 – Germans voted to combine the roles of the chancellor and president, making Adolf Hitler Fuhrer.
1936 – Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca was shot by Franco’s soldiers during the Spanish Civil War.
1960 – American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was convicted of espionage in Moscow.
1977 – omedian Groucho Marx died in Los Angeles at age 86.
2003 – U.N. special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello was one of 22 killed when a suicide car bomb struck the UN’s Baghdad headquarters.
Today Is: Aviation Day, Root Beer Float Day, Coco Chanel Day, International Bow Day, International Orangutan Day, National Medical Dosimetrist Day, World Humanitarian Day, World Photo Day
TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)
CBS – 8:00 – Big Brother / 9:00 – Tough As Nails / 10:00 – National Convention
NBC – 8:00 – America’s Got Talent / 9:00 – Ellen’s Game Of Games / 10:00 – National Convention
ABC – 8:00 – United We Fall / 8:30 – The Goldbergs / 9:00 – The Conners / 9:30 – American Housewives / 10:00 – National Convention
FOX – 8:00 – MasterChef
CW – 8:00 – The 100 / 9:00 – Coroner
TV Talk Shows
Jimmy Kimmel: Zendaya, MUNA & the Knocks, guest host Ben Platt
Jimmy Fallon: Tyler Perry, Maisie Williams, Trevor Daniel
Stephen Colbert: Sen. Bernie Sanders
Seth Meyers: Sandra Oh, Gayle King, Thomas Land
James Corden: Ethan Hawke, Chris Tomlin featuring Florida Georgia Line & Thomas Rhett
Lilly Singh: Nikki & Brie Bella (R 10/10/19)
Daily Show: The Daily Social Distancing Show
Conan: Chris Redd (R 7/15/20)
The View: Amy Schumer (R 7/14/20)
The Talk: Mike Colter, guest co-host Vanessa L. Williams (R 9/26/19)
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Debra Messing, Daveed Diggs, Adriene Mishler, Caroline Rhea (R)
Ellen DeGeneres: Shia LaBeouf, Jon Dorenbos, Hootie & the Blowfish (R 11/5/19)
Wendy Williams: Karamo Brown, Jason “Rachel” Brown (R 11/7/19)
The Real: Sherry Cola, Cierra Ramirez (R 3/4/20)
Kelly Clarkson: Sean Hayes, Jena Malone
Tamron Hall: John Legend, Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge, “Points Guy” Brian Kelly (R 6/23/20)
WHAT ARE YOU TALKIN’ ABOUT? Here are today’s PPM-Friendly Topics!
QUESTION: Now THIS? First the ‘Rona virus, then MURDER HORNETS and MEAT-EATING LIZARDS, now.. the TOOTH FAIRY IS RUNNING OUT OF COINS!!!
QUESTION: What has she GOT?? Last year she got the head of Warner Bros. fired, and this year, she took down the head of NBC Universal!!! #MeToo #HotStuff!!
QUESTION: Could a REALITY SHOW be in their future?? Meghan and Harry are shopping a “top secret project” in Hollywood!! How about “MEET THE MARKLES??”
QUESTION: Are you WORRIED ABOUT THE POST OFFICE? Don’t be! CLIFF CLAVIN has a plan!! Check out John Ratzenberger’s ideas to make it all better!!!!!!!!!!!
QUESTION: What’s the first thing you do during a “virtual streaming convention??” YOU TURN OFF THE COMMENTS!!! (They forgot… oooops!!)
Brad and Jenn To Reunite!
Brad Pitt and Jimmy Kimmel will join a live virtual table read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High to benefit COVID-19 relief efforts, Sean Penn’s non-profit has announced. The non-profit, CORE, which stands for Community Organized Relief Effort, announced on Facebook and on Instagram that Pitt and Kimmel will participate in the reading of the 1982 film, along with Penn. They will join previously announced celebrities in the reading, including Pitt’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman, Julia Roberts, Matthew McConaughey, Shia LeBeouf and Henry Golding. Comedian Dane Cook will host the charity event titled Feelin’ A Live: Fast Times At Ridgemont High. The virtual live table read is now slated to air on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. ET to not conflict with Thursday’s Democratic National Convention. It will stream on Facebook.comCOREResponse or TikTok.com/COREResponse.
******Brad and Jenn… sneakin’ around to be together again!! Figures!!
*****Jimmy will do the show in blackface!! It’s his thing!
******Can they work Bernie Sanders into the cast? He’s available!!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles Remake
Will Smith and Kevin Hart are teaming up for a new comedy — a remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Variety confirmed the production at Paramount. Hart shared the news on Instagram. In his post, he confirmed the film would be set in Philadelphia. “We found it and are developing it together with our teams,” Hart wrote. “This will be huge for us and the city of brotherly love aka Philadelphia….. let’s goooooo.” John Hughes wrote and directed 1987’s Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Steve Martin played Neal Page, a husband and father trying desperately to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. He meets curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (John Candy) on his flight. The reports did not say whether Smith or Hart would play the roles corresponding to Candy and Martin.
*******No one will believe this!! Who would want to go home to Philly???!!!
*****People are trying to get OUT of that city!!
*****An updated version would be “Bird Scooters, Lyfts and Ubers!!”
Past Tweet Haunts Ellen
A resurfaced tweet from Ellen DeGeneres appeared to show that her “be kind” mantra didn’t extend to her staff. “I made one of my employees cry like a baby on today’s show,” she wrote on June 5, 2009. “Honestly, it felt good.” It comes amid her attempt to apologize for her alleged toxic behavior behind the scenes of her eponymous talk show. On a Zoom call Monday, DeGeneres addressed her employees and said she had no clue where the rumored no-eye-contact rule began and that she was going to work to interact more with her staff. She also announced the ouster of three top producers from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”: executive producers Ed Glavin and Kevin Leman and co-executive producer Jonathan Norman.
********She tried to make eye contact with someone yesterday and they were vaporized!!
******It’s hard to make eye contact when you’re whipping someone!!
*******She has taken personal responsibility.. and that’s why she fired her producers!!
Ryan Reynolds Sells Off Aviation Gin
When someone now tries to email Ryan Reynolds, this bounceback is received: “Thanks for your email. I am currently out of the office but will still be very hard at work selling Aviation Gin. For quite a long time, it seems.” He continues: “In related news, I just learned what an ‘earn out’ is… And I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to everyone I told to go f**k themselves in the last 24 hours. My lawyers just explained how long it takes to achieve an ‘earn out’… so… turns out I’m not as George Clooney as I thought. The point is, to those listed below, I’m sorry… and I’ll indeed be needing your help in the coming months and years. Thanks in advance!” Spirits giant Diageo, the alcohol giant which owns spirits like Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, announced Monday its agreement to take Reynolds’ American-style gin under its wing. Reynolds will retain an ongoing ownership interest in the gin. The deal is worth up to $610 million, and includes an initial payment of $335 million and further potential consideration of up to $275 million based on sales of Aviation American Gin during a 10-year period, Diageo said. Diageo’s spirits portfolio also includes gins like Tanqueray and Gordon’s.
********Which gin does the Queen drink??
******It’s called “Aviation Gin” because airline pilots keep a bottle in the cockpit!!
*******Now Ryan is hanging out with cool people like Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Capt. Morgan!!
Kanye West Wants A Jesus TikTok
Kanye West has devised a way to make TikTok less of a cesspool for sin — by creating a child-friendly, Christian version of the video app. “A vision just came to me… Jesus Tok,” Tweeted West on Monday. The self-proclaimed “Christian Dad” was reportedly inspired after watching TikTok with his daughter and being “disturbed by a lot of the content” despite loving the technology. Indeed, the clip-sharing platform has been slammed by critics recently for its sordid clips ranging from Nazi-lauding videos to potentially deadly stunts. Yeezy pledged in a subsequent Tweet that he would “collaborate with TikTok to make a Christian monitored version that feels safe for young children and the world in Jesus’ name.” It’s unclear what the makeover would entail, however online detractors pointed out that many of Ye’s past songs have been anything but wholesome. One Twitter critic quoted West’s 2018 hit “I Love it,” which features the verse “I’m a sick f–k, I like a quick f–k, I like my d–k sucked.” “Stop using drugs,” wrote another.
********Anything you do with Tik Tok will have to go through the Chinese!!
******According to the President, it should be “Trump Tok!!”
Ripping The Tabloids (Throughout the week, we’ll give you the stories from that weeks tabs!)
**Please Credit Publication!
Blaine Works Magic On Madonna’s Pain!-(National Enquirer)
David Blaine is helping pal Madonna heal her crippled leg, sources said! The 62-year-old singer suffered hip and knee injuries on her Madame Z World Tour, leaving her teetering on crutches. In addition to receiving regenerative treatment for damaged and missing cartilage, Madge has leaned on her magician pal, according to insiders, hoping he can work his magic on her impairments! Madonna and the illusionist got close when he helped heal her rift with son Rocco after she fought for custody of the boy with ex-husband Guy Richie. David, 47 was also pictured with Madonna’s clan skiing in Switzerland in 2016.
Breakup!-(Globe)
Talk about a strikeout! Three days after announcing she was pregnant with a boy, 28-year-old “Riverdale” star Vanessa Morgan’s husband, Chicago White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech, 24, filed for a divorce. The pair married in January.
Tiffany & Common: Off the Market-(Us Weekly)
Tiffany Haddish’s wish has come true! One year after she said she was looking for a man wo would “not [try] to make me less than who I am,” the actress, 40, found the one: rapper Common. “This is hands down the best relationship I’ve ever been in,” Haddish said in a recent podcast interview, confirming they’re a couple. “I’m just way happier, and it’s like knowing I got somebody that cares about me, that really has my back…..And I love it. I love him.”
Mike & Carrie: Stronger Than Ever!-(Star)
On a recent episode of Mike and Carrie: God & Country, their faith-based web series, Carrie Underwood didn’t hold back about overcoming her differences with husband Mike Fisher. “We have spirited discussions about things that we disagree on,” the singer, 37, admitted. “But at the end of the day, we love each other very much.” Digging deep during the difficult times, says the insider, the American Idol winner and her husband “got even closer”-and in 2019, they welcomed son Jacob. With their family now complete, the couple can shift their focus to doting on the kids-and each other. “Mike picks date-night activities,” says the confidant. “And they work out, cook and fish together.”
Say What?!-(Life & Style)
“Since I’ve owned a home, I’ve ever been able to be there more than two weeks max at a time.”-Blake Shelton, on relishing his time in self-isolation in Oklahoma.
“I’m not coming back if I have to wear pants or bottoms of any kind. I like this from the waist up thing that we’re doing.”-Kelly Ripa, on returning to the Live with Kelly and Ryan studios.
Split: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn-(People)
The model-singer, 22, and her boyfriend and bandmate Glenn broke up after two years. “Gabe showed me love does exist,” Jackson said.
Loser of the Week-(In Touch)
Jake Paul
The controversial YouTuber’s Calabasas, Calif., house gets raided by the FB
STUPID NEWS
It’s Raining Chocolate!
A Swiss candy company confirmed a malfunction in a factory ventilation system caused cocoa powder to rain down on the surrounding area. Residents of Olten reported spotting snow-like cocoa powder in the air and on the ground near the city’s Lindt & Spruengli candy factory. Lindt & Spruengli confirmed Tuesday that the chocolate rain was the result of a ventilation system malfunction during the production of a line of roasted cocoa nibs, fragments of crushed cocoa beans. The company said strong winds in recent days caused the powder to spread around the surrounding area. Officials said they would cover any cleaning costs for vehicles or other property covered in the cocoa powder.
********We volunteer to lick it off!!
******Chocolate Rain… wasn’t that a Prince album??
*******A good rain, a heat wave, and presto!! Hot cocoa!!!
Check Your Cars For Bugs!
Residents of eight New Jersey counties are being encouraged to inspect their cars before leaving the area to help curb the spread of invasive insects. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture said spotted lanternflies, a species native to China and South Korea, are suspected to be spreading in Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Somerset counties. The counties are being placed under quarantine to help slow the spread of the insects, which officials said pose a danger to more than 70 plant species. “The department asks that anyone who travels in a quarantined county do a quick inspection of their vehicle for the spotted lanternfly before leaving,” the Department of Agriculture said. The statement said the species is known to be “an excellent hitchhiker.” It first arrived in 2014 in Pennsylvania, where 26 counties are currently under quarantine. “We have been working diligently to slow the advance of this bug,” department Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “We are targeting areas where severe infestations have been confirmed, and we also encourage residents to destroy the spotted lanternfly if possible when they see it. It will take a combined effort to help keep this pest from spreading.”
********Do you get the feeling that China is using insects and viruses to attack the U.S.? Seriously??
*******Now we need face masks… AND fly swatters!!
*******This is strange… because the fly is New Jersey’s State Bird!!
Drive-Thru Haunted House
A haunted house company in Japan came up with an unusual way to keep the scares going amid the COVID-19 pandemic: a drive-in haunted house. Kowagarasetai, a production company specializing in haunted houses and horror events, launched what it calls the world’s first drive-in haunted house as a means of keeping customers and performers safe during the coronavirus outbreak. “With the virus, I knew there would be no way we could have a traditional haunted house, with all that screaming in a small confined space,” company founder Kenta Iwana told CNN Travel. “When I read that drive-through theaters were making a comeback, it was my ‘aha’ moment.” The haunted house costs $75 for customers who bring their own cars, or $85 to borrow a car from the company. The borrowed cars feature protective plastic on the inside that is changed for each customer. The vehicles pull into a garage and are treated a simulation of being trapped inside a vehicle being attacked by zombies and ghosts. Customers’ vehicles are cleaned after each performance, but the company cautions that some fake blood may remain. See the video HERE.
********During the pandemic, the scariest thing is someone breathing on you!!
******They also have a gigantic coronavirus that eats your front bumper!!
******As you drive out, they show the scariest part: gas prices!!
Bug Sniffing Dog Retires
Officials in New York said the city’s two bedbug-sniffing beagles will retiring after many years of service. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development said the dogs, Nemo, 10, and Mickey, 11, have taken part in more than 30,000 inspections since becoming the department’s bedbug sniffers in 2011. The department said Mickey and Nemo, named for popular Disney characters, will retire within the next of couple years, once the city has identified and trained replacement canines. The dogs will spend their retirement in the care of a member of the department.
*******They enjoy sniffing bedbugs. Apparently they smell like a dog’s butt!!
*****Now that they’re retired, they can increase their nap time from 20 to 22 hours a day!!
******Since they work in New York, they also know how to use a weapon!!!
STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL
VIDEO: FAMILY ESCAPES CRAZY WIND STORM IN IOWA!!
VIDEO: MORE WIND FOOTAGE IN IOWA!!!
A LIST FOR WEDNESDAY
The Safest Way To Take A Road Trip While Social Distancing
Huffington Post
Consider taking a shorter trip. If it’s longer, plan the trip to a T.
Gauge the risk factors involved in traveling away from home for however long you’re out: Do you have a weak bladder that’s going to require lots of bathroom breaks? Are you in a high-risk group for the coronavirus? How many people are in the car? What is their health status? (The bottom line remains that the more people who go, the more opportunities for others to contract the virus.) How long will you be out there?
“Longer distances may mean more stops and more exposures, but if you take precautions you can minimize your risk of exposure,” said Rachel Patzer, an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine.
Prepare for those dreaded bathroom breaks.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: If you can’t hold it, what are some best practices for using a public toilet? Gas stations, which are essential businesses, may be your only option for restroom facilities. While hopefully they’re cleaned often and well stocked with toilet paper, prepare for the worst by bringing your own TP and soap. In fact, it’s not a bad idea to bring a whole emergency kit that includes hand sanitizer, toilet paper, soap and travel-size packs of toilet seat covers, said Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious diseases physician and biosecurity fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
No judgment if you want to hover over the toilet in a squat. After using the bathroom, wash your hands like you’ve been chopping jalapeños all day and really need to get it all off you.
“Use extremely good hand hygiene if you go to the restroom,” Kuppalli said. “Remember, we know that you get infected with the virus via infection of the mucous membranes ― eyes, nose, mouth.”
Per the CDC guidelines, wash for 20 seconds, use a clean disposable paper towel to turn off the faucet, and then wipe your hands dry.
If you have kids who have trouble not touching everything in sight, Patzer recommends bringing a potty training chair in the trunk of your car.
“We used to do this for long trips when our kids were younger anyway because they never liked to use the public toilets!” she said.
Do more research about your route than you normally would.
The CDC recommends checking with the state or local authorities where you are, along your route and at your planned destination to learn about any local issues or travel restrictions. Federal law cannot bar you from traveling to another state, but local authorities can require self-quarantine for as long as 14 days once you arrive. (To check whether the state you’re planning to visit has such a policy, call the state health authority on this handy list provided by the CDC.)
Identify whether rest stops are open along your route, said Jim Stratton, the public relations manager at AAA National. The closures vary from state to state.
It’s also a good idea to check the COVID-19 infection rates for the counties you’re considering driving through and to, said travel writer Wendy Perrin.
“Basically, you want to know where the hot spots are so you can avoid them,” she told HuffPost.
Pick a destination that shouldn’t be too crowded ― and have a Plan B if there are too many people there.
When determining where you’ll go, outdoor places with wide-open spaces and a lot of fresh air are obviously ideal. In many states, hiking trails and other outdoor recreational areas are now open. Just consider whether your destination might be swarmed with people.
“If you know a park or beach is popular, stay away from them right from the get-go,” Perrin advised. “Instead, choose lesser-known nature destinations so that social distancing is easier.”
But you might still arrive at your go-to spot and find it full or closed. It pays to have some backup plans in mind, especially if you have a car full of antsy kiddos.
“Have a Plan B that will make everyone happy,” Perrin said. “You don’t want to end up like the Griswold family arriving at Walley World.”
When you get gas, be aware of high-touch areas.
If you’re pumping gas, gloves are a smart idea ― the gas pumps could be contaminated from frequent use. Dispose of those gloves in a nearby trash container, not on the ground. (We never thought we’d have to say that, but people are throwing them everywhere.)
Kuppalli said she’d also be concerned about high-touch areas where the virus could live in your own car: the steering wheel, the cup holders, the buttons you press to change the radio station or control the air conditioning, the dashboard and the seats. They’re all worth cleaning with sanitizing wipes or a soapy paper towel.
Make sure your car is up to the stress of a long drive.
Before any lengthy road trip, AAA advises drivers to have a full vehicle inspection, making sure fluids are topped off and there isn’t any underlying issue that could cause a breakdown. Stratton has a simple acronym to remind drivers off what needs to be checked before heading out.
“All drivers should make a good B-E-T to keep their road trips on track by having a car’s battery, engine and tires checked before embarking on a long trip,” he said.
A battery on the brink of dying rarely warns a driver before it fails, but a simple battery test can uncover potential problems, Stratton said. (AAA offers its members free testing of a vehicle’s battery.)
Additionally, have a well-stocked emergency kit on hand. Stratton recommends including a cellphone car charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a jug of drinking water, extra food for people (and pets, if you’re bringing them), jumper cables, and emergency flares or reflectors.
If it’s a long trip, prepare to use rest stops or possibly stay at a hotel.
If your trip is more than just a quick jaunt to the beach or the mountains for a hike, you’ll want to take the occasional break. If it’s especially long, you may need to stop somewhere for sleep, so you’re not driving drowsy. (According to the National Safety Council, more than 100,000 accidents in 2019 were the result of drowsy driving.)
To that end, call ahead to make sure that rest stops you’re familiar with are open.
If you plan to stay at a hotel or motel (also call ahead), be extra cautious. Clean high-touch areas in the room, like doors, tables, faucets, toilets, sinks, light switches, phones, remotes and curtain handles, Kuppalli said.
“Just like with public bathrooms, I recommend bringing sanitizer wipes to wipe down all of these high-touch areas in case the hotel hasn’t done that,” she said.
If you don’t have a car but really need to get away, some options are better than others.
Your safest bet if you don’t own a car is to rent a vehicle.
Perrin recommends turning on the air conditioning and rolling down the windows so you’re not breathing in the last driver’s air. And of course, wipe down all those high-touch areas mentioned above.
If you’re not renting a car, consider Uber or Lyft, Kuppalli suggested.
“Just make sure you’re wearing a mask,” she said. “You could also consider a train depending on what type of options are available. For instance, sleeper cars may have better options for physical distancing.”
However you travel, plan on being as self-sufficient as possible on the road.
“Bring everything you might need with you to minimize stops and reduce services en route,” Perrin said. “Water, snacks, lunch, disinfectant wipes, mask, extra mask, gloves, extra gloves, phone charger, Ziploc bags, a towel or even a change of clothing.”
“Take whatever you might need,” she said. “You really want to factor in a range of ‘what if’ scenarios.”
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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