Born on this day!! Actor Claire Bloom is 92. Songwriter Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland) is 82. Drummer Mick Avory of The Kinks is 79. Jazz saxophonist Henry Threadgill is 79. Actor Marisa Berenson (“Barry Lyndon”) is 76. Singer Melissa Manchester is 72. Actor Jane Seymour is 72. Actor Lynn Whitfield (“Madea’s Family Reunion”) is 70. Cartoonist Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”) is 69. Model Janice Dickinson is 68. Actor Christopher McDonald (“Harry’s Law,” “Family Law”) is 68. Singer Ali Campbell (UB40) is 64. Actor Joseph R. Gannascoli (“The Sopranos”) is 64. Bassist Mikey Craig of Culture Club is 63. Actor Steven Michael Quezada (“Breaking Bad”) is 60. Country singer Michael Reynolds of Pinmonkey is 59. Actor Michael Easton (“General Hospital”) is 56. Actor Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) is 52. Actor Renee O’Connor (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is 52. Actor Sarah Wynter (“24″) is 50. Singer Brandon Boyd of Incubus is 47. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci of The Killers is 47. Singer-guitarist Adam Granduciel of The War On Drugs is 44. Singer Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes is 43. Guitarist Gary Clark Jr. is 39. Actor Natalie Morales (“The Grinder,” ″90210″) is 38. Actor Amber Riley (“Glee”) is 37. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion is 28. Actor Zach Gordon (“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” films) is 25.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1764 – St. Louis, Mo., was founded as a French fur-trading post.
1879 – President Rutherford Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court.
1898 – USS Maine blew up in Havana harbor, touching off the Spanish-American War.
1913 – The New York Armory Show opened, introducing America to Picasso, Duchamp, and Matisse.
1933 – Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak was killed in an assassination attempt on president-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami, allegedly offering the final words engraved at the site of the shooting.
1965 – The Maple Leaf Flag officially became the new national flag of Canada.
1989 – More than 100,000 Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan almost 10 years after the USSR invaded the country.
2002 – Olympics officials resolved the judging scandal by awarding Canadian pairs figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier a gold medal while allowing the Russians, Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, to keep their medal.
2003 – Millions of protesters around the world demonstrated against the threat of a U.S. war on Iraq.
2012 – A prison fire in Comayagua, Honduras killed 360.

Today Is: Angelman Syndrome Day, Annoy Squidward Day, Love Reset Day, Lupercalia, National Friendzone Day, National Gum Drop Day, National Hippo Day, Remember The Maine Day, Susan B. Anthony Day

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 –  The Price Is Right  /  9:00 – Lingo  /  10:00 – Tough As Nails
NBC – 8:00  – Chicago Med  /  9:00 – Chicago Fire  /  10:00 – Chicago PD
ABC – 8:00 –  The Conners  /  8:30 – The Goldbergs   /  9:00 – Abbott Elementary  /  9:30 – Not Dead Yet  /  10:00 – A Million Little Things
FOX – 8:00 – The Masked Singer  /  9:00 – Special Forces
CW – 8:00 –  The Flash  /  9:00 – Kung Fu

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Kimmel: Orlando Bloom, Lauren Ash, Jordan Davis
Jimmy Fallon: Liam Neeson, Jack Whitehall, Nate Smith
Stephen Colbert: Jim Gaffigan, Jesse Williams, RAYE featuring 070 Shake
Seth Meyers: Pedro Pascal, Taye Diggs, Zoë Brecher
James Corden: Natasha Lyonne, Rian Johnson, Dylan Adler
Watch What Happens Live: Katie Maloney, Lala Kent
Daily Show: Guest host Sarah Silverman
The View: Liam Neeson
The Talk: Pre-empted
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Kelsey Grammer
Kelly Clarkson: Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Daviss
Tamron Hall: Erykah Badu, Theo Rossi, Sam Morrison
Drew Barrymore: Meagan Good, Nikki & Brie Bella, Chris Appleton
Jennifer Hudson: Kiersey Clemons

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

QUESTION: Are making MISTAKES IN THE BEDROOM that could DOOM YOUR RELATIONSHIP?? This “expert” gives you the six things you should NEVER do!!!!

 

QUESTION: UNHAPPY in your job??? You may want to switch to one of the HAPPIEST CAREERS in America!! Physical therapist? Firefighter? Check out the list!!

 

QUESTION: Is the Internet DESTROYING OUR KIDS?? Uh… yes, it is!! New CDC reports says nearly one in three teen girls seriously considers SUICIDE. Is it time to limit social media???

 

QUESTION: Was it really a “baaaaad idea?” This convict, serving 15 years for homicide, tries to escape by DISGUISING HIMSELF AS A SHEEP!!!

QUESTION: Does this guy win the 2023 award for “PUNCHING ABOVE HIS WEIGHT CLASS??” Eric Andre shares his NAKED SHOTS with EMILY RATAJKOWSKI for Valentine’s!!!

Huge Super Bowl Ratings

The Super Bowl delivered super ratings for Fox.   The faceoff between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs averaged 113 million viewers across Fox’s television and digital properties, according to early data from Nielsen.  That makes Super Bowl LVII the third most-watched television program of all-time. And it represents the best audience for the big game in six years, topping 2022’s showdown, which averaged 112.3 million viewers on NBC.  Fox Sports said that the Apple Music Halftime Show featuring Rihanna drew an average of 118.7 million viewers, making it the second most-watched performance in Super Bowl history.  As expected, the biggest viewing audiences for the game were in Kansas City and Philadelphia, followed by Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Charlotte, Minneapolis, and St. Louis — all of which had ratings shares over 70.  Fox said Super Bowl LVII was the most-streamed Super Bowl in history, with an average of 7 million people watching via internet-based services. That figure represents an 18% jump from last year.
*********So… that’s pretty good, right???
******If our boss was running FOX, he’d say “The jury’s still out!!!”
TRIVIA: Rihanna was the second most-watched halftime show of all time. What was #1??? (Katy Perry: 121 million)

Ted Lasso New Season Release Date

Ted Lasso will return for a third season in March.  Apple TV+ shared a premiere date, March 15, and a teaser for Season 3 on Tuesday.  The teaser shows several Ted Lasso characters make signs that say “Believe” and hang them in the locker room, where Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) finds them.  Ted Lasso is a sports comedy-drama following Ted Lasso (Sudeikis), an American college football coach who is hired to coach AFC Richmond, a British soccer team.  In Season 3, “the newly-promoted AFC Richmond faces ridicule as media predictions widely peg them as last in the Premier League and Nate (Nick Mohammed), now hailed as the ‘wonder kid,’ has gone to work for Rupert (Anthony Head) at West Ham United.”  See the teaser HERE.
*****This show must be pretty good.. because Jason Sudeikis has apparently become insufferable!!
******You gotta hand it to the soccer dudes… they actually play football with their FEET!!!
QUESTION: Why is American football called “football??” Answer: No one knows for sure!! But Soccer, Rugby and Football all derive from the same sport, which was played on foot, as opposed to horsey sports!!

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Going On Tour

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have announced plans for their first joint stand-up comedy tour.  The pair starred on Saturday Night Live, as well as in the films Mean Girls, Baby Mama and Wine Country.  They have also co-hosted the Golden Globe Awards ceremony together several times.  Tour Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10am local time.  The tour will kick off April 28 in Washington, D.C. Subsequent stops will include Chicago, Boston and Atlantic City.  “If this tour goes right, we can finally end this friendship!” the women joked in a press release.
**********We have to go… to see whether they’ve still “got it!!”

Tom Brady Posts Cryptic Valentine’s Show

Tom Brady posted a cryptic quote about love on his first Valentine’s Day since finalizing his divorce from ex-wife Gisele Bündchen.  “Love is not a transaction; it is a certain exuberance and sweetness of your emotion,” read a quote by Sadhguru, a popular yogi and mystic, which was shared via his Instagram Stories on Tuesday.  He followed up the post with a series of sweet photos of his children. Brady shares two kids — Benjamin, 13, and Vivian, 10 — with Bündchen, and 15-year-old John Edward with ex Bridget Moynahan.  Meanwhile, Bündchen also took to social media to celebrate Valentine’s Day by posting two sweet snaps of her kissing and snuggling up to two of her dogs, Lua and Fluffy. “Pure love!! I am convinced they are little angels on Earth. Happy Valentine’s Day to all!,” she captioned the photos.  Brady’s quote came a week after he emphasized that he will be focusing on his family after announcing his retirement from the NFL for a second time earlier this month.
*********Gisele’s message: “What kids?? I love my DOGS!!!”
*****She probably figures no one will swipe right if they know she’s a mom!!!
****Brady should have posed with a bag of footballs.. his true love!!

Former Nanny Sues Celebrity Couple

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis‘ former nanny Ericka Genaro is suing the duo for discrimination, alleging they terminated her employment because of her mental health.  In court documents obtained by Us Weekly, Genaro’s lawyers alleged that the childcare pro “became increasingly anxious and stressed” after Wilde and Sudeikis ended their romantic relationship. The former couple are the parents of son Otis, 8, and daughter Daisy, 6.  In the complaint, Genaro alleged that Wilde “abruptly left the home where she lived” with Sudeikis and the children in November 2020. “Wilde’s sudden absence from the home had an adverse consequence on its emotional state, including Sudeikis leaning on the presence of [Genaro] for support,” the docs continued.
*********Yeah, just because she’s mentally ill doesn’t mean she can’t babysit your kids!!!!?
********At least it’s not a “cheating with the nanny” complaint!!!

Academy Comments About Last Year’s Slap

It’s customary for the president of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to address the actors, filmmakers, crew and other attendees at its annual Oscar nominees luncheon in a welcoming, congratulatory fashion.  This year, though, new Academy President Janet Yang also had a massive elephant in the room she had to address, too: Will Smith’s instantly infamous slap of host Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars telecast in March.  “I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” Yang told the attendees Monday at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. via Variety.  “What happened onstage was fully unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate. We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions, and particularly in times of crisis you must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less from us going forward.”
********These people act like what they do is actually… important!!!
*****The biggest problem with the Oscars is not “the slap,” it’s the fun-sucking attitude of these pompous idiots!!!
******Will Smith or Alec Baldwin: who did the worst thing???

Highest Paid Entertainers

Forbes has published its annual breakdown of the highest-paid entertainers, revealing that Taylor Swift, The Rolling Stones and Bad Bunny were among the biggest revenue-raisers in 2022.  Swift came ninth on the list, totaling $92million in earnings between the release of her ‘Midnights’ album last October and subsequent ticket sales for her upcoming ‘Eras’ tour. It marks her sixth time on the highest-earners list, having previously topped it in 2019. The Stones, on the other hand, came in at number seven on the list with $98million earned (thanks to their recent European tour), while Bad Bunny took number 10 with $88million.  Sting was the highest-earning solo artist on last year’s list – which you can read in its entirety here – having pocketed $210million from the sale of his publishing catalogue; he sold his entire discography (including works he released with his old band) to Universal Music Group last February.  Similarly, Genesis brought in $230million – collectively putting them in the number one spot – by selling their catalogue to Concord Music Group last September.  Most of the highest earners were film and TV heavyweights. James Cameron, for example, netted $95million from early box office receipts for Avatar: The Way Of Water (placing him at number eight). Brad Pitt made $100million from selling the majority of his production company, Plan B (bringing him to number six), and Tyler Perry ended the year with $175million thanks to his back catalogue of films and BET TV productions, as well as the backlot he owns in Atlanta.
*********Meanwhile, we’re cashing in empties to buy their concert and movie tickets!! Kinda makes you feel stupid, don’t it??
*****Bad Bunny may have to change his name!!!

 

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

Loose Talk-(Us Weekly)

“I mean, we’ve not been in a book club together.”-Poking fun at the rumors that her friend Lea Michele can’t read, Emma Roberts.

“I will never deny the fact that I love attention.  And anybody who says they’re in entertainment and doesn’t love attention?  F**king liar.”-On falling in love with making people laugh, Ashton Kutcher.

“I see some things that people are politely not acknowledging.  I’m certainly happy that people don’t say the opposite.  Like, ‘God, he looks a hundred years old!’”-On the public saying he doesn’t age, Paul Rudd.

 

STUPID NEWS

Harley Sells Big At Auction

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle dating from 1908 sold for $935,000, making it the most expensive bike ever sold at an auction.  Mecum Auction in Las Vegas said the motorcycle, known as the Strap Tank due to the nickel-plated steel bands that suspend the fuel and oil tanks from its frame, sold for $935,000 after fees in a late-January auction.  Vintagent, a website that tracks auctions of vintage motorcycles, said the sale represented the highest price ever paid for a motorcycle at an auction.  “We marketed the bike well, and Harley is by far the most famous American motorcycle brand, so we had a feeling it would do well in auction, but obviously you are surprised anytime you sell the most expensive bike ever,” Greg Arnold, motorcycle division manager at Mecum Auctions, told the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel.  Arnold said surviving Strap Tank bikes are rare, and the bike sold by Mecum was an especially unique find.
********Please tell us Jay Leno didn’t buy this thing!!! He’s had enough problems with antique vehicles!!!

Pet Bird Rescued From Ceiling

Firefighters in Georgia conducted an unusual rescue when a pet bird found its way to the space between the basement ceiling and main story floor and became stuck.  The Roswell Fire Department said a family reported hearing strange fluttering sounds coming from above their basement ceiling and soon discovered their Conure bird, Balwal, was missing. “Firefighters were able to locate exactly where Balwal was hiding and they carefully extricated him from the void space,” the department said in a Facebook post.  Balwal was not injured and was reunited with his owner.
TOPIC: Weirdest place your pet ever got stuck!!! (“In the butt, Bob!!”)

Florida Man Fights Off Bobcat

An Orlando man fought off a bobcat when it attacked his dog.  Paul Broadhurst was walking his daughter’s dog Koda Saturday morning in Orlando when a bobcat attacked them.  “He got away lucky,” said Broadhurst. “He was walking down the sidewalk that bobcat was just over the top of him. He no sooner got there, and I ripped him off.”  Broadhurst jumped into action and saved his daughter’s dog, even if that meant he got scratched by the bobcat.  “The bobcat, he clawed into me pretty good, and I end up having to punch the bobcat in the mouth to get it off of me,” said Broadhurst. “Got it on the ground and it took off into the tree line.”  Broadhurst lives in the Stoneybrook neighborhood in East Orlando and his home is right next to conservation. Frank Robb with EEARSS which is an environmental and education awareness nonprofit said situations like this are happening more because of development.  “When homes get built these wild areas are being taken away you’re going to see more conflict like this with wildlife. Be aware of your surroundings and know where you live,” said Robb.
**********Why is it always OUR fault???
****Is there a way to train all these wild animals????

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

 

VIDEO: DRONE FOOTAGE OF OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT!

VIDEO: RED WINGS FANS GO CRAZY FOR LITTLE KID ON JUMBOTRON! BOO EVERYONE ELSE!

 

A LIST FOR WEDNESDAY

 

9 Benefits and Tax Credits for Parents

Here are the top tax credits and deductions for parents to keep in mind.

 

1. Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses Related to Pregnancy

If you had a baby last year, paid out of pocket for medical expenses during your pregnancy and were never reimbursed, you’ll be able to itemize those amounts as deductions.

As of 2022, this tax code requires the expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. That might seem unreachable, but since you’ll be billed item by item for prenatal care and childbirth, it can start to add up.

2. Child Tax Credit

As soon as your child is born, you’re eligible for the Child Tax Credit, which pays up to $3,600 for every child under the age of 17, depending on your income.

This might seem obvious, but it’s important to note: Even if your child is born on Dec. 31, you can still claim them for that year.

The credit is between $2,000 to $3,000 per child for children between the age of 6 and 17, and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of 6. All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 per couple or $112,500 for a single-parent family.

3. Adoption Tax Credit

The adoption process is notorious for being lengthy and expensive.

The Adoption Tax Credit is worth up to $14,890 per child to help you alleviate that financial strain. This credit covers adoption fees, court costs and attorney fees, travel expenses and related expenses.

4. Earned Income Tax Credit

If you earned income last year but didn’t exceed certain thresholds, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can significantly reduce your tax bill.

The income limits depend on your filing status and how many children you have. For example, if you’re filing as single or head of household and have one qualifying child, you must have earned less than $43,492. If you’re filing jointly with your spouse and have three qualifying children, you must have earned less than $59,187.

The maximum amounts of credit vary slightly each year. For the 2022 tax year, the maximum amounts of credit were:

• $6,935 for three or more qualifying children
• $6,164 with two qualifying children
• $3,733 with one qualifying child

Note: You can also qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit without having a child.

5. Child Care Tax Credit

The cost for center-based daycare for one child can range anywhere between $221 per week for a family care center to $226 per week for a daycare or child care center, according to a 2021 survey by Care.com.

If you’re paying for child care, you may be able to get a chunk of that back on your taxes.

If your child is younger than 13 years old and you pay for child care while you’re either working or looking for work, you qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. According to the IRS, the amount of the credit varies. It is a percentage based on the amount of work-related expenses you paid to a care provider for the care of a qualifying individual.

In 2022, the amount of expenses you can use to calculate the credit can be no more than $3,000 for one qualifying individual and no more than $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.

PRO TIP

If you are worried about making mistakes when filing, we highly recommend using tax software like TurboTax or H&R Block.

6. Head-of-Household Status

If you’re single and have a child, don’t overlook this crucial item: your status.

If you file as a head of household, you’re automatically eligible for a lower tax rate than if you file as single.

To be considered the head of household, you must:

• Be unmarried or considered unmarried on Dec. 31.
• Contribute more than 50% of the financial support of the household.
• Have a dependent who lives with you for more than six months of the year.

We have more details about head-of-household status affects plus answers to frequently asked questions

7. American Opportunity Tax Credit

During the first four years of your child’s college education, you can claim up to $2,500 for tuition and related expenses under the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

Your child must attend college at least part time. The income threshold for individual parents is $80,000; married couples must earn no more than $160,000.

8. Lifetime Learning Credit

Unlike the American Opportunity Tax Credit, there is no limit to the number of times you can claim the Lifetime Learning Credit for education costs to lower your tax bill.  Worth up to $2,000, the LLC covers tuition and related expenses.  To qualify, your modified adjusted gross income must be less than $90,000 (or $180,000 if you’re filing jointly with your spouse).

Note: You can’t claim the AOTC and the LLC for the same person in a single year. Also, the AOTC is per student, while the LLC is per family.

9. State Tax Credits for Parents With Kids in Elementary or High School

Some states offer benefits for certain items or activities during the school year.

In Arizona, for example, if your kids attend public school, you’re eligible for a tax credit for any fees related to extracurricular activities, including sports equipment or uniforms. You can even qualify for the credit if you spent money on their SAT/ACT tests or prep classes.

While it won’t affect your federal return, you should check to see if your state offers any tax credits, before filing your state taxes.

 

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.
© 2023 – Radio Genius Show Prep