Born on this day!! Actor Brenda Vaccaro is 81. Actor Linda Evans (“Dynasty”) is 78. Actor Susan Sullivan is 78. Country singer Jacky Ward is 74. Actor Jameson Parker (“Simon and Simon”) is 73. Actor-singer Andrea Marcovicci is 72. Singer Graham Parker is 70. Actor Delroy Lindo (“The Good Fight”) is 68. Comedian Kevin Nealon is 67. Actor Oscar Nunez (“The Office”) is 62. Actor Elizabeth Perkins is 60. Singer Kim Wilde is 60. Actor Tim Guinee (“Elementary”) is 58. Guitarist Kirk Hammett of Metallica is 58. Singer Tim DeLaughter of Polyphonic Spree (and Tripping Daisy) is 55. Actor Romany Malco (“A Million Little Things,” “Weeds”) is 52. Actor Owen Wilson is 52. Actor Dan Bakkedahl (“Life in Pieces,” ″The Mindy Project”) is 52. Singer-Broadway composer Duncan Sheik is 51. Actor Mike Epps is 50. Actor Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”) is 50. Actor Chloe Sevigny (“Big Love,” ″Boys Don’t Cry”) is 46. Actor Steven Pasquale (“The Good Wife”) is 44. Keyboardist Alberto Bof of Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real is 43. Rapper Fabolous is 43. Actor-director Nate Parker (“Birth of a Nation”) is 41. Rapper Mike Jones is 40. Actor Mekia Cox (“Secrets and Lies”) is 39. Actor-comedian Nasim Pedrad (“Scream Queens,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 39. Actor Christina Vidal (TV’s “Grand Hotel”) is 39. Singer TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne is 36. “Project Runway” winner and designer Christian Soriano is 35. Actor Nathan Kress (“iCarly”) is 28.

THIS DAY IN GENIUS HISTORY

1820 – Captain Nathaniel Palmer discovered Antarctica.
1883 – Standard time began in the United States.
1886 – Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States (1881–1885), died in New York at 56.
1928 – Mickey Mouse made his debut in Steamboat Willie.
1976 – Spain’s parliament approved a bill to establish a democracy after 37 years of dictatorship.
1978 – Jim Jones, a U.S. pastor, led 914 of his followers to their deaths at Jonestown, Guyana, by drinking a cyanide-laced fruit drink. Cult members who refused to swallow the drink were shot.
2003 – The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the right to same sex marriage was guaranteed by the state constitution.
2004 – The UN Security Council held a two-day session in Nairobi. This was the first time it had convened outside of New York headquarters.

Today Is:European Antibiotic Awareness Day, Guinness World Record Day, Married To A Scorpio Support Day, Mickey Mouse Day, National Apple Cider Day, National Educational Support Professionals Day, National Princess Day, Push-button Phone Day

TODAY ON TV!
Primetime TV (All Times Eastern)

CBS – 8:00 –  The Amazing Race /  9:00 – The Amazing Race /  10:00 – SWAT
NBC – 8:00  – Chicago Med  /  9:00 – Chicago Fire  /  10:00 – Chicago PD
ABC – 8:00 –  The Goldbergs  /  8:30 – American Housewife  /  9:00 – The Conners  /  9:30 – Blackish  /  10:00 – For Life
FOX – 8:00 – The Masked Singer  /  9:00 – I Can See Your Voice
CW – 8:00 –  Devils /  9:00 – Coroner

TV Talk Shows

Jimmy Kimmel: Goldie Hawn, Alex Winter, Beabadoobee
Jimmy Fallon: Dan Levy, Michael J. Fox, Julia Michaels
Seth Meyers: Hugh Grant, Emily Spivey, Valerie Franco
James Corden: Alison Brie, Yuval Noah Harari
Lilly Singh: Snoop Dogg (R 11/28/19)
Conan: Thomas Middleditch
Watch What Happens Live: Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Gay
The View: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Nicholas Pinnock
The Talk: LL Cool J
Live with Kelly and Ryan: Forest Whitaker, Lance Ulanoff
Ellen DeGeneres: Patrick Dempsey
Wendy Williams: Cheryl Burke, Keri Glassman
The Real: Susan Kelechi Watson, Nene Leakes
Kelly Clarkson: Ken Jeong, Madalen Mills
Drew Barrymore: Megan Rapinoe, Emma Corrin, Josh O’Connor, Luvvie Ajayi Jones

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

QUESTION: Is he a “raccoon whisperer??” This Canadian is swarmed by furry friends every night!! His secret?? He FEEDS THEM HOT DOGS!! Is that cheating?

 

QUESTION: Is he GOING AWAY?? Conan O’Brien announces the end of his TBS talk show after ten years!! But wait.. he’ll do a weekly variety show for HBO!!!!!!!

 

QUESTION: Has “The Crown” LOST THE PLOT?? If you’re watching season number 4 on Netflix, you’ll want to read this to keep the FACTS STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!

 

QUESTION: Ever have something to say, but can’t say it out loud?? Check out these signs and notes from SASSY SERVERS who want you to know how they feel!!

 

QUESTION: Can he be OUR FRIEND?? George Clooney finally confirms the old rumor… that he gifted 12 friends who helped him with ONE MILLION DOLLARS APIECE!

Taylor Swift Re-Recording Her Music

Taylor Swift addressed Scooter Braun’s sale of her master recordings on Twitter, stating that she has recently started re-recording her old music.  Braun, who famously manages Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, sold Swift’s master recordings to equity company Shamrock Holdings.  Braun had purchased Swift’s former record label Big Machine Label Group and effectively the singer’s master recordings in June 2019. Swift expressed at the time discomfort at Braun owning her masters, her being unable to own them herself and stated that Braun has bullied her for years.  Swift, on Twitter, said that Braun wanted her to sign an NDA stating that she would never say anything bad about him in order to have a chance at owning the master recordings. Swift said he wouldn’t quote her team a price and then they were sold to Shamrock Holdings.  “As soon as we started communication with Shamrock, I learned that under their terms Scooter Braun will continue to profit off my old musical catalog for many years. I was hopeful and open to the possibility of a partnership with Shamrock, but Scooter’s participation is a non-starter for me,” Swift wrote.  “I have recently begun re-recording my older music and it has already proven to be both exciting and creatively fulfilling. I have plenty of surprises in store. I want to thank you guys for supporting me through this ongoing saga, and I can’t wait for you to hear what I’ve been dreaming up,” she continued.  Swift also posted the letter she sent to Shamrock, explaining how she was willing to work with them but not if Braun will still profit off of her music.
*********Must be nice to do the same thing over and over again and still be able to get paid for it!!
*******If all this sounds like Rich People Problems, that’s because it is!!!

McConaughey Opens Up About Kissing Kate Hudson

The tables have turned, and now Matthew McConaughey is spilling details about his former on-screen romances with co-star Kate Hudson.  Just last month, Hudson got candid about their chemistry on set while chatting with Gwyneth Paltrow. They discussed their best and worst on-screen kisses, and unfortunately, Hudson talked about her experiences with McConaughey to not being the best.  In a new interview, McConaughey tells Yahoo! Entertainment that Hudson wasn’t wrong when recalling the “snot” dripping from his nose during a scene in the 2008 romantic comedy “Fools Gold.”  “It’s like, ‘OK, here’s the scene: You’ve just jumped from the helicopter. You’re in the middle of the ocean. You go under the water, so on action, go into the water and then come up out of the water like you’re gasping for air,” McConaughey said. “You’re glad to be alive! Then you look at each other and you swim to each other and [go] into an embrace.”  McConaughey said there was “a lot of salt water and snot” involved. He remembered thinking, “OK, I think that worked, but did that look any good?”  Speaking about the crew’s reaction, McConaughey continued: “[They’re] like, No, we better do another take.’ So there were always, like, elements that made it harder… We never got to have our nice romantic kiss, yeah.”
*******There’s always time!!!! Drive over to her house and give it a shot!!
TOPIC: Worst (romantic) kiss you ever had!! Don’t count your grandma!!

Britney Spears On Vacation For Herself

Britney Spears took off to Hawaii this week for some much needed rest.  She shared photos on Monday from a private jet. She was joined by her boyfriend Sam Asghari.  In the first post, Spears is sitting on the aircraft with her hands in the air and a pair of sunglasses on.  “I’m doing that whole work on yourself thing at the moment,” she captioned the photos.  Another pic shared to her Instagram shows the couple donning face masks while standing in front of the jet. She explained in the caption she “felt like a little trip to paradise for an early birthday celebration.”  She will turn 39 on Dec. 2.  Her getaway comes just days after her attorney, Samuel Ingham, reportedly claimed in court that she is fearful of her father. The lawyer added that she will not resume her music career as long as Jamie controls her estate via her conservatorship.
********She should be on vacation FROM herself!!
*****Her dad has basically saved her life!! But everyone keeps turning her against him!!
****Have you seen her pictures lately?? Something looks a little “off!”
*****Maybe she should do a Vegas residency. Not to play, but just to live there!!

Isaiah Washington Reignites Drama With Katherine Heigl

Isaiah Washington took to Twitter on Monday to reignite past drama with his former “Grey’s Anatomy” co-star Katherine Heigl.  Posting a photo of her, he wrote, “This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again. The world agreed with her proclamation back then and protested for my job and my head in 65 languages. I wish I was on Twitter in 2007, because I will NEVER stop exercising my free speech.”  He added, “I’ve learned that all money ain’t good money and no amount of money can replace your dignity and integrity. Some call it living by your principles.”  Their feud began in 2007 after Washington reportedly used a homophobic slur to refer to his co-star T.R. Knight during a backstage argument with Patrick Dempsey. Washington issued an apology, but later denied that he’d said it.  Heigl told Access Hollywood at the time, “I’m going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period. I’m sorry, that did not need to be said, I’m not okay with it.”  The drama led to Washington’s exit from the hit ABC series.
*********She’s not the most popular person, either!!
*******We’ve dealt with Isaiah. He was a pretty cool guy..
******This may be the least noteworthy celebrity feud right now!!!

Al Roker Ready To Return To Work

Al Roker is in great spirits following his prostate cancer surgery, revealing that he plans to return to “Today” within a week.  He explained during Tuesday’s episode that his current pathology report found no evidence of cancer beyond the prostate, which the television personality had removed during the procedure last week.  “It was this great relief,” Roker said. “For a first start, this is terrific news. I’m going to be up for — and a lot of people who live with cancer — up for lifelong testing to make sure this doesn’t come back.”  Roker, who will undergo testing every six months for the next five years, added that he “felt good” after the procedure, better than he’d felt following any of his joint replacement surgeries.  “I didn’t feel like I had major surgery, but I’ve got this swelling around my stomach, so clothes don’t fit quite right right now. I’m very vain, so right now I feel like the Michelin Man,” he said.
*********We’re glad he’s OK… prostate removal is a big deal, for several reasons!!
******Will his joints still get sore when the weather changes???

 

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

Niecy Nash In the Wings For Drew Barrymore Job-(National Enquirer)

Niecy Nash could replace Drew Barrymore’s tanking talk show!  “Drew’s second week audience was down a massive 14 percent to just 600,000 viewers, and things haven’t gotten any better,” an insider snitched.  “There’s little doubt her show will be canceled when her two-year contract ends.  That leaves plenty of time to groom Niecy-who’s seen as a fun mix of Wendy Williams and Ellen DeGeneres-for her own show.”

Jeff Facing Mortality-(Globe)

Cancer-stricken jeff Bridges, 70, is thanking fans for their prayers, gratefully gushing his recent lymphoma diagnosis is “bringing on feelings of preciousness, and gratitude, and good old fashion love, and lots of it, big time.”  But the Oscar winner admits battling the disease has also made him face his own “mortality and realize if I have sh*t to share, now’s the time.”

Head Over Heels-(Us Weekly)

Zac Efron’s feelings for Vanessa Valladares are hard to deny.  “He’s in love with [her],” Efron’s pal Kyle Sandilands recently said.  “They seem really settled and nice.”  The actor, 33, has Valladares, 25, to thank for that.  Adds a source, “She’s calmed him down a lot.”

Helena’s Hot Young Guy!-(Star)

Age is just a number to Helena Bonham Carter, who’s found love with 32-year-old Rye Dag Holmboe.  “He’s magic, and that’s all I’m going to say,” the English actress, 54, cooed about the psychoanalyst in an Oct. 31 interview.  Sparks flew after the two crossed paths at a friend’s wedding.  “Helena gave up hope of ever meeting someone after she and Tim parted ways,” a source confides of the actress, who divorced director Tim Burton, dad to her kids Billy, 17, and Nell, 12, in 2014.  “But she and Rye hit it off and have been together ever since.”  And despite the 22-year age difference, the two have much in common.  “Helena and Rye enjoy their downtime, walking their dogs, reading and watching movies,” adds the insider.  “They’re a good match.”

Say What?!-(Life & Style)

“My tuxedo cat, Harry Larry, is really ornery:  Every morning at 4 he screams for food.  That’s just his truth!”-Jonathan Van Ness, who’s the proud owner of four felines.

“I’ll walk in my neighborhood all the time…that’s the only exercise I’m willing to do.”-Issa Rae, who resides in south LA’s View Park.

“I’ve had some of the best desserts I’ve had in my own life from my own hands……My manager said I should put out a cookbook.  I was like ‘Really?’”-Jason Derulo, on picking up baking during the pandemic.

”When Katy was pregnant, I chanted to the baby with a Buddhist mantra which I have used since I was 16.  So now I walk into the room and she hears my voice and she soothes a bit.”-Orlando Bloom, on his daughter with fiancée Katy Perry, Daisy.

Kate Moss & Nikolai von Bismarck:  Getting Serious-(People)

The supermodel, 46, and the photographer, 33, have dated for five years, and while he gave her an emerald and diamond ring for that finger, “I’m not engaged,” she says.  “It’s more like, I’m in a relationship, I’m committed.”

Pot Stirrer of the Week-(In Touch)

Matthew McConaughey

“It was palpable.”

-joking after being asked about the sexual tension during Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston virtual read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

 

STUPID NEWS

Guy Finds Mortar Round In Yard

Authorities in Massachusetts were summoned to the home of a man who made an unusual discovery while doing yard work — an apparent mortar round.  The Westborough Police Department said officers responded alongside personnel from the Westborough Fire Department on Sunday when a resident doing work in his back yard called 911.  The resident told authorities he was working in his back yard when he dug up an object that resembled a bomb.  The Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad was summoned to the man’s home and transported the device to a safe location, where it was detonated.  The origins of the device and how it came to be buried in the man’s yard were unknown.  See the pic HERE.
********His wife kept telling him, “Go dig around the back yard, see what you find!!” But that’s probably just a coincidence!!
******No one could remember a a German invasion of Massachusetts, so cops are stumped!! 

Horse Rescued From Mud Pit

A nearly 1,500-pound horse was rescued after several hours trapped in a muddy hole at an Alberta sanctuary thanks to some tow trucks summoned to the scene by police.  Tracy Benkendorf, owner of the Adorado Nino Horse Rescue & Sanctuary in Leduc County, said the 11-year-old male horse, Fysik, fell into a mud pit on the property Monday and was unable to climb out.  Benkendorf said the New Sarepta Fire Department were the first to attempt to remove Fysik from the mud, but crews eventually left when they were unable to lift the animal out of the pit.  The trucks were able to haul Fysik out of the mud.  Benkendorf said Fysik was cold and exhausted, but was able to stand up after a few hours and is now expected to be OK.
********We had this same problem when our aunt couldn’t get out of an easy chair!!
*******The horse immediately went on a Keto diet!!
*******They should put up a sign warning horses to stay out of the mud pit!!!

Squirrel Knocks Out Power In South Carolina

A section of South Carolina’s capital city was without power Monday after a squirrel scurrying across equipment caused damage that led to a blackout.  Dominion Energy said the critter caused the outages in downtown Columbia.  “The squirrel came into contact with the protective device around the transformer,” company spokesman Matt Long said. “I don’t know that this is what happened, but usually, let’s say if an animal touches an energized part and a grounded part, that would create a current flow through the animal’s body and stop its heart from beating.”  Long could not say whether that was exactly what happened Monday but did say the transformer itself was not damaged during the “shocking” situation, just the device surrounding it.  The squirrel was killed while damaging the equipment.  “There’s a lot of energy going through that equipment,” he said, though he added that a secondary fall also could have led to the squirrel’s death.
********Is he trying to make the squirrel-lovers out there feel better??
****The squirrel wins the “crispy critter of the week” award!!
*****We can send a crew to the International Space Station, but we can’t keep squirrels out of transformers??

Rigged Election For Bird Of The Year!

Evidence of election rigging has roiled New Zealand’s “Bird of the Year” competition after a case of ballot-box stuffing accusations.  Suspicion began when organizers received more than 1,500 votes sent from the same email address early Monday — each vote was in favor of the little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku), according to a statement from Forest & Bird, a conservation organization that runs the election.  “That is an amazing bird – it deserves all the support, but unfortunately these votes had to be disallowed and they’ve been taken out of the competition,” Forest & Bird spokeswoman Laura Keown said.  The annual event is more than just a bird popularity contest. The conservation group Forest & Bird runs the election-based competition to help raise awareness about New Zealand’s native bird species, many of which are endangered.   “I can only assume that people get really excited about New Zealand’s native birds,” she said, reasoning why someone would want to cheat.
*******The kiwi is asking for a recount!!
*****Meanwhile, CNN is insisting the kiwi is the winner!!!
******The real winner turned out to be an orange peacock!!!!

 

STUFF THAT’S COOL AND VIRAL

VIDEO: RUSSIAN ROCKET LAUNCH SEEN FROM SPACE STATION!

 

A LIST FOR WEDNESDAY

Retail Experts Share Their 11 Best Tips For Saving Money On Holiday Shopping

Huffington Post

 

1. Don’t feel rushed to make a purchase

Holiday shopping deals probably won’t work the same way they have in past years. But that can be a good thing. Fewer doorbuster deals and longer sale periods mean you have more time to compare products and prices to get the most bang for your buck, according to Gabrielle Pastorek, a shopping analyst at Finder.com. Take your time to research purchases and don’t feel pressured to jump on a particular sale.

 

2. Review price-matching policies

Historically, many stores paused their price-match guarantees during the Black Friday shopping window, Pastorek said. However, with earlier and longer sales expected this year, more stores may offer price-matching through the holidays. Again, take your time to review these policies and see if you can use price-matching to your advantage as retailers compete for business this year.

 

3. Consider interest-free BNPL options

Buy now, pay later options have become popular among shoppers who would prefer to split up the cost of their shopping carts rather than pay for it all upfront. Though these interest-free financing options can encourage you to spend more than you would otherwise and carry hefty penalties if you miss a payment, they can be a great money-saving tool when used with caution, Pastorek said. Some of the popular no-interest financing options that you might run across include Affirm, Afterpay and Klarna.

 

4. Opt for previous-generation tech

These days, there are not a ton changes from generation to generation on items such as smartphones and smart-home gadgets. “If you know someone has been eager to introduce Alexa to their home, opt to give them a third-generation Echo Dot rather than the fourth-generation one,” said Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “It’s still a solid piece of tech from last year, but we expect it to be on sale for both Prime Day and Black Friday, whereas it’s doubtful we’ll see really great deals on the newest one (though we do expect to see some).”

 

5. Look into shipping memberships

If you’re going to rely mostly on online shopping this year, it may be a good idea to take advantage of free trials of Walmart+, Amazon Prime or ShopRunner. “Free trials of these programs will give you the opportunity to enjoy all their free perks throughout the holiday. Just set a reminder on your calendar to cancel before the expiration of the trial since you will likely be auto-enrolled and billed for a paid subscription afterwards,” said money-saving expert Andrea Woroch.

 

6. Use money-saving browser extensions

Woroch said you can expect retailers to constantly vary prices and release new deals this year. As a result, it can be overwhelming and confusing to figure out where to shop and who has the best deals. “That’s why I’m all about automating my savings with browser tools and other apps that do the bargain hunting for you,” she said. Popular options for finding coupons include Honey and Wikibuy.

 

7. Track price changes

Another way to use technology to your advantage is by using free price tracking tools that notify you when an item you’re interested in goes on sale. It’s great for jumping on deals, but if you miss the sale, you can also take that information to the retailer and ask for a partial refund on your purchase.

Woroch said she’s a fan of Edison Mail’s Price Alert tool, while CamelCamelCamel is another popular tool that tracks Amazon prices specifically. You can also use the Popcart browser extension to get pop-up notifications if something you are eyeing is sold at another retailer for less, and the ShopSavvy app to scan barcodes for instant price comparisons.

 

8. Collect cash back

If you’re going to be spending the money anyway, why not earn money back on your purchases? “Make sure you are maximizing cash back with your card and use cash-back apps to get even more back on your purchases,” Woroch said. In addition to using a rewards credit card for holiday purchases, sign up for any bonus cash rewards offered through your credit card (just be sure to log into your account first to opt into any special deals). Finally, use cash-back tools such as Rakuten, Swagbucks or Fetch Rewards to earn additional cash back on purchases at certain retailers.

 

9. Don’t be afraid to tighten your belt

Even though it’s easy to get carried away with shopping for loved ones and scoring great deals, setting a budget for gifts and other seasonal expenses is the best defense against taking on debt. “With our current economic situation, it’s more important than ever to have conversations with loved ones ahead of the holidays to discuss gift expectations,” Woroch said. This may be the year to set up a Secret Santa exchange or potluck instead of giving tons of individual gifts. Chances are, you won’t be the only one relieved to spend less this year.

 

10. Pare down your gift list

If your budget is smaller this year, one of the easiest ways to cut back on costs is to cut back on your list of gift recipients. “This might be tough, so it’s better to do it in stages,” Ramhold said. “Divide your list into sections and start with those you consider essential to buy gifts for, followed by those you’d like to include and then those that would be nice to buy for, but you don’t consider necessary.” Make it a priority to shop for your essential list, and don’t worry if you have to cut a few lower-priority recipients.

 

11. Consider DIY gifts

Giving homemade gifts is often a more affordable alternative to traditional holiday shopping. But they don’t have to look amateur or cheap. “Consider baking something nice for your recipients, or even putting together a small care package with winter favorites like hot chocolate, marshmallows and candy canes along with a festive mug,” Ramhold said. Stores such as Aldi tend to have seasonal mugs for relatively cheap, as do dollar stores. “Target and Walmart will have affordable options if this is something you’d like to pursue,” she added.

 

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