InterPrep PRO – April 2, 2021
Audio • Bits & Breaks • Datebook • Datebook Tomorrow • Entertainment • Fun & Games • News & Nuggets • News Attack! • Number for the Day • Television • Wacky-But-True
DATEBOOK: APRIL 2, 2021
• Linda Hunt (Hetty on NCIS: Los Angeles) is 76
• Pamela Reed (Jericho, Kindergarten Cop) is 72
• Christopher Meloni (Law and Order franchise) is 60
• Clark Gregg (Marvel movies and shows) is 59
• Roselyn Sanchez (Without a Trace) is 48
• Pedro Pascal (The Mandelorian) is 46
• Adam Rodriguez (Criminal Minds, CSI: Miami) is 46
• Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds, Prometheus) is 44
• Jesse Plemons (TV’s Fargo, Breaking Bad) is 33
IT HAPPENED TODAY
• 1902: Electric Theatre, the first full-time movie theater in the United States, opened in Los Angeles.
• 1932: Aviator Charles Lindbergh, through an intermediary, paid $50,000 ransom in a New York cemetery to a man who promised to return his kidnapped son. The child was found dead the following month. The ransom money was eventually traced to Bruno Hauptmann, who was executed for the crime.
• 1974: Robert Opel streaked naked across the stage at the Academy Awards. Actor David Niven, who is on stage, ad-libbed, “Just think, the only laugh that man will probably ever get is for stripping and showing his shortcomings.”
• 1975: CN Tower was completed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, reaching 1,750 feet in height and becoming, at the time, the world’s tallest free-standing structure.
• 1978: Dallas debuted on CBS. It starred Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing, Linda Gray as Sue Ellen, Barbara Bel Geddes as Miss Ellie, Patrick Duffy as Bobby, Victoria Principal as Pam, Charlene Tilton as Lucy, and Jim Davis as Jock.
• 1992: In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti was convicted of murder and racketeering and was later sentenced to life in prison.
• 2017: Golfer Lexi Thompson lost the ANA Inspiration in Racho Mirage because a TV viewer emailed about an earlier infringement.
• 2020: The number of COVID-19 cases worldwide passes 1 million with over 51,400 known deaths.
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Hospital Admitting Clerks Day
• International Kids Yoga Day
• Walk to Work Day
• International Children’s Book Day
• Ferret Day
• Love Your Produce Manager Day
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
• Reconciliation Day
• World Autism Day
• Marbles Day
• Good Friday
DATEBOOK WEEKEND
SATURDAY, APRIL 3
• Jane Goodall is 87. Marsha Mason is 79. Wayne Newton is 79. Tony Orlando is 77. Alec Baldwin is 63. David Hyde Pierce is 62. Eddie Murphy is 60. Jennie Garth is 49. Adam Scott is 48. Matthew Goode is 43. Cobie Smulders is 39. Amanda Bynes is 35. Rachel Bloom is 34. Hayley Kiyoko is 30. Paris Jackson is 23.
• Don’t Go To Work Unless It’s Fun Day. Every Day is Tag Day. International Pillow Fight Day. Hand Made Day. Play Outside Day. Weed Out Hate. World Party Day. Chocolate Mousse Day.
SUNDAY, APRIL 4
• Craig T. Nelson is 77. Christine Lahti is 71. Singer Steve Gatlin of the Gatlin Brothers is 70. Constance Shulman is 63. Hugo Weaving is 61. Graham Norton is 58. David Cross is 57. Robert Downey Jr. is 56. Nancy McKeon is 55. David Blaine is 48. Natasha Lyonne is 42. Eric Andre is 38. Jamie Lynn Spears is 30.
• Easter. Dictionary Day. Geologists Day. Jeep 4×4 Day. Move More Day. World Rat Day. International Carrot Day. Hug a Newsman Day. Walk Around Things Day. School Librarian Day.
NUMBER FOR THE DAY
1385: Build year of the world’s oldest surviving working clock. It’s in the UK.
NEWS ATTACK!
Three in four Americans think there should be at least one more stimulus check later this year. [Or free pizza.]
A man in Spain broke into a bar, got drunk, then fell asleep on a couch. [Amateur. You’re supposed to break in, get drunk, then pass out on the bar.]
Opening day in baseball went well. [Not one fan was caught on video accidentally trying to drink a beer through their mask.]
According to a survey, when a town’s newspaper closes one of the things missed most is the obituaries. [By the way, did you ever look in the obituary and notice people die in alphabetical order?]
A study finds marijuana use continues to increase among the elderly. [It’s tricky enough to roll a joint without arthritis.]
In a survey, 70% of us would rather watch movies at home rather than in the theater after the pandemic is over. [I’ll go back after I’ve completed my invention: a face mask with a straw that sucks popcorn in one pieces at a time.]
According to a study, more than a quarter of a million U.S. children ages 1 to 6 are heavier than the weight limits for standard car seats, and most are 3-year-olds who weigh more than 40 pounds. [If your 3-year-old weighs 40 pounds, the NFL would like to talk to you.]
According to a study, more than a quarter of a million U.S. children ages 1 to 6 are heavier than the weight limits for standard car seats, and most are 3-year-olds who weigh more than 40 pounds. [You know your 3-year-old weighs too much when McDonald’s offers your free valet parking.]
NEWS & NUGGETS
COVID 19 ONE YEAR AGO: DR. ANTHONY FAUCI GETS SECURITY DETAIL _ Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert working to stop the coronavirus pandemic, received 24-hour security after receiving threats to his personal safety.
COVID-19 PATIENTS SHOWS SIGNS OF LONG-TERM ORGAN DAMAGE _ Researchers in Britain say that many hospitalized COVID-19 patients have signs of long-term organ damage after they’ve recovered. One U.S. expert who read over the report said she’s seen the same in her practice. Dr. Mangala Narasimhan said, “This study proves that the damage done is not just to the lungs, but can affect the heart, the brain and the kidneys, as well.” She said that “care should be taken to counsel patients as they are discharged to be aware of these other possible abnormalities that can occur.”
DEER BLASTS THROUGH A SCHOOL BUS WINDSHIELD _ A Virginia (Powhatan County) school bus picked up an unsuspecting passenger on its regular route Thursday morning when a deer came crashing through the windshield. The fortunate deer got up and left the bus through the front door, and nobody was injured. The speed indicator in the onboard video from the school bus shows the deer came crashing through the windshield at 47 mph. It’s hard to tell, but considering the angle of approach it seems as though the deer somehow cleared the hood of the bus and entered the windshield at a clean angle. Perhaps it was jumping. • VIDEO
SOME PEOPLE ADD TOMATO JUICE TO BEER _ Most people add nothing to beer. A few will drink it over ice; some will squeeze an orange, lemon or lime into it. But beer is beer — it’s meant to be drunk cold and in rotation with bites of a burger and french fries.
… But apparently, down in Texas, there’s something called a “red draw”. A red draw is, basically, a beer infused with tomato juice. The red draw appears to be a mostly Wichita Falls, Texas, drink, though other forms of the red draw are downed in other parts of Texas and the country under names like red beers, red eyes, frosty reds, red ices, and bloody beers.
… A recipe on Food52.com says a red draw needs tomato juice, black pepper, a lime, cayenne pepper and, of course, beer.
TURNING TO ‘DR. GOOGLE’ MAY NOT BE SO BAD _ Have you found yourself Googling your symptoms in an attempt to soothe health-related anxieties, and then worried that you were going to accidentally misdiagnose yourself and make those anxieties worse? Well, according to a new study, turning to “Dr. Google” does not make a person’s assessment of their symptoms less accurate, or worsen their anxiety regarding their health.
… The study (published in JAMA Network Open) found that patients having Googled their symptoms actually led to a slight improvement in diagnosis once they were in a medical setting, contrary to the common concern that the internet can lead patients down the wrong path. Researcher Dr. David Levine said, “Our work suggests that it is likely OK to tell our patients to ‘Google it.’ This starts to form the evidence base that there’s not a lot of harm in that, and, in fact, there may be some good.”
HUGGIES DIAPERS AND SCOTT TOILET PAPER MAY SOON GET MORE EXPENSIVE _ Shoppers, take note: You could soon pay more for Huggies, Pull-Ups and Scott toilet paper. Kimberly-Clark, the maker of such products, said this week that it’s notifying retail customers in the U.S. and Canada that it will increase prices on some products by mid-to-high single-digit percentages in June. The increases “are necessary to help offset significant commodity cost inflation.”
… So what’s the reason behind the price hike? A Kimberly-Clark spokesperson said that prices were rising on pulp and polymer resin, key raw materials used to manufacture products.
ADULTS ARE CLUELESS ABOUT HOW TO CARRY OUT OUTDOOR TASKS _ Adults are mostly clueless about how to carry out a number of outdoor tasks, such reading a compass or putting up a tent. The survey found a third of adults would be unable to navigate their way around with just a map, while 79 percent would have no idea how to find clean water. More than nine in 10 couldn’t identify which mushrooms would be safe to eat and 85 percent would be unable to build a raft.
… The outdoors skills we can’t do:
• Know which mushrooms are safe to eat – 92 percent
• Follow an animal tracks – 88 percent
• Create a make-shift fishing rod / net – 86 percent
• Identify edible plants/leaves/berries – 85 percent
• Build a raft – 85 percent
• Navigate using the sun – 85 percent
• Give a distress signal – 85 percent
• Identify three or more constellations – 83 percent
• Purify water – 83 percent
• Tie more than three kinds of knots – 82 percent
• Find clean water – 79 percent
• Find the North Star – 75 percent
• Build a temporary shelter – 74 percent
• Assemble a tent without instructions – 65 percent
• Climb a tree – 61 percent
• Deliver first aid – 58 percent
• Read a compass – 52 percent
• Cook on a camp stove – 43 percent
• Read a map – 37 percent
FEDS INDICT KANSAS MAN FOR ALLEGEDLY HACKING INTO WATER SUPPLY _ US prosecutors have accused a 22-year old from Kansas of hacking into a public water system in the state in 2019. On Thursday, the US Attorney’s Office in Kansas announced the indictment of Wyatt A. Travnichek, who is accused of tampering with the water system and causing damage to its computer system. Travnichek was an employee of Post Rock Rural Water District, the water system he later hacked on March 27, 2019. On that day, Travnichek logged into the Post Rock computer system and “shut down processes at the facility which affect the facility’s cleaning and disinfecting procedures with the intention of harming” people, according to the indictment.
COMPUTERS COULD SOON WRITE FILM SCRIPTS _ The next blockbuster could be written by a computer, according to the authors of a new study. They discovered that big movies tend to stick to the same core formulas, with clusters of storytelling devices appearing repeatedly in the biggest films every year.
… Researchers (University of Granada, University of Cádiz) looked for common stories in more than 10,000 movies, their ratings, genre and reviews and identified over 25,000 tropes that formed 42 distinct clusters commonly found within similar genres. It’s thought that one day the data could be used to write a hit film.
FEWER PEOPLE IN THE U.S. DRANK COFFEE DURING THE PANDEMIC _ A new study finds fewer people drank coffee in the United States during the pandemic compared to levels seen before it, although the drink remained by far the most popular in the country. The survey commissioned by the National Coffee Association (NCA) found that 58 percent of people in the US had at least one coffee the day before responding to the survey in January, versus 62 percent a year earlier.
THE $5 SAVINGS PLAN _ Not good at saving money? Try the $5 savings plan. Instead of spending every $5 bill that passes through your hands, save them. It really works, it’s easy to do and it’s painless. A few years back a Lasell College professor named Marie C. Franklin shared how she was able to sock away and additional $36,000 over 12 years using this method.
A YEAR AGO THIS WEEK: HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD BE WASHING YOUR HAIR _ How often should you wash your hair? According to certified trichologist Ky Smith, how often we should shampoo depends on a few different variables, including natural oil production, product usage, and hair type. The key isn’t just frequency, either. It also comes down to the specific products you’re using.
… Matt Rez is a celebrity colorist and Redken brand ambassador. As a general rule for maintaining hair health, he recommends shampooing no more than two to three times per week.
WACKY-BUT-TRUE
WACKY-BUT-TRUE: MAN BUSTED SMUGGLING DOZENS OF LIVE BIRDS IN HAIR CURLERS _ A smuggler was busted at John F. Kennedy International Airport with 29 live birds. The 26-year-old Guyana native was en route to New Jersey when US Customs and Border Protection uncovered the finches during a luggage inspection. The birds were concealed inside hair rollers. The would-be trafficker was flown back to Guyana while the critters were quarantined and handed over to the US Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services.
WACKY-BUT-TRUE: NAKED MAN SAID HE WAS DOING WALK OF SHAME _ A man who police saw strolling naked Thursday morning on a South Carolina street told officers that he was doing a “walk of shame” as penance for cheating on his wife. Investigators say that 41-year-old Michael Boatman was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy around 1:10 AM with “just a clear bag” over his privates.
WACKY-BUT-TRUE: WITNESS DRIVES OFF WITH ROBBERS’ CAR _ A man watched as two other men put on ski masks and checked out their guns before going inside to rob a cafe in Romania. The robbers found the cash register locked and had to be satisfied with the money in the tip jar on the counter. When they got back outside to escape, they found their car was gone. Seems after the robbers went inside the building, the quick-thinking witness got in the getaway car and drove it to a nearby police station.
WACKY-BUT-TRUE: MAYBE JUST ORDER ONLINE _ A woman was asked to leave a Bank of America in Galveston, Texas, when she refused to don a face mask. When she also refused to leave, the bank called police. An officer’s body camera footage shows the officer asking 65-year-old Terry White to leave the bank if she didn’t want to wear a mask. As she was being detained, police say she claimed to have injured her foot. Officers took her to the hospital where she was treated and released. A warrant was issued and she was apprehended the following week — at an Office Depot in Texas City, which called police because she was refusing to wear a mask.
WACKY-BUT-TRUE: MAYBE WAIT TO SHOP AT HOME _ Last summer, Volusia County, Florida, Sheriff Mike Chitwood took sick leave. It was the first time in his 33-year career that “Iron Mike” took sick leave, but COVID-19 forced it on him. It looks like he had to do it again after riding his bicycle near his home. The sheriff said, “Next thing I know, boy, I got hit hard from the rear. I go flying off the bike and all I could tell you was it was a burgundy-colored car, because the mirror was impaled in my back.” The impact also broke his leg and caused other injuries. Worse, it was a hit and run, but a witness with a dashcam caught the whole thing, and the woman driving has been arrested for leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury. What distracted her? No, not texting while driving — she says she was shopping on Amazon on her phone.
ON TELEVISION
FRIDAY
THE BARBARIAN AND THE TROLL (7:30p ET, Nickelodeon) — This kid-friendly puppet comedy series follows Evan, a bridge troll in search of adventure, and Brendar, a fierce female warrior on a quest to defeat the evil demon who has imprisoned her brother. The series stars Spencer Grammer (Rick & Morty) as the voice of Brendar and Drew Massey (Sid the Science Kid) as Evan.
MACGYVER (8p ET, CBS) — New. Mac, Desi and Russ go undercover during a royal Indian wedding to protect a princess.
SHARK TANK (8p ET, ABC) — New. Products include an invention that helps prevent the spread of germs; a smart, refrigerated safe that makes contactless delivery more secure; and a spacesuit-influenced gadget guard.
THE BLACKLIST (8p ET, NBC) — New. The task force’s determination to identify a Russian asset in the U.S. government puts Cooper and Reddington in increasingly treacherous positions.
MAGNUM P.I. (9p ET, CBS) — New. When a Marine Corps vet’s SUV is stolen with her service dog inside, Magnum and Higgins must find the car, the dog and the car thief.
20/20 (9p ET, ABC) — New. More than 30 years after the Menendez brothers captured the nation’s attention and received life imprisonment for murdering their parents, they find fame online as videos about them garner millions of views on TikTok.
DATELINE (9p ET, NBC) — A new, 2-hour edition.
PENN AND TELLER: FOOL US (9p ET, CW) — New.
HYSTERICAL (9p ET, FX) — Margaret Cho, Lisa Lampanelli, Kathy Griffin, Nikki Glaser, Fortune Feimster and Iliza Shlesinger are among the several generations of comics interviewed in this documentary, which looks at the experiences of women in the industry. The comedians talk about how they got their start, the women they looked up to as beginners, the stereotypes and sexist expectations they overcame, and what drove them to do comedy.
BLUE BLOODS (10p ET, CBS) — New. Danny and Baez become enmeshed in the world of competitive gaming when a high-profile video game streamer is murdered.
CONCRETE COWBOY (Netflix) — A Detroit teen (Caleb McLaughlin) is introduced to urban horsemanship when he moves to Philadelphia to live with his estranged father (Idris Elba) in this 2020 drama. The film is based on the real-life Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club.
THE SERPENT (Netflix) — This true-crime series is about Charles Sobhraj, a thief/conman/serial killer in Southeast Asia during the 1970s. Sobhraj is not well known in the U.S., but his crimes made him infamous in Thailand, Nepal, and India. This series shows his crime spree from the perspectives of his lover and accomplice (Jenna Coleman) and the Dutch aspiring diplomat who personally investigated Sobhraj when the Indonesian police neglected to act.
WE WORK: OR THE MAKING AND BREAKING OF A $47 BILLION UNICORN (Hulu) — This documentary recounts the story of the start-up WeWork, a commercial real estate company that provided office space for small startups. It made tons of cash and, under the guidance of its co-founder Adam Neumann, spent a lot of that money on partying and wild ideas. This documentary charts the rise and fall of Neumann, including his work “summer camps” — corporate retreats with expensive hip-hop concerts, open bars, and a cultish ideology.
SATURDAY
THE FINAL FOUR (5p ET, CBS) — In game one, it’s 2 seed Houston vs. 1 Baylor, then at 8:30p ET, it’s the No. 11 UCLA Bruins against the No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (7p ET, ABC) — In this 1956 biblical epic, Moses (Charlton Heston) leads the Hebrews out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. Yul Brynner also stars.
ROBIN ROBERTS PRESENTS: MAHALIA (8p ET, Lifetime) — Actress and singer Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black) stars as gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in this biopic, which dramatizes Jackson’s growth into a star singer and a symbol in the civil rights movement.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (11:30p ET, NBC) — New. Daniel Kaluuya hosts, with musical guest St. Vincent.
SUNDAY
THE EQUALIZER (8p ET, CBS) — New. McCall tries to help a despondent college student being threatened by someone working for a rising politician.
AMERICAN IDOL (8p ET, ABC) — New. Contestants perform duets with surprise celebrity guests for a chance to make it to the live shows. Performers will include Jason Aldean, Jewel, Josh Groban, Incubus’ Brandon Boyd, Tori Kelly, Brian McKnight, Katharine McPhee, Ben Rector, Maroon 5’s Pj Morton and Joss Stone.
ELLEN’S GAME OF GAMES (8p ET, NBC) — New.
MALIKA THE LION QUEEN (8p ET, FOX) — This special looks at the exhilarating and harrowing life of Malika, a lioness of a powerful pride in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
SERIES PREMIERE: MY GRANDPARENTS’ WAR (8p ET, PBS) — This new series follows Hollywood actors as they re-trace the footsteps of their grandparents and learn how World War II changed the lives of their families – and the world. In the premiere, Helena Bonham Carter explores the story of her grandmother, an air warden and politician, and her grandfather, a diplomat who helped Jewish people escape the Holocaust as the Nazis invaded France.
NCIS: LOS ANGELES (9p ET, CBS) — New. Callen and the team discover that Anna is being held by a group with ties to Anna’s upbringing and must rescue her before she is forcibly returned to Russia.
ZOEY’S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST (9p ET, NBC) — New. It’s Zoey’s 30th birthday, but before she can celebrate she must confront her unresolved feelings for the men in her life.
SEASON FINALE: THE WALKING DEAD (9p ET, AMC) — New. With Maggie back at Alexandria, Carol takes Negan on a journey to minimize the increasing tension.
27TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS (9p ET, TNT and TBS) –This hour-long celebration will be pre taped and honors the outstanding performances of the past year with winner announcements in 13 categories. There is no host for this year’s show.
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (10p ET, CBS) — New. After a Molotov cocktail is hurled into Pride’s bar, evidence leads him to his old nemesis, Sasha Brousard (guest star Callie Thorne), who has been keeping a secret that will affect his life forever.
THE ROOKIE (10p ET, ABC) — New. An Amber Alert sends the team on a race against time to find a newborn infant who was stolen from a local hospital.
ENTERTAINMENT
IN THEATERS TODAY _ New in theaters and VOD.
• Godzilla vs. Kong (Theaters and HBO Max — opened Wednesday)
• French Exit with Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges (Theaters)
• The Unholy with Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Cricket Brown (Theaters)
• Concrete Cowboy with Idris Elba (Netflix)
• The Man Who Sold His Skin (Theaters)
• Shiva Baby (Theaters + VOD)
🎧 MARK HAMILL’S ANSWER TO YOUNG FAN’S QUESTION ABOUT JOKER _ Mark Hamill isn’t just Luke Skywalker — he’s also the voice of The Joker for DC Comics’ animated shows. Recently a young fan — a patient at Children’s Hospital L.A. — had the chance to ask Hamill what the Joker would say to Luke if the two ever met. Hamill easily slipped into character and, as The Joker, said that he’s not a fan of the Jedi, and in fact he hates them. • VIDEO
GODZILLA VS. KONG HAD THE BEST U.S. BOX OFFICE OPENING DAY OF THE PANDEMIC _ Godzilla vs. Kong is already a box office sensation around the globe, but the movie just hit theaters in the United States, where the box office hasn’t quite returned to normal. However, that’s not stopping the epic monster battle from smashing records, even if they’re not the hardest records to break. Godzilla vs. Kong officially has the record for the biggest box office opening of the pandemic after opening in just over 2,400 theaters Wednesday.
… Godzilla vs. Kong brought in an estimated $9.6 million on opening day. That’s not a huge number for this kind of blockbuster, but it’s easily enough to crush the opening of any other movie that hit theaters during the pandemic. It certainly overtakes Wonder Woman 1984, which earned $7.5 million on Christmas Day.
JOANNA GAINES WILL COOK UP TWO MORE SEASONS OF MAGNOLIA TABLE _ Magnolia Network announced Thursday it has renewed Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines for two more seasons. The current second season of Gaines’ cooking show will premiere April 9 on the Discovery+ streaming service. Fixer Upper creators Chip and Joanna Gaines are launching the Magnolia Network on July 15. Magnolia content will be available on Discovery+ until they launch the Magnolia app at a later date.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE FANS RAIL AGAINST ‘DUMBEST RULE EVER’ _ A Wheel Of Fortune contestant ran afoul of one of the long-running game show’s most controversial rules and fans are divided. Some have called the rule “draconian” while others say it’s fair and contestants are given ample warning. This isn’t the first time this particular rule has caused an otherwise successful contestant to stumble.
… A contestant this week clearly believed that he had the crossword puzzle challenge in the bag when he told host Pat Sajak he was ready to solve. “Sole, Flounder, Cod, and Catfish,” he confidently answered when called to fill in the puzzle. To his, and the audience’s, surprise, Sajak replied, “No, sorry. That’s not right.” When Sajak moved to the next contestant, she provided the correct answer: “Sole, Flounder, Cod, Catfish.” The difference between the two answers? One little “and.” The crossword puzzle, which was a new feature introduced in 2016, has very strict rules when it comes to solving. Only the words in the puzzle, and no additional words whatsoever, can be used to solve it. By adding in “and,” David Pederson stepped into a classic trap.
… Despite previous instances of contestants losing thanks to extra words, some viewers thought the rule was too “draconian” and felt that it was unfair to fail contestants on a technicality. Some took to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction. Other fans, however, pointed out that Pat Sajak always gives contestants fair and advanced warning about the rule. If the contestant disregards the warning or forgets about it, these people argued, it’s on them.
GREEN-BAND THE SUICIDE SQUAD TRAILER HAS TONS OF NEW FOOTAGE _ It’s only been a few days since DC fans were treated to a red-band trailer for writer/director James Gunn‘s upcoming The Suicide Squad. So it was a bit surprising when on Thursday, Gunn shared a green-band trailer on his Twitter that is, believe it or not, better than the previous trailer that everyone was going nuts about. We see Polka-Dot Man in action, more of Margot Robbie‘s Harley Quinn, a significant glimpse of Ratcatcher, and more. • VIDEO
… The Suicide Squad debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on August 6.
🎧 HEAD OF THE CLASS REBOOT GETS AN HBO MAX SERIES ORDER _ Head of the Class is coming back. One Day at a Time’s Isabella Gomez will star as the teacher of a class of overachieving students in the reboot of the 1986-1991 ABC sitcom that starred Howard Hesseman. It will air on HBO Max.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR TO STAR IN AMAZON’S HOT PINK _ Sarah Michelle Gellar has signed on for Hot Pink, which is loosely based on Elana K. Arnold’s What Girls Are Made Of, a 2017 novel exploring “the real, knotted, messy, thriving heartbeat of young womanhood” through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl. According to the book’s description: “When Nina Faye was fourteen, her mother told her there was no such thing as unconditional love. Nina believed her. Now she’ll do anything for the boy she loves, to prove she’s worthy of him. But when he breaks up with her, Nina is lost. What is she if not a girlfriend? What is she made of? Broken-hearted, Nina tries to figure out what the conditions of love are.” The show is coming to Amazon.
THE GRAMMYS WILL AIR ON A MONDAY IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR _ After a pandemic delay this year, the Grammys will move to its traditional window, taking place January 31 in 2022. This will be the first time the Grammys will air on a Monday since 2016.
SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY TRAILER COMING SATURDAY _ The Toon Squad are all set to return for Space Jam: A New Legacy, the much anticipated follow-up to the hit ’90s Looney Tunes/basketball mashup that will be with us this July in theaters and on HBO Max. This time LeBron James will be stepping in for Michael Jordan as the NBA star who teams up with the beloved animated characters when they’re in trouble.
… A teaser released Thursday says we’ll be getting a trailer on Saturday. • VIDEO
🔈 PRO AUDIO PAGE
MARK HAMILL FAN ASKS QUESTION
Mark Hamill answers young fan’s question about The Joker meeting Luke Skywalker. (April 2 Entertainment)
HEAD OF THE CLASS
The classic ABC sitcom is being rebooted for HBO Max. (April 2 Entertainment)
PLAY BALL!
It’s opening day of Major League Baseball. Here’s a rockin’ country version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame by Gretchen Wilson.
PHONER
Editor: True story — my my mom just discovered that her minivan has remote start. She’s had the van for a couple of years. What feature does your vehicle have that you didn’t know until months/years after getting it? Here’s a caller to help with the phones.
MYSTERY VOICE
Jenna Fischer
BITS & BREAKS
TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR LIVING IN (CITY)
A fun and local social media and phone topic: Ten Commandments for Living in (City). Ask listeners to add to the list and slowly trim it down till you have the ten best. You’re looking for stuff that pertains only to your area.
Example: Thou shalt not drive a minivan full of screaming kids during rush hour on I-27.
Example: Thou shalt not follow a meal at (greasy local burger joint) with a (huge ice cream treat) at (local ice cream place).
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Do dogs understand elevators or are they just like, “OK it’s time to get into the world changer.” (@ronnu¡)
NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL FINAL FOUR
Both games are Saturday.
• Baylor plays Houston at 4:14PM CT
• Gonzaga plays UCLA at 7:34PM CT
… The championship will be played Monday, April 5.
SECRETS FROM THE EXPERTS
Some of best tips from Consumer Reports magazine.
• It’s perfectly fine to leave your laptop connected to its charger at home. The smart charger will prevent over-charging, and the laptop’s processor will run faster when it’s connected.
• If you’re serious about buying a car, ask the dealer to let you borrow or rent a model overnight. Or consider renting one for a few days; you and your family will get more of a feel for the car than you would with a 15-minute test drive.
• Bigger or smaller TV? Go bigger.
• Smart phones need a fresh (re)start. They’re actually full-fledged computers and need to be restarted every few days to purge memory reserved by programs no longer running and to fix glitches that can hinder performance.
• Laptop or tablet? Here’s one way to tell what you need: Tablets are mostly good for consuming media. Computers and laptops are good for creating it.
• Don’t bother using nitrogen in your tires to keep up tire pressure. It’s a waste of money.
• Never wash or rinse raw chicken in the sink. You’ll splash germs around the kitchen and risk food poisoning.
• If you think granola is healthy, think again; it’s often loaded with fat and sugar. Try mixing it with a puffed cereal to lighten the calories.
• In cars, leather or leather-like seats are much easier to clean than fabric.
• Buy the cheapest TV cables and connectors you can find. Don’t overspend on those accessories.
• Measure your laundry detergent with the provided cap. Use too much, which many people do, and you could get residue on your clothes. Remember that today’s washers use much less water than older machines.
• Don’t wait until the vacuum bag is full to replace it. By then, it will have lost significant suction power.
• Any shampoo will clean your hair, tests have shown. So buy by what you like and want to pay.
WHAT IS YOUR DEEP (OR NOT SO DEEP) LIFE ADVICE?
In a month or two millions of high school and college seniors will be going out into the real world. What’s your deep — or not so deep — life advice?
• Always encourage, never criticize.
• Listen twice as much as you talk.
• Stay away from crazy people.
• Everybody you meet knows something you don’t.
• Never trust a fart.
• Don’t be unnecessarily difficult.
• It’s OK to disagree. Just don’t be disagreeable.
• Holding on to hate, anger and resentment is like drinking poison and expecting it to hurt someone else.
FUN & GAMES
TRIVIA: Americans eat 4 million of these an hour. (Pizzas)
TRIVIA: There are 44,000 of these each day around the world. (Thunderstorms)
TRIVIA: Before it gets to you, this will travel 20,096 miles. (iPhone)
WHICH ONE DOESN’T FIT?
• Billiards
• Table tennis
• Soccer
• Bowling
• Hockey*
• Golf
* It doesn’t use a ball.
HOLE IN THE HEADLINE
Guess the word that’s missing from this new “BORDER PATROL DOG SNIFFS OUT DRUGS HIDDEN IN ______!”
A) Stuffed animals
B) Burritos*
C) Paint cans
A Yuma, Arizona, border patrol canine sniffed out several packages of drugs that were hidden inside some breakfast items at an immigration checkpoint. A canine handler referred the male driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe to the checkpoint’s secondary inspection area at approximately after his canine partner alerted to the vehicle. While in secondary, the canine alerted to a black backpack that was located inside the vehicle. Agents searched the backpack and discovered several small packages containing fentanyl pills that were stuffed inside breakfast burritos. The packages of fentanyl had a combined weight of just over five pounds with an estimated street value of nearly $60,000.s headline:
DATEBOOK: APRIL 5, 2021
• Michael Moriarty (Ben Stone on Law and Order) is 80
• Max Gail (Sons and Daughters, Barney Miller) is 78
• Mitch Pileggi (Sons of Anarchy, The X Files) is 69
• Rapper-producer Pharrell Williams is 48
• Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us) is 45
• Hayley Atwell (Marvel’s Agent Carter) is 39
• Lily James (Downton Abbey) is 32
IT HAPPENED TODAY
• 1987: Married with Children debuted on Fox television.
• 1990: A Gulfport, Mississippi, man discovered that his house has been stolen. Not only that, but police had escorted the thieves and the house out of town.
• 1993: Sherry Davis became the first female public-address-system announcer at a major league baseball park. She won the San Francisco Giant’s job over 499 others who auditioned.
• 1994: Singer Kurt Cobain committed suicide in his home. His body was found on April 8.
• 1999: Thieves forced open a display case at the Criminals Hall of Fame Museum in Niagara Falls, Ontario, and walked out with life-size wax figure of Adolph Hitler.
• 2005: ABC News anchor Peter Jennings informed his viewers that he had lung cancer. It was his final broadcast.
• 2010: Twenty-nine coal miners were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia.
• 2020: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to a hospital suffering from COVID-19.
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Bat Appreciation Week
• Dental Hygienist Week
• National Library Week
• Gold Star Spouses Day
• Deep Dish Pizza Day
• Read A Road Map Day
• Caramel Day
• Raisin & Spice Bar Day