SHOW SYNOPSES - week of 11/16/20

MONDAY 11/16:

COVID-19 Vaccine Waits Approval THE PROGRAM TO VACCINATE 300-MILLION AMERICANS AGAINST COVID-19 IS ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY. HUNDREDS OF VIALS OF VACCINE ARE BEING STOCKPILED AHEAD OF ITS APPROVAL BY THE FDA, BUT THE FOUR STAR GENERAL TASKED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RUN OPERATION WARP SPEED SAID THAT HIS BIGGEST FEAR IS PEOPLE NOT WANTING TO TAKE A VACCINE.

Dean Fired For Medical Marijuana: A FLORIDA HIGH SCHOOL DEAN HAS BEEN FIRED AFTER HE TESTED POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA, EVEN THOUGH IT HAD BEEN PRESCRIBED TO HIM BY A DOCTOR TO TREAT POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER HE INCURRED IN THE MARINES. MIKE HICKMAN WAS FIRED BY THE MARION COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IN A UNANIMOUS 5-0 VOTE. THE BOARD SAID THAT WHILE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN FLORIDA, THE DRUG IS ILLEGAL UNDER FEDERAL LAW, ITS USE VIOLATES DISTRICT POLICY AND HE FAILED TO NOTIFY HIS SUPERVISOR HE WAS USING IT.

Walmart Fires Robots: WALMART IS PARTING WAYS WITH ROBOTS USED TO MONITOR STORE INVENTORY AS THE RETAIL GIANT REALIZED HUMANS ARE JUST AS CAPABLE. THE ROBOT LAYOFF IS THE RESULT OF THE COMPANY CUTTING TIES WITH STARTUP BOSSA NOVA ROBOTICS, WHICH OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS PROVIDED SIX-FOOT-TALL INVENTORY-TRACKING MACHINES TO ROUGHLY 500 WALMART STORES.

Socially Distanced Office: IT WAS AN OFFICE PRANK WORTHY OF BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE WATER COOLER. A DESK-EQUIPPED RAFT COULD BE SEEN FLOATING BETWEEN BROOKLYN AND MANHATTAN. ITS CREATORS DUBBED IT "NEW YORK'S MOST SOCIALLY DISTANCED OFFICE." USING ENTIRELY DONATED AND SCAVENGED MATERIALS, THE ORGANIZATIONS CREATED A RAFT AND OUTFITTED IT WITH OFFICE FURNITURE, INCLUDING A BATTERY-POWERED COMPUTER AND AN ACTUAL WATER COOLER.

5-Year-Old Becomes Author: A 5-YEAR-OLD DECIDED TO BECOME AN AUTHOR AFTER THE PANDEMIC SHUTTERED HER LIBRARY. EGYPT BUSH USED TO MAKE WEEKLY TRIPS TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, WHERE SHE WOULD PICK UP 10 TO 14 BOOKS AT A TIME AS BEDTIME STORIES FOR HERSELF AND HER BROTHER. IN MARCH, HER BELOVED PASTIME WAS SUDDENLY DISRUPTED BY THE LOCKDOWN, SO HER DAD SAID, WHY DON'T YOU WRITE YOUR OWN BOOK, AND SHE GOT REALLY EXCITED. HER DAD, WHO IS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD, WORKED WITH A GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO BRING THE BOOKS TO LIFE. YOUNG EGYPT IS NOW A PROLIFIC AUTHOR; SINCE JUNE, SHE HAS PUBLISHED FOUR BOOKS.

Alex Trebek's Last Episode: FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF LONGTIME "JEOPARDY" HOST ALEX TREBEK, FANS OF THE SHOW ARE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE MASSIVELY POPULAR GAME SHOW. THE SHOW CONFIRMED THAT THE FINAL EPISODE OF "JEOPARDY" HOSTED BY TREBEK WILL AIR ON CHRISTMAS DAY 2020. HIS LAST DAY IN THE STUDIO AS THE HOST WAS FILMED ON OCTOBER 29TH.

Al Roker Cancer Battle: BELOVED WEATHERMAN AL ROKER SHARED THAT HE WILL UNDERGO SURGERY FOLLOWING A PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSIS. THE TODAY SHOW HOST SAID IT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER A ROUTINE MEDICAL CHECKUP IN SEPTEMBER, SAYING THAT THE GOOD NEWS IS THEY CAUGHT IT EARLY, AND THE NOT GREAT NEWS IS THAT IT'S A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE. HIS SURGEON SAID THE CANCER APPEARS SOMEWHAT LIMITED OR CONFINED TO THE PROSTATE BUT GIVEN THAT IT'S AGGRESSIVE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REMOVE THE PROSTATE.

TUESDAY 11/17:

Hershey Profits Jump: THE HERSHEY COMPANY POSTED A SWEET THIRD-QUARTER PROFIT AS AMERICANS STOCKED UP ON CHOCOLATE AND BAKED THEIR OWN TREATS AMID THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. THE PENNSYLVANIA CANDY MAKER'S OPERATING PROFITS CLIMBED 33 PERCENT TO $611-MILLION FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER AS LOCKED-DOWN CONSUMERS GOBBLED UP HERSHEY BARS AND REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS -- WELL BEFORE THE HEIGHT OF THE HALLOWEEN SEASON.

Disney Skinless Robot: ONCE YOU GET PAST THE FACT THAT IT HAS NO SKIN, THE NEW ROBOT FROM DISNEY RESEARCH IS AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT OF ROBOTICS. THE NEW ROBOT CAN IMITATE HUMAN FACIAL MOVEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY BLINKING AND SUBTLE HEAD MOVEMENTS. A SENSOR IN ITS CHEST AREA ALERTS THE ROBOT WHEN TO TURN AND FACE A PERSON IN FRONT OF IT, AND ITS EYE MOVEMENTS SHIFT FROM DIRECT EYE CONTACT TO THE RAPID EYE MOVEMENTS KNOWN AS SACCADES. IT ALSO MOVES SLIGHTLY UP AND DOWN TO MIMIC BREATHING.

Surprise Birthday Funeral: WHEN WE THINK OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES, WE MIGHT IMAGINE BRIGHT COLORED STREAMERS, CAKE AND LOTS OF FUN AND GAMES. BUT WHEN ONE MAN ARRIVED AT A CELEBRATION TO MARK HIS 33RD YEAR OF LIVING, THIS WAS NOT WHAT GREETED HIM. INSTEAD ELI MCCANN FOUND HIMSELF WALKING INTO HIS VERY OWN FUNERAL. HIS BOYFRIEND HAD COME UP WITH THE QUIRKY IDEA TO THROW HIM A FUNERAL BECAUSE HE FELT THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DIE IN ORDER FOR THEIR FRIENDS TO SAY WHY THEY LOVED THEM.

Guest Interview: ACTOR JUSTIN SMITH FROM DISNEY'S THE RIGHT STUFF JOINS US TO TALK ABOUT HIS CAREER, NEW PROJECTS, ETC.

Chrissy Teigen Tribute Tattoo: CHRISSY TEIGEN HAS HONORED HER LATE SON JACK IN A HEARTWARMING WAY. TAKING TO TWITTER, TEIGEN POSTED A PHOTO OF A "JACK" TATTOO WRITTEN IN SCRIPT ON HER WRIST, WEEKS AFTER ANNOUNCING HER PREGNANCY LOSS. THE INK IS NEAR HER TATTOO TRIBUTES TO HUSBAND JOHN LEGEND AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, DAUGHTER LUNA AND SON MILES.

JLo Named Innovator Of The Year: JENNIFER LOPEZ DOESN'T PLAN ON SLOWING DOWN ANYTIME SOON -- AND HER ENDURING POWER AND SUCCESS HAVE EARNED HER YET ANOTHER INCREDIBLE HONOR. THE MULTI-HYPHENATE IS BEING PRESENTED WITH W-S-J MAGAZINE'S INNOVATORS AWARD FOR POP CULTURE INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE HONOR, LOPEZ SAYS THAT EVERY DAY SHE'S TRYING TO BE A BETTER VERSION OF HERSELF.

WEDNESDAY 11/18:

American's Support Legal Weed: A RECORD 68 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SUPPORT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA. THE FINDINGS FROM A NEW GALLUP REPORT SHOWED THAT MARIJUANA USE AND SALES HAS DRUMMED UP MORE SUPPORT THIS YEAR THAN THE LAST FIVE DECADES.

91-Year-Old Survives Eating Plant Soil: A 91-YEAR-OLD IN THE U-K WAS STRANDED FOR TWO DAYS ON HER BEDROOM FLOOR AFTER FALLING – AND SURVIVED BY EATING SOIL FROM HER POTTED PLANT. DOCTORS SAID ROSEMARY FRANK WAS ABOUT SIX HOURS FROM DEATH WHEN SHE WAS RESCUED BY A VOLUNTEER DRIVER WHO CHECKED ON HER WHEN SHE MISSED HER REGULAR RIDE TO A HAIR SALON. AFTER FALLING AT HER HOME, THE RETIRED PHYSIOTHERAPIST SAID SHE REMEMBERED WAKING UP IN A PILE OF DIRT AFTER EATING SOIL FROM HER MADAGASCAN DRAGON TREE. SHE SAID THE SOIL ENDED UP ALL OVER HER FACE AND UNDER HER FINGERNAILS, SO SHE'D OBVIOUSLY HAD A GOOD GO AT THE PLANT.

The McPlant: MCDONALD'S SAID IT WILL BEGIN TESTING A NEW VEGGIE BURGER NEXT YEAR CALLED THE "MCPLANT." THE WORLD'S BIGGEST RESTAURANT CHAIN HAS CREATED A BURGER THAT WILL BE THE FIRST MENU OPTION IN A PLANT-BASED PLATFORM. MCDONALD'S SAID THE MCPLANT IS PART OF A NEW GROWTH STRATEGY.

Health, Spice & Life Guest Interview: HOST OF HEALTH, SPICE & LIFE DR. MARIO IS JOINED BY ARTIST SOFIA MALDONADO SUAREZ. SHE HAS BEEN NAMED THE OFFICIAL ARTISTS FOR THE 2020 LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS. SHE WILL TALK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE, ETC.

Single Father Adopts 5 Children: A SINGLE FOSTER DAD IS NOW OFFICIALLY A FATHER OF FIVE. ROBERT CARTER BEGAN FOSTERING THREE BOYS IN DECEMBER OF 2019, BUT HE LATER LEARNED THE BROTHERS HAD TWO SISTERS WHO WERE ALSO IN THE FOSTER SYSTEM. WHEN HE LEARNED THAT THE SIBLINGS HAD BEEN SEPARATED FOR SIX MONTHS, HE DECIDED TO TAKE ACTION.

Parents Of 14 Sons Welcomes Daughter: FOR ONE MICHIGAN COUPLE, FIRST CAME LOVE, THEN CAME MARRIAGE, THEN CAME BABY BOY AFTER BABY BOY 14 TIMES OVER -- UNTIL FINALLY, A LITTLE GIRL. KATERI SCHWANDT AND HER HUSBAND JAY WELCOMED DAUGHTER MAGGIE JAYNE, FINALLY GIVING THEIR 14 SONS A BABY SISTER. THE COUPLE ARE ALREADY PARENTS TO SONS WHOSE AGES RANGE FROM 2-AND-A-HALF TO 28 YEARS OLD.

Oprah's Favorite Things 2020: IT'S TIME FOR--DRUMROLL, PLEASE...OPRAH WINFREY'S FAVORITE THINGS LIST FOR 2020, JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON. LOOKING FOR A SIMPLE MIRROR THAT SUDDENLY TURNS INTO AN INTERACTIVE HOME GYM? LOOK NO FURTHER! TRYING TO FIND THE SMOOTHEST VODKA? STEP RIGHT UP! THE ELVES AND I HAVE WORKED OVERTIME IN SEARCH OF FANTASTIC TREATS FOR EVERYONE.

Kelly Osbourne Flaunts New Look: KELLY OSBOURNE HAS BEEN PROUDLY FLAUNTING HER SLIM FIGURE AFTER DROPPING 85 POUNDS, AND DOESN'T HAVE TIME FOR FAIR-WEATHER SUITORS. THE 36-YEAR-OLD OPENED UP ABOUT HER CURRENT DATING LIFE SAYING THAT SHE'S BEEN HAVING FUN. OSBOURNE HAS ADMITTED THAT PART OF HER DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS IS DUE TO A GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY SHE HAD ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.

THURSDAY 11/19:

Turkey Company Cancels Thanksgiving: A TEXAS TURKEY PRODUCTION COMPANY HAS BEEN FORCED TO SHUT DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON AFTER A FIRE AND AT LEAST TWO EXPLOSIONS DESTROYED 87-THOUSAND FROZEN BIRDS AND PART OF THEIR FACILITY. GREENBERG SMOKED TURKEY SAID IT WILL HALT ALL OF ITS TURKEY PRODUCTION FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE DEVASTATING FIRE AT THEIR SHIPPING FACILITY.

Florida Expands Stand Your Ground Law: FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR HAS DRAFTED "ANTI-MOB" LEGISLATION TO EXPAND THE ALREADY CONTROVERSIAL STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS. A DRAFT OF GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS' PROPOSED BILL EXPANDS THE LIST OF "FORCIBLE FELONIES" UNDER FLORIDA'S SELF-DEFENSE LAW TO INCLUDE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF CAUSING "INTERRUPTION OR IMPAIRMENT" OF A BUSINESS. IT ALSO SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS FORCE AGAINST THOSE LOOTING, WHICH THE DRAFT DEFINES AS BURGLARY WITHIN 500 FEET OF A "VIOLENT OR DISORDERLY ASSEMBLY."

Ticketmaster Coronavirus App: THE PRE-CONCERT CHECKLIST FOR MUSIC FANS IS ABOUT TO GET MORE COMPLICATED, AS TICKETMASTER IS PLANNING TO CHECK THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINATION STATUS OF CONCERT-GOERS PRIOR TO SHOWS. THE TICKETING GIANT PLANS TO HAVE CUSTOMERS USE THEIR CELLPHONES TO VERIFY WHETHER THEY'VE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR THE VIRUS WITHIN A 24- TO 72-HOUR WINDOW.

UPS Dogs: JASON HARDESTY HAS STARTED A BEAUTIFUL TRADITION OF SNAPPING PICTURES WITH DOGS HE MEETS ON HIS ROUTE AT WORK. THERE'S EVEN A FACEBOOK GROUP CALLED 'UPS DOGS' WHERE DRIVERS SHARE THEIR SHOTS AND EXPERIENCES.

Cat Memorial Live-Streamed: A BELOVED STRAY CAT THAT MADE LONDON'S SOUTHWARK CATHEDRAL HER HOME, WAS MEMORIALIZED IN A SPECIAL SERVICE HOSTED BY THE CATHEDRAL'S DEAN ON LIVE STREAM. THE LIVE STREAM A SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING WAS IN MEMORY OF DOORKINS MAGNIFICAT, A STRAY CAT THAT WANDERED INTO THE BUILDING IN 2008 AND LIVED THERE FOR 12 YEARS.

Prince Harry Remembrance Day Nixed: PRINCE HARRY WAS REPORTEDLY DENIED PERMISSION TO EVEN SYMBOLICALLY TAKE PART IN A REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY IN THE UK. THE 36-YEAR-OLD ROYAL PERSONALLY ASKED BUCKINGHAM PALACE FOR A WREATH TO BE LAID ON HIS BEHALF DURING REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES BUT THE PROPOSAL REPORTEDLY WAS QUICKLY SHUT DOWN.

Cardi B Calls Off Divorce: CARDI B AND OFFSET ARE ALMOST BACK TOGETHER BY LAW. THE "WAP" RAPPER FILED TO DISMISS HER DIVORCE PETITION AGAINST OFFSET. SHE FILED TO DISMISS THE CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE, MEANING SHE COULD REFILE AT A LATER DATE IF THINGS TAKE A TURN. A JUDGE HAS NOT SIGNED OFF ON HER REQUEST YET, BUT THE CASE APPEARS TO BE CLOSED.

FRIDAY 11/20:

Ring Doorbell Recall: AMAZON'S HOME SECURITY ARM RING HAS RECALLED 358-THOUSAND OF ITS SMART DOORBELLS AFTER SOME OF THEM CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER RECEIVING COMPLAINTS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND MINOR BURNS, THE COMPANY HAS RECALLED UNITS OF ITS SECOND-GENERATION VIDEO DOORBELL. THE DOORBELL'S BATTERY CAN OVERHEAT WHEN THE INCORRECT SCREWS ARE USED FOR INSTALLATION, POSING FIRE AND BURN HAZARDS.

Flying Taxi: A FLYING TAXI STARTUP THAT ONE DAY HOPES TO WHISK PASSENGERS BETWEEN NEW YORK AND BOSTON IN AN HOUR -- ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CREATE A FLEDGLING TRAVEL NETWORK IN FLORIDA WITHIN FIVE YEARS. THE FIRST HUB -- WHICH THE COMPANY CALLS A "VERTIPORT" -- IS TARGETED TO OPEN IN 2025 JUST OUTSIDE THE TOURIST MAGNET OF ORLANDO IN LAKE NONA. IT WILL BE THE FIRST LOCATION IN A STATEWIDE NETWORK THAT COULD SPAN 2-THOUSAND MILES.

NASA Certifies SpaceX: SPACEX IS ABOUT TO LAUNCH FOUR ASTRONAUTS IN THE FIRST HUMAN-RATED COMMERCIAL SPACECRAFT. NASA ANNOUNCED IT HAD FINALLY CERTIFIED SPACEX'S WHOLE LAUNCH SYSTEM FOR HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT. THAT DECISION WAS THE RESULT OF THE AGENCY'S FLIGHT-READINESS REVIEW, IN WHICH EXPERTS AND OFFICIALS SPENT TWO DAYS REVIEWING SPACEX'S FALCON 9 ROCKET, THE CREW DRAGON SPACESHIP, THE SOFTWARE, AND MISSION OPERATIONS.

Sinead O'Connor Entering Rehab: SINÉAD O'CONNOR IS POSTPONING HER TOUR SO SHE CAN ENTER REHAB.. THE "NOTHING COMPARES 2 U" SINGER SAID THAT SHE WILL BE POSTPONING 2021 SHOWS SO THAT SHE MAY GO INTO A ONE YEAR TRAUMA AND ADDICTION TREATMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE SHE HAVE HAD A VERY TRAUMATIC SIX YEARS AND THIS YEAR WAS THE END OF IT BUT NOW RECOVERY STARTS. THE 53-YEAR-OLD O'CONNOR SAYS THAT THIS YEAR SHE LOST SOMEONE "BELOVED," WHICH CAUSE HER TO BECOME BRIEFLY ADDICTED TO A DRUG OTHER THAN WEED.

Next Jeopardy! Host?: AND THE CATEGORY IS: PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGLING FOR ALEX TREBEK'S JOB. REPS FOR ABC NEWS JOURNALIST GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS ARE LOBBYING FOR HIM TO TAKE OVER AS HOST OF "JEOPARDY." THE 59-YEAR-OLD -- WHO CO-ANCHORS "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" ON ABC -- HAS BEEN ACTIVELY CHASING THE ROLE.

300-Million Planets Exist: THERE ARE AROUND 300-MILLION PLANETS THAT EXIST OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM BUT WITHIN THE MILKY WAY WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY HARBOR LIFE. FOUR OF THEM ARE WITHIN 30 LIGHT-YEARS FROM EARTH, WITH THE CLOSEST JUST 20 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY.