Daily Broadcast Prep Sheet

National Day

National Chewing Gum Day (USA) This observance celebrates chewing gum’s long history including how it was first commercialized mid-19th century and even includes bubble-blowing fun challenges for today

National Hot Mulled Cider Day (USA) It’s a cozy food-and-drink observance honouring warm cider spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves—perfect for autumn flavour lovers

National Women’s Health & Fitness Day (USA) Held on the last Wednesday of September, this day promotes preventive health care and fitness among women—2026’s edition aligns with September 30

International Translation Day (International) Established by the United Nations to honour translators and interpreters; it follows the feast of Saint Jerome, the patron saint of translators

Birthdays

Ezra Miller (34) They are well-known for their roles in major film franchises, including the DC Comics universe. — Ezra is also a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has been involved in various charity projects. They gained recognition for their performance in the film 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' which has a cult following.

Marilyn McCoo (83) She rose to fame as the lead singer of the group The 5th Dimension, known for their hits in the 1960s. — Marilyn is also an Emmy Award-winning television host who co-hosted 'Solid Gold.' She and her husband, Billy Davis Jr., still perform together, bringing back the classic sounds of their music.

Cecelia Ahern (45) She gained international fame with her debut novel 'PS, I Love You,' which was adapted into a popular film. — In addition to her writing, Cecelia has also delved into screenwriting and producing for television. She is the daughter of a former Irish Prime Minister, showcasing her strong ties to the arts and politics.

Martina Hingis (46) Martina is celebrated as one of the greatest female tennis players in history, winning multiple Grand Slam titles. — She became the youngest player ever to be ranked World No. 1 in women's singles at the age of 16. After retiring from singles, she successfully transitioned to doubles, continuing her winning legacy.

Fran Drescher (69) She is best known for her role as Fran Fine on the hit television series 'The Nanny,' which became a cultural phenomenon. — Aside from her acting career, Fran is an advocate for cancer awareness and prevention after overcoming her own battle with the disease. Her signature voice and comedic style have made her a beloved figure in entertainment.

On This Day

🎵 Music Mariah Carey became the first female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with her single "Fantasy" in 1995, beginning an eight-week run at the top starting that week.

🎵 Music BBC Radio 1 launched at 7am in the UK in 1967, with Tony Blackburn presenting the first programme and The Move’s "Flowers in the Rain" being the first record played.

🌟 Pop Culture Hoover Dam was dedicated between Arizona and Nevada in 1935, becoming one of the largest engineering projects in the United States.

🌟 Pop Culture The Flintstones premiered as the first animated television series made for prime-time audiences when it debuted in 1960.

Movies & TV

Digger — 🎬 Cinema Digger is a satirical, high-concept comedy of catastrophic proportions directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, with Tom Cruise starring as Digger Rockwell—an eccentric, world-powerful tycoon who must scramble to fix a disaster of his own making. In addition to Cruise, the cast includes Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, John Goodman and others, with the film filmed entirely in VistaVision and backed by strong awards-season expectations. It opens October 2, 2026 in the United States and the same date in the UK; however, early critic-screenings have already started to yield mixed feedback, placing its awards potential in question.
Released: Friday Oct 2, 2026

Resident Evil — 🎬 Cinema Resident Evil is a horror-action reboot written and directed by Zach Cregger, starring Austin Abrams as Bryan, with Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis among the leads. It follows a medical courier who becomes engulfed in a terrifying viral outbreak in an isolated town, navigating horror, monsters, and unlikely alliances. The film has opened to critical acclaim—scoring in the mid-90s on Rotten Tomatoes—broke franchise records at the box office with the biggest opening ever for a Resident Evil movie in North America, and is now dominating conversations among video game adaptations.
Released: Friday Sep 18, 2026
UK Release: Saturday Sep 26, 2026

How to Rob a Bank — 🎬 Cinema How to Rob a Bank is an upcoming heist action film directed by David Leitch, featuring Nicholas Hoult, Zoë Kravitz, Pete Davidson, Christian Slater, John C. Reilly, and Anna Sawai in key roles. The plot follows a team of bank robbers who livestream their audacious heists, while a veteran FBI agent and a tech-savvy engineer work together to stop them as their fame spirals out of control. The film’s release has been postponed from its original early September slot, and it is now set to open in the United States and the United Kingdom in mid-November, generating buzz with recent trailers and pre-release coverage.
Released: Friday Nov 13, 2026

Practical Magic 2 — 🎬 Cinema Practical Magic 2 is a supernatural fantasy-romance sequel directed by Susanne Bier, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sisters Sally and Gilly Owens, joined by Joey King and Maisie Williams as Sally’s daughters. The film follows the Owens family as they confront a long-standing curse tied to their magical heritage, with dark secrets and ancient spells coming to light. Since its release, critics have praised the reunion and atmosphere but largely felt it doesn’t recapture the original’s charm; audiences, however, have been more forgiving, and it topped both the U.S. and U.K. box offices on opening weekend.
Released: Friday Sep 11, 2026

Animals — 📺 Streaming Animals is a Netflix thriller film directed by and starring Ben Affleck, with Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson co-starring. The plot follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, triggering a crisis that strands family loyalty and moral compromise. It stands out as a high-profile streaming original with major star power and rising buzz going into October.
Released: Friday Oct 9, 2026

East of Eden — 📺 Streaming Netflix’s adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel launches as a seven-episode limited series, starring Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames alongside Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist. Zoe Kazan has adapted the epic saga tracing the Trask and Hamilton families in early 20th-century California. This series is one of the fall’s most anticipated originals, offering a lush multigenerational drama with A-list talent and sweeping scope.
Released: Thursday Oct 1, 2026

NCIS — 📡 TV NCIS kicks off its 24th season on CBS with Michael Weatherly returning as Tony DiNozzo, airing Tuesday at 8pm ET/PT. The procedural drama follows a team investigating high-stakes crimes with a blend of tension and humour. Its longevity and return of a fan-favourite character make this premiere a key moment in the fall TV schedule.
Released: Tuesday Oct 6, 2026

Celebrity Traitors UK — 📡 TV Celebrity Traitors UK launches at 8pm on BBC One, bringing the hit psychological format to a starry cast including Michael Sheen, Richard E. Grant, Bella Ramsey, Ross Kemp and Rob Beckett as they compete in a game of trust, deception and elimination. With Joe Lycett and Romesh Ranganathan also among the celebrity line-up, it's shaping up to be one of the season's biggest talking points in British entertainment.
Released: Thursday Oct 1, 2026

Concerts

Happening in the next 7 days

Harry Styles — 🎤 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Harry Styles is in the middle of a multi-night residency at Madison Square Garden.
Tonight: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
This week: Wednesday Sep 30 at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York · Friday Oct 02 at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York · Saturday Oct 03 at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

Bruno Mars — 🎤 SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California Bruno Mars is in the middle of a multi-night residency at SoFi Stadium.
Tonight: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
This week: Wednesday Sep 30 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California · Friday Oct 02 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California · Saturday Oct 03 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California · plus 1 more date this tour

Ed Sheeran — 🎤 Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Ed Sheeran is performing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia.
This week: Saturday Oct 03 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

The Weeknd — 🎤 National Stadium, Singapore, Singapore The Weeknd is performing at National Stadium, Singapore, Singapore.
This week: Friday Oct 02 at National Stadium, Singapore, Singapore · Saturday Oct 03 at National Stadium, Singapore, Singapore

Events

Happening in the next 14 days

Microelectronics UK 2026 — 🎯 Conference — London, UK Microelectronics UK is the leading UK event for engineering, semiconductor, photonics and embedded systems professionals, showcasing over 175 exhibitors, more than 120 speakers and content across multiple stages including startup launches and technical forums. It takes place at ExCeL London; registration, event hours and tickets are detailed on the official Microelectronics UK website.
Dates: Tuesday Sep 29-Wednesday Sep 30, 2026

Aftershock Festival — 🎪 Festival — Sacramento, CA Tickets are available now with options for 4-day, 2-day and single-day general admission, VIP and Capital Club access; camping passes offered and official info at aftershockfestival.com
Dates: Thursday Oct 1-Sunday Oct 4, 2026

Arizona State Fair — 🎪 Festival — Phoenix, Arizona The Arizona State Fair returns for a full month of entertainment, combining carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, food vendors and evening concerts under the lights at the Fairgrounds in Phoenix. Tickets are required for admission; the fair operates Thursdays through Sundays in early October and more information is available via its official website azstatefair.com.
Dates: Thursday Oct 1-Sunday Nov 1, 2026

State Fair of Virginia — 🎪 Festival — Doswell, Virginia An annual state fair focused on Virginia’s agriculture, entertainment, youth programming, and scholarship competitions, featuring Midway rides, exhibits, and large-scale blue-ribbon showings. It draws significant regional and national interest as Virginia is agriculturally rich and this fair showcases both traditional and cultural local talent. Admission covers concerts and exhibits (though some attractions cost extra), fair runs daily from morning until evening.
Dates: Friday Sep 25-Sunday Oct 4, 2026

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Daily Broadcast Prep — Wednesday, September 30, 2026