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'Alright, Alright, Alright': The Incredible Story Behind Matthew McConaughey's Famous Phrase

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Matthew McConaughey, Dazed and Confused

When Matthew McConaughey won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in "Dallas Buyers Club," many fans weren't surprised when he slipped his signature phrase  "Alright, alright, alright"  into his acceptance speech.

But where did this phrase come from and why has it become so popular that it even adorns T-shirts?

McConaughey explained on "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" that Jim Morrison of "The Doors" should get partial credit for the quote initially made popular in the actor's first-ever film role as David Wooderson in "Dazed and Confused."

"Right before we're about to shoot... I've been listening to this live 'Doors' album and in between two of the songs Morrison goes 'alright, alright, alright, alright,'" McConaughey explained in the TV interview. "So right before I'm about to shoot, I'm like 'what is Wooderson about?' Four things: his car, getting high, rock and roll, and picking up chicks. I'm in my car, I'm high as a kite, I'm listening to rock and roll, and there's the chick  action! 'Alright, alright, alright'  three out of four!"

And the rest is history. Watch below to get the full, awesome story:

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' Parodies Matthew McConaughey And 'Putin's Best Friends' On 'Weekend Update'

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Diddy Reportedly Bid $200 Million For Fuse TV Network

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Diddy

Diddy wants to expand his empire.

After rising to fame as a rapper, the musician originally known as Sean Combs has since gone on to found fashion lines such as Sean Jean, a nearly $1 billion Ciroc liquor company, and media businesses, including Revolt TV — a new music cable network "dedicated to the creators of this generation."

Bloomberg reports that Diddy recently bid $200 million to purchase the similar Fuse cable-TV channel, owned by Madison Square Garden Co, with the plan of converting it to Revolt.

As Bloomberg reports:

With the purchase, Revolt TV would gain wider distribution and higher subscriber fees, one person said. Fuse is available in about 74 million homes through pay-TV systems including DirecTV (DTV)Dish Network Corp. (DISH) and Cablevision Systems Corp. (CVC), compared with Revolt TV, which reaches about 22.8 million homes and is carried by Comcast and Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC), according to researcher SNL Kagan.

Fuse's most popular shows include "Billy On The Street," “Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,” and the network often broadcasts live concerts and music specials.

Diddy is just one of several bidders for the music-focused TV network, according to one of Bloomberg's three sources on the story.

A spokeswoman for Madison Square Garden Co. would not confirm the bid, simply stating, "We are exploring strategic alternatives for Fuse, and will have no further comment during what is still an ongoing process."

A rep for the rapper declined to comment on the report. 

But Diddy's $200 million may be a lowball offer. Bloomberg said MSG has been seeking about $400 million for Fuse.

In 2013, Al Jazeera acquired Current TV for about $500 million. Current TV reached about 60 million U.S. homes, while Fuse's reach extends to 74 million homes.

SEE ALSO: A Rapper Went To Jail For 5 Years And Here's The Technology He Couldn't Believe When He Got Out

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12 Video Game Movies That Bombed At The Box Office

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need for speedWhile Hollywood has cashed in on book series after book series, it's no secret directors have failed to perfect the art of bringing popular video games to the big screen.  

Unless it's a "Lara Croft" or "Resident Evil" film led by Angelina Jolie or Milla Jovovich, most game adaptations suffer from poor scripts, weak dialogue, and acting from unrecognized talent that resulted in awful reviews and box-office reception.

When "Need for Speed" comes to theaters Friday, DreamWorks hopes it can break that cycle with the help of "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul.

Based on the popular franchise that's turning 20 this year, the film cost an estimated $66 million to make. 

Current estimates are tracking the film for a $19 million debut. That number may be tough to crack as many reviews pouring out for the adaptation aren't positive.

We’ve compiled the worst-performing video game adaptations. Movies are ranked according to monetary intake compared to its budget. 

12. "Silent Hill: Revelation 3D" (2012)

Budget: $20 million
Worldwide: $52.3 million
Distributor: Open Road Films

The sequel to the 2006 adaptation received a 5% on critic aggregator Rotten Tomatoes for being a jumble of jump-scare tactics combined with weak performances. That's probably why it made about half as much as the original at the box office.

The first film’s director Christophe Gans turned down the sequel. Writer Roger Avary didn’t return after he was sentenced to a year in prison for vehicular manslaughter.

(Source: Box Office Mojo



11. "House of the Dead" (2003)

Budget: $12 million
Worldwide: $13.8 million
Distributor: Artisan

You probably see Sega's "House of the Dead" in nearly every arcade you step foot inside. The film adaptation was considered a cheesy horror adaptation.

Watch the trailer

(Source: Box Office Mojo)



10. "Doom" (2005)

Budget: $60 million
Worldwide: $56 million
Distributor: Universal

The first-person shooter from id Software was tossed around at movie studios for a while (the rights went from Universal and Columbia Pictures to Warner Bros. before finally returning to Universal). 

Reviews for director Andrzej Bartkowiak’s (“Romeo Must Die”) adaptation were pretty awful. Fans of the game were upset the film strayed from the game’s plot of a virus to an invasion of demonic creatures on Mars.  

Here’s how Roger Ebert described the film:

“'Doom' is like some kid came over and is using your computer and won't let you play.” 

This was also one of The Rock’s first movie roles.

Watch the trailer

(Source: Box Office Mojo)



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Check Out The Blingy Lounge Snoop Dogg Designed For SXSW

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snoop dogg airbnb

When you think of Snoop Dogg, interior design probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. 

But this week at SXSW, Snoop presented a one-of-a-kind room he designed in collaboration with HGTV's Emily Henderson, sponsored by Airbnb

The pop-up lodging included a furnished living room and an adjoining covered deck. 

Snoop hosted a picnic and tour of the space during an event appropriately titled "the Wake + Bake Brunch" on Tuesday morning. Attendees feasted on breakfast sandwiches and coffee. 

The bedazzled design seems very Snoop-like. 

snoop dogg airbnb

Inside, he went for gold wallpaper with marijuana leaf details, a not-so-subtle "BO$$" sign, and luxurious leather and velvet furniture. 

snoop dogg airbnb

Here's Snoop himself, posing on the couch. snoop dogg airbnb

These gold throne-like chairs sit on the covered deck, located just outside the living room. snoop dogg airbnbAirbnb Park also features pop-ups designed by Capital Cities and Allen Stone. 

snoop dogg airbnb

SEE ALSO: The 10 Coolest Airbnb Rentals In Austin, Texas

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Here Are The 5 Actors Up For The Lead In ‘Star Wars: Episode 7’

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Many people would love to be the new lightsaber-wielding Jedi in the next "Star Wars" movie.

Variety reports director J.J. Abrams is looking closely at five actors for Episode 7.

Here's who's at the top of his list:

1. Jesse Plemons ("Breaking Bad"/"Friday Night Lights"). Plemons was rumored for the lead back in January.

jesse plemons
2. Ed Speleers ("Downton Abbey") 
ed speleers
3. John Boyega (British teen monster movie "Attack the Block")
john boyega
4. Broadway actor Matthew James Thomas ("Pippin")
matthew james thomas
5. Theater actor Ray Fisher.
ray fisher star wars

Variety reports delays on casting are weighing on a decision of whether or not they want a Caucasian actor in the leadThe role is believed to be for a Jedi apprentice.

Previously, Adam Driver (“Girls”) was reported as a lock to play the villain in the sequel. 

“Star Wars: Episode 7” is expected to hit theaters December 18, 2015.

SEE ALSO: Adam Driver is set to play the villain in the new film

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The Careful Exit Of Disney's Anne Sweeney Can’t Hide How Badly ABC Is Doing

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anne sweeney

Disney's top woman Anne Sweeney announced Tuesday she will leave the company in January after 18 years to follow her dream of becoming a TV director. 

While Hollywood was surprised, there's skepticism as to whether there's more to her departure.

As Disney Media Network's co-chair and president of Disney/ABC Television Group, Sweeney oversaw both ABC Studios, Disney networks, ABC Family, and the company's stake in Hulu and A&E.

The announcement came soon after a report that the Mouse House was in talks to purchase YouTube content producer Maker Studios for $500 million.

While Sweeney's combined divisions made $11.9 billion last year, according to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC has fallen to fourth place in the ratings among the big networks.

Total Viewers For All Program Series On Network TV

total viewers network TV

While ABC's "Good Morning America" celebrated beating NBC's "Today" show for 52 consecutive weeks last year, overall the network doesn't have a lot of break out hits right now.

"Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," a direct parallel to Marvel's superhero "Avengers" franchise was expected to be a huge win for the network. Despite bringing in 17 million viewers for its premiere, the campy adaptation focusing on a group of secret agents as opposed to superheroes dipped in ratings. After 13 episodes, the series is sitting at under 10 million viewers.

After four cancellations this season ("The Assets," "Back in the Game," "Lucky 7," and "Betrayal,") it is currently tied with NBC for the most-axed shows of the 2013-2014 season.

Right now, ABC's most popular series are "Modern Family" (avg of 10.2 million viewers) "Shark Tank" (7.2 million), "Dancing with the Stars" (13.7 million), "Scandal" (9 million), and the aging "Grey's Anatomy" (8.7 million) with slowing ratings year after year.

That's minuscule when you look at CBS' most-watched shows "The Big Bang Theory" and "NCIS," which receive an average of 18 million and 19 million viewers, respectively. 

A look at Nielsen's top primetime TV series of 2013 shows reality series "Dancing with the Stars" has been the most popular series for the network.

top primetime tv shows 2013

Below are the ABC's five top-rated scripted series right now:

abc scripted show ratings 

Compare those with the ratings for the top five scripted series on CBS, FOX, and NBC. CBS destroys the other networks.

cbs_scripted_show_ratings nbc_scripted_show_ratings

fox_scripted_show_ratings

The one gem the network currently has is new series "Resurrection," built on the mystery of loved ones returning from the dead years later. 

The show received 13.9 million viewers Sunday— ABC's highest ratings since 2009 — on a night where Fox premiered "Cosmos," HBO aired the season finale of "True Detective," and AMC was showing "The Walking Dead."

resurrection abcHowever, a good premiere doesn't mean instant success for "Resurrection."

ABC has tried dabbling in similar mystery shows while trying to capture the essence of its popular mystery "Lost" which was a popular staple for six seasons.

Though shows "V" and "Flashforward" — also with appearances from former "Lost" cast members — debuted to strong starts, ratings tanked when both show's larger plots were revealed.

Viewers_of_V

US viewers of "Flashforward"

flashforward viewers

Disney CEO Bob Iger hinted to The Hollywood Reporter that the network could use an influx of more content.

"We’d love a few more hits at ABC," said Iger. "There are shows that we’re really proud of, led by 'Scandal,' for instance. And other shows that have come out of the blue like 'Shark Tank.' We have some hits. We’re due." 

Whoever takes Sweeney's place will have quite the task on hand.

SEE ALSO: Anne Sweeney's 16 Big Hits And Misses At Disney-ABC

MORE: Who could take Sweeney's place at Disney

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'True Detective' Deleted Scene: The Breakup of Rust And Lori

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Matthew McConaughey, True Detective

For some "True Detective" fans, the season 1 finale left them with complaints about the lack of answers to questions over the course of the season. One of which is whatever happened to Lori, the girlfriend of Matthew McConaughey's Rust Cohle?

The show simply says that Rust and Lori "broke up" but doesn't really go into the reasons behind why the two called it quits.

Well, now a new deleted scene released by HBO helps to dig deeper into not only Rust's break-up, but also a key scene from the season finale.

The clip shows Rust and Lori having an argument over the fact that Lori wants to have children  something that Rust feels strongly against.

"Lori, it's not about you," Rust says unsympathetically in the clip. "I wouldn't have children with anyone."

This leads to Lori to note that Rust's ability to see the details in everything can make him blind to the obvious, and that she can't figure out if he's a scared, but good man or an "a--hole who's a little smarter than most."

The scene feels somewhat out of place with the tone of the rest of the show, but does help explain questions we were left with in the finale. The scene with Lori also helps lead up to the finale, in which Rust explains how he felt the presence of his lost daughter when he was on death's door battling the killer in Carcosa.

Watch the full deleted scene below:

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

SEE ALSO: 'Alright, Alright, Alright': The Incredible Story Behind Matthew McConaughey's Famous Phrase

MORE: SPOILER: The Biggest Mystery On 'True Detective' Is Finally Solved

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Awesome Video Shows The Frantic Directing That Went Into Capturing Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Legendary Oscar Speech

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Cuba Gooding Jr. gave one of the most memorable acceptance speeches of all time when he won Best Supporting Actor at the 69th Academy Awards for his role in "Jerry McGuire."

Gooding Jr. basically reprised his voluble character from the film, screaming "I love you all!" over and over again until the audience gave him a standing ovation.  

Last week, a YouTube user uploaded a new cut from a documentary clip (itself worth watching) released a couple years after the original broadcast showing how Louis J. Horvitz, the director of the Academy Awards broadcast, coordinated the speech from the TV truck. 

It shows Horvitz frantically switching among his half-dozen cameras to capture, first, the people Gooding Jr. is thanking — and then, as he realizes the audience is getting swept up, finding which celebrity is responding most vividly.  

It's pretty great (first spotted by CNBC's Carl Quintanilla). 

)

SEE ALSO: 'Alright, Alright, Alright': The Incredible Story Behind Matthew McConaughey's Famous Phrase

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Colin Powell: 'I Was Doing Selfies 60 Years Before You'

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Colin Powell Selfie

Selfies might have been the word and the trend of 2013, but retired General Colin Powell wants you to know he was snapping photos of himself long before front-facing photos went mainstream.

In a Facebook update today, the former secretary of state and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff attached the above photo with the caption: "Throwback Thursday – I was doing selfies 60 years before you Facebook folks. Eat your heart out Ellen!"

Powell is, of course, referring to Ellen DeGeneres, who snapped that star-studded celebrity selfie that everyone is still talking about at the Oscars earlier this month.

Powell earned some street cred for this post; The Wall Street Journal's Elana Zak points out even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg clicked "Like" on the picture.

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Smart TV Apps Are Fundamentally Changing What It Means To Watch TV

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SmartTVFeatures

The app store phenomenon, centered on smartphones and tablets, has been the biggest story in software for the past five years.

Its next logical destination: the living room, via smart TVs and set-top boxes connected to the Internet.

Smart TV apps represent the latest threat to the struggling pay TV industry. Watching TV is no longer based around flipping through channels at broadcast, but finding the right content portal for what you want to watch now. 

In a recent report, BI Intelligence looks at the data and trends behind the TV app market, explains why it's still nascent and messy, and why significant growth seems inevitable. A successful TV app platform could significantly shift the balance of power in entertainment, and allow for much greater probabilities of success among newcomers versus incumbents.

Access The Full Report And Data Including The PowerPoint Version By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today >>

Here are the key points about how the TV app ecosystem is evolving:

  • The smart TV app revolution is inevitable: People spend four hours in front of their TVs in the U.S., and 63% of all global ad spending goes to TVs. The old guard, represented by cable and entertainment conglomerates, will not be able to fend off improvements like those that apps are bringing to mobile phones.
  • The smart TV revolution will not just be led by new TVs with built-in Internet connections, it will also result from consumer adoption of less expensive game consoles or set-top boxes like Roku and Apple TV, which transform traditional TVs into smart TVs with access to app stores. At least 20% of U.S. consumers already have their TVs connected in one of these ways.
  • But there are plenty of barriers to a successful TV-based app ecosystem: The existing smart TV app market is way too fragmented between a half-dozen or so immature platforms, and worse — most of these are very difficult to develop for. Chromecast's recent opening of its SDK will be a test case for how platforms might allow outside developers to innovate with TV apps.
  • Apple and Google seem like logical TV app leaders: Apple, through its skill of designing and marketing great platforms, and Google, through its prowess in digital video and advertising. Also, pay attention to Samsung and Microsoft, among others. But consumers won't gravitate to smart TV apps until the app stores are stocked with well-curated collections of great software.
  • There's a lot at stake here: TV represents the world's biggest advertising market, encompassing some $350 billion in global TV ad spending. TV is also the centerpiece of the world's most important entertainment markets, including TV, gaming, movies, and related services and infrastructure.

The report is full of charts and data that can be easily downloaded and put to use.

In full, the report

For full access to the report on Smart TV Apps as well as our archive of over 100 in-depth reports and hundreds of charts on all things tech, sign up for a free trial subscription today. 

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'Need For Speed' Is Basically A Giant Ad For Ford's 2014 Mustang

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aaron paul need for speed"Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul is heading to theaters this weekend in "Need for Speed."

We were able to check out a screening of DreamWorks' video game adaptation Monday.

Aside from the "Resident Evil" franchise, Hollywood hasn't had a good track record bringing games to theaters so I went in with pretty low expectations. After a long 2 hrs and 10 minutes, I was left pretty unimpressed, walking away more knowledgeable about Ford's new Mustang out next year.

need for speed mustangFor a movie based on a game about racing, there are two real races in the film at the beginning and end. In between, the rest plays out like a giant ad for Ford’s 2014 Mustang as the audience watches — and listens — to the 900 horsepower (an imaginary number made for the film) vehicle race from New York to California in 48 hours to compete in a secret race.  

The film follows Paul as Tobey Marshall, a natural born driver (clearly with the need for speed). However, instead of pursuing his dreams and ending up an international racer, he’s a simple mechanic working at his own shop in a small upstate New York town with a gang of buddies. 

While Paul is the film’s lead, the main star of the film is the Shelby GT500 Mustang Marshall and his crew are asked to work on at the film’s start. 

This shouldn’t be a surprise.  

Ford and DreamWorks collaborated on an extensive partnership on the film, with the motor vehicle company making a special Mustang for production. The car is based on the 2013 Shelby GT500 for the car’s creator Carroll Shelby. He was working on a 50th anniversary edition of the car before passing away in 2012. (You get this rundown in the film.) A total of seven Mustangs were built for the film either for shots or specific stunts. 

No sooner than the car is introduced on screen, does the audience get hit with a list of specs of the imaginary Mustang. This comes courtesy of actress Imogen Poots who proves girls can be knowledgeable about muscle cars, too. Soon after, we see Marshall take the ’stang for a test drive on a closed course to show off an impressive top speed of 234 mph. (In actuality, the vehicle built for the film tops out at 190 mph.) 

For a majority of the film we watch Paul show off what the car can do — weave in and out of traffic seamlessly, soar across three lanes of traffic, make unbelievably wicked sharp turns, and go off road.

Not even the “Fast and the Furious” franchise made sure the audience was so invested in one particular car.  

Don't get us wrong, the Shelby looks great during its time on screen. (*spoiler*It's extended ad comes to a screeching halt when  the car is totaled near the film's end.*spoiler*) All the cars in the film do. Director Scott Waugh makes his action sequences look incredibly believable. 

That's because DreamWorks’ big selling point for the film is that it’s made entirely without CGIAs a result, there are a few cool scenes with cars on a bridge, flying across traffic, and getting picked up by a helicopter that make you appreciate it was all done without a green screen. 

As well, Waugh captures the essence of the series on screen by filming not only from the driver’s perspective inside the car, but also outside from different points of view. For those familiar with the “Need for Speed” franchise, it’s a nice nod to the game where players can alternate between a few different angles to view a car while racing. need for speed helicopter

However, for all the care put into races and cars on screen, the script and dialogue could have used some fine tuning. There are a lot of things that either don’t make sense or that are never fully explained to the audience. 

Underneath cars getting smashed to pieces and chased down by cops, there’s a story involving Marshall (Aaron Paul) exacting revenge on an old high school rival Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) who set him up to take the fall for murder. Marshall's out to even the score by driving across the country to beat him in a race.   

Other than some old high school drama, it’s never really explained why Dino and Tobey are rivals from the start. need for speed dominic cooper

At various points Tobey’s pal Benny (Scott Mescudi) pops up in a series of random planes and helicopters that make you question whether you're watching "Need for Speed" or "Grand Theft Auto" (another popular gaming franchise). 

Personally, one thing I couldn’t comprehend is that while Aaron Paul’s character is so worried about avenging the death of a friend in a car crash early on, there are so many other subsequent and prior crashes caused at his hand throughout the film that’s it’s odd to imagine he can’t feel something for the other lives he’s obviously affecting in addition.

The acting and dialogue don't impress, either. Paul appears to play an incarnation of his “Breaking Bad” character Jesse Pinkman. There’s a scene where his character gets really emotional and Paul’s reaction feels like a scene straight out of the AMC series. (You’ll know it when you see it.) 

need for speed michael keatonAfter “RoboCop,” Michael Keaton attempts to make another return on screen in an unconventional role as an eccentric racing aficionado. 

Possibly the best performance in the film was from Poots who instantly brings some life to what feels like an uneven script.

For the many years the "Fast and the Furious” franchise has reigned supreme in theaters, I always imagined one day someone would try to do a “Need for Speed” franchise to compete. 

Universal doesn't have to worry.

However nice the cars may be — and they are really nice— and how well done the final race looks, "Need for Speed" never really sets itself up for a sequel. Then again, it's difficult to compete with a franchise that recently commanded more than $1 billion at theaters with a single film.

"Need for Speed" is better than a lot of video game adaptations, but it's definitely not going to be the next great franchise.

SEE ALSO: Video game movies that bombed at theaters

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Hollywood Is Skeptical As To Why Anne Sweeney Really Left Disney

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Anne Sweeney Robert IgerHollywood isn't convinced by departing Disney executive Anne Sweeney's cliché line that what she really wants to do is direct.

Sweeney, who is quitting her job as the president of Disney/ABC Television Group after 18 years at the company, insisted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she was not forced out. "I've always had a passion for the creative process," she said, explaining, "You should also be open to your passion and mine is the creative process and to be a learner again."

While it may be true that Sweeney yearned a more creative day-to-day position, some in Hollywood find it suspect that her departure comes at a time when Disney-ABC's TV ratings are in a serious slump. ABC is currently ranked fourth among the big networks.

In a new Variety article "Anne Sweeney: Did the Spin on Her Disney Exit Backfire?" Brian Lowry finds it suspicious that Sweeney claims she harbored no aspirations for a promotion, saying her THR interview "sounded unconvincing" and "Historically, executives don’t rise to that level of success without casting a covetous eye at the next rung of the ladder, whatever that might be."

Indeed, as Forbes notes, "If she wanted to, she could easily be in line to take over Disney CEO Bob Iger’s job at some point or to run her own network. If she wanted out of the rat race, she could snag a production deal with ABC where she would develop shows for the network."

Lowry wonders if Sweeney will ever even direct an episode of television, and it does seem odd that she would depart Disney with no directing projects lined up.

Veteran TV director Greg Yaitanes, who won an Emmy for "House" and is currently executive producer on Cinemax's "Banshee," was kind enough to offer Sweeney "an open door to come shadow at ‘Banshee’ if she wants."

Doesn't exactly sound like the next "rung of the ladder," as Lowry says, for a high-powered Disney exec.

But Yaitanes argues that Sweeney's business acumen could make her an excellent director.

"I always feel like when I'm running a show I'm the accidental CEO. I came into the job as a director, but especially transitioning into producing, I find that I'm suddenly running a company. So somebody coming in with great management skills is a tremendous asset," he tells The Wrap.

Another industry source we spoke to, who prefers to remain anonymous due to ties to ABC, told us, "I think she does want to try something different. Why can't we take her at her word?'"

The source added that Sweeney probably doesn't have a directing project lined up yet because "it takes time to learn how to become a director and join the Director's Guild of America (DGA)."

Still, many aren't buying it.

"Not only is a TV director job not very glamorous or powerful, it’s something Sweeney has no direct experience doing," states Forbes's Dorothy Pomerantz. "Being a TV director is not like being a film director ... The director usually does not dictate the tone or the pacing for the show ... They come in, shoot their episode to the show runners’ specifications and then move on to the next job."

Some big names have expressed skepticism on Twitter:

 

But there are fewer believers: 

SEE ALSO: The Careful Exit Of Disney's Anne Sweeney Can’t Hide How Badly ABC Is Doing

MORE: Anne Sweeney's 16 Big Hits And Misses At Disney-ABC

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This Is Where PlayStation Makes The Music For All Of Your Favorite Video Games

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playstation hq music studio

For nearly three decades, music has been an integral part of the experience gamers get out of their favorite past times.

Just as with movies, music can help set the tone in a video game. It can get you pumped up for an adrenaline-fueled action sequence, or lay the emotional tracks for a scene full of important dialogue.

But unlike movie viewers, the player has control over many situations they encounter in a video game.

In a game — but especially in an open-world game like "Grand Theft Auto" or Sony's upcoming "Infamous: Second Son" — the music has to react to what you're doing so that it doesn't sound mismatched.

You don't want percussion-heavy combat music when you're just walking around taking in the sights, and you don't want quiet, emotional pieces playing while you mow down dozens of enemies in an intense fire fight.

Today, I got to tour PlayStation's state-of-the-art music studio, where I met the guys responsible for creating blockbuster-quality music for the games that make people buy Sony's consoles.

Here's what Sony's new PlayStation headquarters in San Mateo, Calif., looks like from the outside.



Inside the lobby, there's a statue of the PlayStation Move controller in each corner.



They're right next to PlayStation 4 demo booths, like you'd see in a GameStop.



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Here Are Some Clips From The Legendary Voice-Over Artist Who Died Last Week

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hal douglas voice overHal Douglas, 89, a titan and go-to talent in the voice-over industry died last week from complications of pancreatic cancer, the New York Times reports.  

Douglas, who has narrated thousands of trailers for major flicks like Forest Gump, Men in Black, and Lethal Weapon — retired two years ago and never considered himself to have 'a great voice.'

"This is what you get, this is how I sound. It's a unique sound, it's my sound," Douglas said in “A Great Voice,” a short film about his career. 

His career began as an announcer on radio programs in the 1950s which led him to an advertising career in New York. He is best known for his work on film trailers which he started in the 1970s.

“You get the description of the movie, the contexts of the lines that you are doing, and the rest of it is intuitive,” Douglas said. “Movies, particularly, fall into departments. You have an action film, you have a romantic film, you have the dark films. They all suggest an attitude and a voice quality," the Daily Telegraph reports

Here is a video highlighting his work:

Douglas was known for his sense of humor and agreed to played a cliché voice-over artist named Jack in a rare on-camera role in the trailer for Jerry Seinfeld’s 2002 documentary, “Comedian.”

Here is a clip of the trailer:

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11 Video Games From The 1990s That Are Better Than Games Today


Sofia Vergara Adds Huge New Fragrance Deal To $30 Million Empire

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Sofia Vergara

Despite what some of the characters she plays may suggest, actress Sofia Vergara is a very savvy businesswoman.

Today, the 41-year-old Colombian beauty is expanding her $30 million a year empire to include a fragrance line, simply called "Sofía."

The perfume line's earnings could easily double Vergara's annual earnings.

According to Women's Wear Daily, "Industry sources estimate Sofía by Sofía Vergara would generate $25 million in first-year revenues. The fragrance is priced at $55 for a 100-ml. version and $48 for a 50-ml. version. A 200-ml. Body Shimmer is $30."

Vergara's bilingual portfolio of endorsement deals already includes a clothing line at Kmart and spokeswoman positions for Diet Pepsi, Covergirl, Rooms To Go, Comcast, Head & Shoulders, State Farm insurance, thyroid medicine Synthroid, and more.

Combined with her "Modern Family" paycheck, Vergara's annual $30 million earned her the top spot on Forbes' list of Highest-Paid TV Actresses of 2013, for the second year in a row.

Vergara acknowledged she could have signed a scent deal much earlier, but waited for something where she could "maintain creative control over her fragrance franchise," which launches April 24 on the Home Shopping Network.

"I usually don’t like getting into things where I don’t have a say," Vergara explains to Women's Wear Daily. "I just don’t want to give them my name and say, ‘Do whatever you want.’ I am trying to create my brand. I have my clothing line, the makeup, the hair, the furniture, and this was something that really rounds out my brand.”

HSN will have an exclusive on the fragrance in the U.S. through July, and it will branch out to “upper moderate” U.S. department stores in time for the holiday shopping season. 

Vergara notes that she wanted to continue building out her brand and accumulating more "Modern Family" fans before hawking her Colombia-inspired perfume to the masses.

“I don’t think I would have ever been able to achieve the things in my brand that I wanted to do [without the show]," says Vergara. "Because of ‘Modern Family,’ I became a household name in the American market. Kids come up to me, grandmothers, mothers, grandfathers. It opened all the doors for me to do the things that I wanted to do,” she said.

And the actress' social media reach doesn't hurt, either.

Vergara currently boasts nearly 6 million Twitter followers, over 1.4 million followers on Instagram, and 5 million “likes” on Facebook.

As for whether her brand could one day reach $1 billion in sales, she tells WWD, "It’s not what I’m thinking about right now. I’ve done all the things I’ve wanted to do, and [further extensions] have to be something organic. I don’t want to force it.”

But that doesn't mean that Vergara isn't being proactive when it comes to her financial profile.

"I'm not ashamed to say I love making money," the actress admitted to Glam Belleza Latina magazine in December. "I like business, and the truth is I save way more than I spend. I invest. I plan for the future. I have a special eye for opportunities and work harder than anyone might expect. It is fun to shock people with my business ideas. Most people just see me as [her 'Modern Family' character] Gloria." 

Vergara says that she has even capitalized on people's misconceptions about her.

"I think that the concept of being sexy and smart is difficult for many to grasp," she added. "Most people are more comfortable with the notion of 'sexy bimbo.' And I have to admit that I've capitalized on that to negotiate a couple of times, when the 'smart ones' think I have no idea what I can deliver, and I end up costing them more." 

SEE ALSO: The Careful Exit Of Disney's Anne Sweeney Can’t Hide How Badly ABC Is Doing

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Rob Ford's Brother Has Beef With Kevin Spacey

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ford nation spacey

Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's brother, Doug, said he thinks actor Kevin Spacey is an "arrogant S.O.B." in the latest episode of the "Ford Nation" podcast co-hosted by the siblings.

Doug, who is a city councillor in Toronto, was upset with Spacey for allegedly declining to take photos with people when they were both backstage at the taping of Mayor Ford's appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" earlier this month.

"There was this Kevin Spacey OK? I want to start off with saying Kevin Spacey is an incredible actor," Doug began.

"I don't watch movies," Rob interjected. "I wouldn't know him if I ran him over."

Doug went on to describe being shunned by Spacey. 

"In my opinion he's an arrogant S.O.B. and I'll tell you the reason why," recounted Doug. "Any actor that makes a living off the people that watch his shows, he wouldn't take a picture with anyone? We were told you can't take a picture and you can't speak to him. Who does this character think he is?"

"I don't even know him," Rob replied.

Doug then offered some unsolicited advice for Spacey. 

"He thinks he's god, that he's up there, that no common folk can take a picture," Doug declared. "So, you know Kevin, why don't you get off your high horse and be real and take pictures with people?"

Business Insider emailed Doug to ask if he'd received an apology from Spacey after the podcast debuted Friday. Doug did not immediately respond.

Watch the full clip below.  

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The 15 Most Unlikely TV Actors-Turned-Movie Stars

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From Goldie Hawn to Jennifer Aniston, we've frequently seen our favorite TV stars grow up before our eyes and become world-famous after transitioning to film.

Some are simply destined for stardom. But there's another class of actors who, while always talented, weren't exactly predicted to do big things.

Click ahead to see which famous actors emerged from humble beginnings.

Surprising actors-turned-movie stars >

Aaron Paul went from "Big Love" and "Breaking Bad" to trying take over the box office with this weekend's "Need For Speed."

Not even Breaking Bad's most hardcore fans could've predicted Aaron Paul would become such a major star when the series first debuted in 2007.

He was just the skinny white kid from Big Love in wankster apparel. But Paul grew into the actor he is today on the show and, by the final episode, it was clear he had a serious future.



Jennifer Lawrence went from "The Bill Engvall Show" to back-to-back Oscar nominations.

At the time, it appeared The Bill Engvall Show would be sucked into oblivion upon cancellation, but something strange happened. The girl who played Engvall's daughter became one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood.

Credit Lawrence for choosing the path less taken. She won a demanding role as Ree Dolly in Winter's Bone a year after Engvall ended and earned her first Oscar nomination. Two more would follow, including a win for Silver Linings Playbook.



Before Michelle Williams starred in "Blue Valentine" and "Oz The Great And Powerful," she was part of the "Dawson's Creek" cast.

It's next to impossible to break the typecasting mold after appearing on a show like Dawson's Creek (just ask James Van Der Beek).

But Williams did it more successfully than any other actor. Katie Holmes was the one everyone would've picked to be a star, but it was Dawson's other love who would go on to win three Oscar nominations.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
    






Judd Apatow Says His Entire Career 'Is Revenge For The People Who Cancelled 'Freaks And Geeks''

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Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow has had a hand in hit shows such as "Girls" and movies like "Bridesmaids," "Knocked Up," "Superbad," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," among many others.

But his extensive resumé, he says, is all a result of "Freaks and Geeks" — the beloved but yet low-rated drama he executive produced —being cancelled by NBC in 2000 after just one season on the air.

“Even to this day, I think I didn’t want to admit that ‘Freaks and Geeks’ was cancelled,” Apatow said during a Q&A with Entertainment Weekly’s Dan Snierson this week. “Everything I’ve done, in a way, is revenge for the people who cancelled ‘Freaks and Geeks.’ It’s really demented, but it’s just like ‘you were wrong about that person, and that person and that person. And that writer and that director.’ And I really should get over that.”

Stars of "Freaks and Geeks" included then-unknown actors such as Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, James Franco, Busy Philipps, Linda Cardellini, and many more who have gone on to become bona fide movie stars. The series was co-written and produced by Paul Feig, who went on to direct "Bridesmaids," "The Heat," and many episodes of "The Office" and "Arrested Development."

Looks like Apatow had a point, after all.

But as for whether Apatow will ever return full time to TV, the father of two says, “TV is so much work, it’s crazy. It’s so much harder than movies — a thousand times harder than movies. We’re about to do our fourth season [of 'Girls'] and I’ve never been a part of something that’s gone that far. And it’s wonderful to imagine how they grow up.”


NOW WATCH: Here's The Dirty Little Secret IMAX Doesn't Want You To Know

 

SEE ALSO: 5 Midseason TV Shows You Should Be Watching

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The 'Netflix For Pirated Movies' Is Gone For Good

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Popcorn Time

Popcorn Time, the desktop app that streamed pirated movies to your computer, is no more according to a blog post on its website

During the brief time it was available, the developers never acknowledged who they actually were. The anonymous blog post explains that the team was very proud of their creation and checked that it was legal four times ,but decided to pull it down to move on with their lives:

Popcorn Time is shutting down today. Not because we ran out of energy, commitment, focus or allies. But because we need to move on with our lives. Our experiment has put us at the doors of endless debates about piracy and copyright, legal threats and the shady machinery that makes us feel in danger for doing what we love. And that’s not a battle we want a place in.

The app began receiving attention on Monday, but presented a series of numerous challenges to Hollywood. Popcorn Time prevented users from having to wade through shady BitTorrent sites to find movies to watch. With a few clicks, you could view the latest movie on your laptop with varying quality. It was just like Netflix in many respects, but with an unlimited selection of stuff to watch.

You can read the rest of the post here. 

SEE ALSO: There's A New 'Netflix For Pirates' That Makes It Incredibly Easy To Stream The Latest Movies

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