Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 103316 articles
Browse latest View live

Hillary Clinton And Michelle Obama Jab Each Other In Mother's Day Message On 'SNL'

$
0
0

Michelle Obama Hillary Clinton SNL

Hillary Clinton, played by Vanessa Bayer, and Michelle Obama, as impersonated by Sasheer Zamata, sent out "A Mother's Day Message" during "Saturday Night Live's" cold open.

It started out civil between the two, with Clinton saying, "Both of us have been called so many things, but it's nice to have one day where the first thing we're called is moms."

After Obama says she is spending Mother's Day with her family on a group run, Clinton jokes, "I'm going to put my blackberry on airplane mode and watch 'The Good Wife' in my zip-up robe."

When Obama showed off a mug from her daughters with the phrase "Mother of the Year," Clinton says with a wink, "And I have not yet decided if I'm running for Mother of the Year."

"But," Obama continued, "What Barack and I are really proud of is giving the gift of healthcare to 8 million Americans."

"Which is funny," Clinton responds, "because I tried to give them that gift 16 years ago, so it's more like a re-gift."

"But we actually delivered it," Obama says firmly, adding, "Hillary and I know what it's like to be working moms."

"But I know a little bit more," explains Clinton, "for years I was flying all over the world dealing with some of the worst humanitarian crises, but I suppose it's also tough to make a chubby kid eat an apple!" 

And it doesn't stop there. Watch the full, funny sketch below:

SEE ALSO: Barbara Walters Makes Surprise Cameo On 'Weekend Update'

MORE: Comedy Central Picks Stephen Colbert's Replacement

Join the conversation about this story »









Barbara Walters Makes Surprise Cameo On 'Weekend Update'

$
0
0

Barbara Walters Weekend Update SNL

In honor of Barbara Walters' upcoming last week on "The View," "Weekend Update" played a few of Baba Wawas' greatest "Saturday Night Live" sketches of all time.

After the montage of past clips, Walters herself appeared at the news desk to tell co-anchor Cecily Strong that the show has "reduced" her to a “cartoon character with a ridiculous voice.”

She then told Strong, "I’m not like some fake anchor [like you]," to which the "SNL" star replied, "But you’re a co-host on 'The View.'"

Walters also gave Strong tips about being a respected journalist, including, "The real money is in making them cry."

SEE ALSO: Hillary Clinton And Michelle Obama Jab Each Other In Mother's Day Message On 'SNL'

Join the conversation about this story »








Seth Rogen And Zac Efron's R-Rated Comedy 'Neighbors' Dominated The Box Office

$
0
0

neighbors seth rogen zac efron

Spider-Man who? 

R-rated comedy “Neighbors” blasted past “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” at theaters this weekend.  

The comedy about a fraternity house with Zac Efron as its president moving next door to Seth Rogen’s family with a newborn baby had a big $51 million weekend. 

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2” made $37.2 million in its second weekend. 

“Neighbors” nearly had a bigger opening weekend than Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 movie “Ted” ($54.4 million). That movie went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated comedy ($549 million). 

Of course, MacFarlane is hoping to beat that number this summer when his next movie, “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” opens May 30 with Charlize Theron. 

“Neighbors” may have seen a bit of a bump this weekend after Rogen was prominently in the news this past week after making comments about Justin Bieber in which he said he doesn’t “know anyone who likes Justin Bieber.”

SEE ALSO: 15 movies you should see this summer

Join the conversation about this story »








25 Photos That Show What It Would Be Like If 'Godzilla' Tore Through The US Today

$
0
0

bryan cranston godzilla

"Godzilla" is out in theaters Friday and is expected to be one of the summer's biggest movies.

The original film from Ishiro Honda was released in 1954. On its 60th anniversary, Warner Bros. and Legendary are rebooting the franchise with inspiration from the first movie.

Director Gareth Edwards ("Monsters") described how his new film is draws from the original black-and-white to us during the film’s press junket in New York.  

“For a lot of people who don’t know about Godzilla, or they grew up on some of the more, child-friendly versions, it’s a surprise to watch the original because it’s really a very serious metaphor for Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said Edwards.

Warner Bros. recently released a ton of images before the film's release highlighting an international cast including Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Ken Watanabe ("Inception"), Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), and Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene").

Warning: Minor spoilers follow.

Forget what you know about the 1998 “Godzilla” movie from Sony.



For those unfamiliar with the original 1954 “Godzilla,” the movie introduces a monster mutated from a nuclear reaction.



The reboot brings the creature back to its roots.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






'Godzilla' Is Bogged Down By A Bunch Of Boring Characters

$
0
0

godzilla attacks bridgeWarning: There are some spoilers ahead.

"Godzilla" opens in theaters Friday. We were able to catch an early screening of the film and it may not be everything you're hoping for.

Don't get us wrong. It's a good movie that starts out strong with Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") and ends with a big payoff fight sequence that had the crowd in our theater roaring. If it's a good monster film you want, you won't be disappointed.

The problem is that "Godzilla" gets bogged down in the middle of the film by characters you just never feel 100% invested in.

Though manytrailers may have you convinced otherwise, Cranston is not the star of the movie, but rather a minor supporting character. He plays nuclear engineer Joe Brody who's desperate to find answers to the cause of tremors in Japan after the power plant he worked in was destroyed 15 years ago.bryan cranston godzillaIt's unfortunate, not only because marketing effectively uses the actor's likeness to sell "Godzilla" in nearly everysingleteaser and trailer, but also because Cranston brings the most life and vitality to the movie.

The three-time Emmy-winning actor gets lost in his role. Whether he's joking about forgetting his birthday or chewing out police officials at the top of his lungs for hiding secrets, the audience hangs on every word he says. 

Instead, the movie gets turned over to Joe's son, Naval officer, Ford Brody. He's played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson who you may recognize from 2010's "Kick-Ass."aaron taylor johnson godzillaAfter reuniting with his father in Japan, Ford's on a mission to get home to his wife Elle (Elizabeth Olsen) and 5-year-old son in San Francisco.

While he bounces around from Japan to Hawaii and then the U.S. West coast fighting off brief encounters with monsters at each location, it's difficult to fight a nagging feeling about the believability of Ford's family.

Olsen is 25 years old and Taylor-Johnson is 23. Both look a bit young to be the parents of a five-year-old. If anything, they feel more like the babysitters. elizabeth olsen godzilla That's not to say the movie doesn't attempt to have a human element. Underneath the monster movie is a story about two fathers — Joe Brody and his son Ford — who have different parenting techniques. The story juxtaposes two very different birthdays, first introducing us to Joe, who's too involved in his work to have time for his boy on his day of birth, and, later, with Ford who makes time for his family on his birthday.

It's just that the storyline is most convincing when Cranston is a part of the picture early on. 

There's an emotional moment when both Ford and his father revisit their old home in the quarantined section of Japan and Joe and the audience see a "Happy Birthday Dad" banner that wasn't shown in the first stretch of the film. That resonates but gets muddled in the film's larger monster plot.

The thing about Ford is that he's supposed to be the action film's hero and this awesome dad, but there's just nothing that stands out about his character that doesn't feel awfully generic. If he was in a room with Matt Damon's Jason Bourne and Liam Neeson's Bryan Mills from "Taken," he wouldn't be the last man standing.

Olsen, who has been praised for her indie work in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," isn't given much to do either as a worried wife and mother who just happens to be at the exact location where havoc is wreaked.elizabeth olsen godzilla

Then there's Ken Watanabe and Oscar-nominated Sally Hawkins who play scientist sidekicks; however, both feel like two glorified extras re-emerging every so often to tell us something about the monster.godzilla ken watanabe It’s something reviews are picking up on:

The Hollywood Reporter:

"Superbly made but burdened by some dull human characters enacted by an interesting international cast who can't do much with them, this new Godzilla is smart, self-aware, eye-popping and arguably in need of a double shot of cheeky wit."

The Wrap:

"Director Gareth Edwards (“Monsters”) gets the money shots right, but neither he nor screenwriter Max Borenstein (working from a story by David Callaham) makes the human characters interesting enough to get us through two mostly Godzilla-free acts."

Variety

Edwards seems to have miscalculated our investment in his cast (including Elizabeth Olsen, uncharacteristically bland as Ford’s wife)"

The Playlist:

"Its second crucial error is having Aaron Taylor-Johnson take over the movie from Cranston. Compared to Cranston, he is wooden, dull, and uncommanding, and the movie begins to deaden with his lead weight (the emotional and dramatic transference the movie tries to give Taylor-Johnson simply doesn’t resonate like Cranston's lead)." 

Most will head to the film not for the performances, but for the action, and if you've avoided most trailers and teasers for the film, then you'll be in store for a series of surprises. However, Warner Bros. did itself a disservice by revealing a bit too much in trailers much as Sony did with "The Amazing Spider-Man 2."

There's one instance early on with Cranston that should pack an emotional punch when he's sobbing; however, because this scene is spoiled almost entirety in a trailer it doesn't hold the same emotional weight on screen.bryan cranston godzilla crying

Later in the film, when Godzilla finally made his monstrous entrance, while the crowd cheered and applauded, the big reveal didn't feel extraordinarily special as his full figure was shown in trailers and images leading up to the film.godzilla movie

There are really two big surprises trailers don't give away. *spoilers* Though eagle-eyed viewers may have noticed Godzilla isn't the only monster in the film — an international trailer made this very clear — you probably wouldn't guess that there are more monsters in the film as well. In addition, there was a scene near the end of the movie that left our fanboy-filled audience roaring that I won't give away. *spoilers*

Still, the best parts of the film may come near the end — or any time — when Godzilla is seen *spoilers* going head-to-head with another monster. *spoilers*

I won't give away what happens in the film's final battle, but that was by far one of the most enjoyable parts of the movie. However, for anyone who saw last summer's collaboration between Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros., "Pacific Rim," the fight may feel reminiscent of the giant sequences between monsters and robots ripping each other apart in that movie.

One other scene that stands out is one where Taylor-Johnson's Ford attempts to cross a bridge high above water that had us on the edge of our seats.godzilla bridgeOverall, Director Gareth Edwards ("Monsters") first attempt at a big-budget film, is a success.

Some reviews are saying the "King of the Monsters" isn't getting enough screen time. That's not true. He's in plenty of the film — whether he's teased, roaring, or going to town on other monsters. 

Edwards knows how to tease Godzilla's appearance and does it well with inspiration from the 1954 original. When a tail or foot or scales on the monster's back are teased, it brings to mind images of Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit "Jaws."

godzilla in oceangodzilla tailgodzilla bus reflection

The reboot just doesn't do anything extraordinarily special to stand out and feel like something you haven't already seen.

Check out a trailer below.

SEE ALSO: 25 photos that show what it would look like if Godzilla invaded the US

AND: This deleted "Amazing Spider-Man 2" end-credits scene gives a huge hint at the next sequel

Join the conversation about this story »








This Stunning Creation Sequence Is The Best Part Of 'Noah'

$
0
0

There's a beautiful sequence in "Noah" that presents Creation in scientific terms, treating Biblical concepts metaphorically, with only a few revisions to fit everything together.

The scene was recently posted to YouTube by director Darren Aronofsky's production company, Protozoa Pictures, and we recommend everyone check it out below. 

First a few highlights. Noah's account of God saying, "Let there be light," is naturally paired with a visualization of the big bang.

big bang 2On the second day, when God is said to have created heaven, Aronofsky shows cosmic expansion and the formation of galaxies.

second dayAronofsky flips the order of the Biblical third and fourth days, so the creation of the sun and the moon comes before the creation of land, sea, and vegetation. Here's Aronofsky's third day:

third dayAnd here's his fourth day:

fourth dayOn the fifth day come fish and birds:

fish and birdsOn the sixth day come land animals including man. Aronofsky shows this with a stunning montage of evolution from fish to ape, with the final step to man implied but not shown directly.

evolution 

mankind Here's the full thing:

SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart mocks religious backlash against "Noah"

Join the conversation about this story »








Dr. Dre Is Reportedly Buying The $50 Million Mansion Tom Brady And Gisele Built From Scratch

$
0
0

tom brady gisele house exterior

Dr. Dre is closing a deal on the custom California estate that Tom Brady and Gisele built, according to Page Six.

The purchase price is unclear, but the Brentwood house was listed for $50 million.

The couple bought the land in 2009 and built the 14,000-square-foot five-bedroom home from scratch.

It has an infinity pool with a view of the Pacific Ocean, a gym, an outdoor kitchen, and a moat.

The house sits on four acres in Brentwood.



The infinity pool with a view of the Pacific Ocean.



The view of the canyons.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider






MEET LARRY WILMORE: The Daily Show's 'Black Correspondent' Replacing Stephen Colbert

$
0
0

Larry Wilmore

It was announced on Friday that comedian Larry Wilmore will be taking over Stephen Colbert's post-"Daily Show" time slot on Comedy Central in January 2015.

The show will be called "The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore," and will be "a comedic look at news, current events and pop culture from unique perspectives not typically on display in late night television," according to the network.

Larry Wilmore bookBut who is Larry Wilmore, the man appointed to the coveted spot as Stephen Colbert's successor, whose show will have the benefit of a "Daily Show" lead-in?

Wilmore, 52, has been working in the entertainment industry as a writer, actor, and TV producer since the 1980s.

After getting his start writing episodes of "In Living Color," "The Office," and "The Bernie Mac Show," Wilmore became known to TV audiences when he joined "The Daily Show" in 2006 as the "Senior Black Correspondent."

Wilmore's appearances on "The Daily Show" often center on humorous observations of the Black experience in American society.

In January 2009, Wilmore published "I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts," a political humor book.

By 2011 he had a recurring role on the ABC comedy "Happy Endings," where he played Damon Wayans, Jr.'s uptight boss. 

In 2012, Wilmore appeared in a solo Showtime comedy special titled "Larry Wilmore Talks About Race, Religion and Sex in Utah."

Wilmore has had a field day recently on "The Daily Show," talking all things Donald Sterling, Cliven Bundy, and "white people being crazy."

When Jon Stewart asked the Senior Black Correspondent why the race conversation is so explosive right now, Wilmore replied deadpan, "Well Jon, the minorities are mad for the obvious reasons  stop and frisk, unequal opportunities, voter suppression, unfair sentencing laws, Trayvon Martin, stealing our music, diabetes..."

Watch Wilmore discuss his take on more current events below:

 

In 2012, Wilmore appeared as a political pundit discussing the fact that 0% of voters were supporting Mitt Romney (1:20). He compared Romey being a Mormon to Obama being black.

 

In 2011, Wilmore joked at the Congressional Correspondents dinner presentation about the evolution of the word "black."

Wilmore — who currently resides in Los Angeles with his actress-wife, Leilani Jones, and two children — will be moving his family to New York for the new gig.

"I’m beyond excited to have this chance to continue my relationships with Comedy Central and the brilliant Jon Stewart," Wilmore said in a statement. "I love the city of New York and promise to only wear my Laker t-shirts when I’m layering."

SEE ALSO: Comedy Central Picks Stephen Colbert's Replacement

Join the conversation about this story »









'Game Of Thrones' Put A Hidden 'Monty Python' Reference In The Show

$
0
0

daenerys daario game of thrones season 4

HBO's "Game of Thrones" has been known to sneak in a few hidden messages here and there, but the show's latest Easter egg speaks for itself.

In an interview with the show's linguist David Peterson — who helped create the series' multiple languages — admitted if you translate some of the show's dialogue, you'll be in for a treat.

One place you can spot a hidden reference is in a pivotal scene from this season's third episode, "Breaker of Chains."

In the scene, Daenerys Targaryen sends out her bodyguard Daario Naharis to take on a Meereenese man who proceeds to insult both Daenerys and Daario in the language of Low Valyrian.

Peterson revealed that the show's translation was not the same as what the man was saying. In fact, the actual translation gave a shout out to 1975's "Monty Python and the Holy Grail":

"One of the biggest is from Episode 3 this season. There's a scene where the Meereenese rider is challenging Daenerys' champion. He's shouting and Nathalie Emmanuel [Missandei] is translating – but she's not translating what he's saying. He's actually saying a Low Valyrian translation of the French guy's insults in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail.' That was [series creator] Dan Weiss's idea and it was so hilarious that I had to do it."

In case you need to recall the classic scene from the film, check it out below:

Obviously, you'd have to understand the show's Valyrian language to get the joke, but Peterson went on to say that some fans did actually catch on pretty quickly.

"They know that something's going on," Peterson said. "Right after that episode aired, I was getting tweets like, "Is he saying a 'your momma' joke?" Close… But no, he's actually starting out with, "Your mother is a hamster." 

SEE ALSO: There's A 'Game Of Thrones' Reference Hidden In John Oliver's HBO Show Set

Join the conversation about this story »








Here's The First Image Of The New Batmobile From The Batman/Superman Movie

$
0
0

We're getting our first glimpse at the Batmobile from the highly-anticipated Batman / Superman movie.

Director Zack Snyder just teased an image of Batman's new ride hinting that he may show it off tomorrow for fans.

Take a look:

Here's the full image:batman vs superman batmobile

What do you think?

It looks like it's going to be a throwback to the one we're familiar with from Tim Burton's 1989 movie.

As a reminder, here's what that car looked like:1989 batmobile replica

The Batmobile will be a big presence in the next Batman video game this fall, "Arkham Knight." Here's how that car will look.

arkham knight batmobile

The Batman / Superman film is set for a May 6, 2016 release.

SEE ALSO: It's a terrible idea for Warner Bros. to release "Batman Vs. Superman" the same weekend as "Captain America 3"

Join the conversation about this story »








Check Out All The Celebs Who Will Be Traders For A Day At One Of Wall Street's Coolest Charity Events Of The Year

$
0
0

Petra Nemcova trading

Once a year you can call your guy at equities trading firm BTIG and get a supermodel on the line. Or it could be a New York Yankee or a New York Giant. The list of celebrities is long.

It's all for an annual event taking place on Tuesday in New York City and San Francisco called Commissions for Charity. The commissions from every trade BTIG executes that day will go to over 200 charities such as Project Sunshine. Last year the firm raised $4.5 million.

"Wall Street gets a bad rap for the greed and excess ... but I think this is one of the good sides of Wall Street," said BTIG cofounder Steve Starker. 

This year celebrity traders include baseball star Barry Bonds, former New York Yankees star pitcher Mariano Rivera, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, model Petra Nemcova, Padma Lakshmi, Bridget Moynahan, and others. It all starts at 11 a.m. EST.

The event has come a long way since Starker and his cofounder Scott Kovalik started it 12 years ago. Back then there were five traders on the task, and the firm raised $450,000. As the firm grew, the event grew with it.

Now BTIG is an international firm with 460 employees, but Starker says this event helps maintain the small, family feel he's tried to engender. He thinks it's important to keep in mind that everyone who works at BTIG isn't just a Wall Streeter; they're moms and dads, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters. Those roles matter.

"This firm is about culture," Starker told Business Insider "We're not a punch-the-clock kind of place."

That isn't to say BTIG isn't a competitive place. One look around the office and you still get the impression that Starker and his team are in a race. It's energetic and loud. Starker isn't in his office much; he's out on the floor commanding the troops.

CC Sabathia and BTIG trader Bobby ParisiAnd on Tuesday those troops will be out crushing it as hard as they can. BTIG does four times its normal trading volume on charity day, even though traders are still battling the same market they do any other day. Sometimes the waters are even choppier than normal. In 2010, the event took place the same day as the so-called Flash Crash, when the market dropped 9% in the blink of an eye for reasons Wall Streeters still argue about.

Not that it was the craziest thing Starker has ever seen in his career. His first day of trading was on Black Friday in 1987. Talk about a rough start.

This year's celebrity traders better hope that Tuesday isn't nearly as historic. We've got the list of everyone participating below. Good luck!

  • Beth Ostrosky Stern
  • Padma Lakshmi
  • Bobby Valentine
  • Bode Miller
  • Bridget Moynahan
  • CC Sabathia
  • Damaris Lewis
  • David Diehl
  • David Lee
  • David Muir
  • Donny Deutsch
  • Eduardo Garcia
  • Eli Manning
  • Emmanuelle Chiqrui
  • Eric LeGrand
  • Erin Brady
  • Gabriela Isler
  • Grant Hill
  • Hannah Storm
  • James Blunt
  • Jeremy Roenick
  • Jessica Stam
  • Joe Girardi
  • Joe Namath
  • John Idzik, Jr.
  • Jorge Posada
  • Justin Tuck
  • Mallory Hagan
  • Mariano Rivera
  • Mark Teixeira
  • Marshawn Lynch
  • Matt Dillon
  • Michael Carter Williams
  • Nana Meriwether
  • Nate "Tiny" Archibald
  • Petra Nemcova
  • Phil Simms
  • Reggie Jackson
  • Rex Ryan
  • Ron Darling
  • Ronnie Lott
  • Sandy Kenyon
  • Shaquille O'Neal
  • Steve Lavin
  • Tom Coughlin
  • Tony Gonzalez
  • Tutan Reyes
  • Victor Cruz
  • Vida Blue
  • Willie Colon
  • Woody Johnson

 

Join the conversation about this story »








Amazon's ComiXology Update Could Not Have Gone Worse

$
0
0

comixologyLast month, Amazon bought ComiXology, the company behind an amazing app for reading and buying comic books on a mobile device.

A couple of weeks later, ComiXology replaced its old app with a new app that removes in-app purchases, forcing users to make purchases on the ComiXology website which they can then download to the app.

Theoretically, the change made sense. Although one-touch in-app purchases were much easier, a 30% cut of every purchase went to Apple. By forcing users to make web purchases, Amazon claims a larger revenue share and presumably so do comic book publishers. Also by ditching in-app purchases, ComiXology was able to escape Apple's controversial content restrictions.

Yet Amazon and ComiXology dropped the ball when it came to public relations, making hardly any effort to persuade users to support the change beyond offering a $5 gift card, instead leaving them fuming about how ComiXology ruined its app— the new one sports a 1.5 star rating and over a thousand angry reviews — while industry insiders speculate that this is a scheme by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to hurt Apple and force people to buy Kindle Fires.

"They couldn’t possibly have handled this one worse," Andy Ihnatko writes at Chicago Sun-Times. "They failed to look at this announcement from the perspective of someone who hasn’t been thinking about this for weeks and months, and who doesn’t have direct access to the company’s thoughts and motivations. It’s incredible, but they seem to have forgotten that they were dropping in-app purchasing just weeks after they announced that they were in the process of being bought out by Amazon."

Even beyond the public relations blunder, Amazon and ComiXology's new app simply does not work well.

In my experience and the experience of various app reviewers, comics purchased at comixology.com do not always appear for download in the app. When they do, downloads are often slow to the point of unusable. I have several times had to put down the app and try again in the morning when comics would not download. That never used to happen on the old app.

Even when the new app works as it is supposed to, it doesn't work nearly as well as the old app. The browsing function is much less attractive. It's hard to view previews of issues. The sorting function for comics that you already own is worse. And of course having to leave the app to go to comixology.com is a major pain and far less conducive to binge-reading than the wonderfully seamless old app. Even minor website improvements could make this process better.

Would it have been too much to ask for Amazon and ComiXology to iron out a few of these major kinks before rolling out what was already a very controversial update?

And again, couldn't they have done more to persuade users that there's a method to this madness?

Now I'm going to keep using ComiXology. I have faith that the company will eventually fix the app, and the comic book reader, with its clever single-panel reading function, is still the best way to read comics on mobile, and digital comics are still much more convenient than print. And I still have faith that ComiXology is good for the future of comics.

As ComiXology CEO Dave Steinberger told Comic Book Resources, ComiXology and Amazon's Kindle team have a similar mission:

[W]e started saying this thing internally in the company a long time ago, and it's actually part of our little tagline: Our goal is to bring comics to everyone everywhere. The idea that we can find a reader and then get to know them, and match them to content they might like, and at the same time, expand the market -- which means more content is going to be made, that there's more diverse available for different kinds of readers, which means we get to reach more readers -- Amazon's really good at that. We've done a great job, but Amazon is the expert at matching potential readers to books that they're interested in. Their attitude is, "Read Kindle books everywhere." That's our attitude as well, in terms of different devices, available on all platforms.

I just wish that the digital comic hegemon would show a little more care about looking out for users in the here and now.

SEE ALSO: The Kindle Fire is more successful than people realize

Join the conversation about this story »








Here Are The 25 TV Shows That Just Got Cancelled

$
0
0

The major network channels ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and The CW have been announcing all of their cancellations, renewals, and new shows for the fall lineup.  

If you’re not sure whether your favorite show will return for another season, here’s a quick guide to show you which series received the axe. 

Most of the shows cut from the block are new, but there were a few veterans that won’t be back, either.

CBS

"Friends with Better Lives"

CBS hoped the comedy with Brooklyn Decker and James Van Der Beek would become a favorite when it premiered after the "How I Met Your Mother" finale.friends with better lives cancelled

"The Crazy Ones"

Despite having the time slot after the network's most successful show, "The Big Bang Theory," Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar's ad series didn't thrive.

robin williams sarah michelle gellar the crazy ones

"Hostages"

Jerry Bruckheimer's drama starring Dylan McDermott as a rogue FBI agent had mixed reviews.hostages

"Intelligence"

Though the series had potential from a huge premiere, "Lost" star Josh Halloway's cybercrime drama was a bit too far-fetched and difficult to comprehend.josh holloway intelligence

"Bad Teacher"

Movies don't always translate well to television, and this is a perfect example. The adaptation of Cameron Diaz's hit movie was given the axe after three episodes.bad teacher cbs

ABC

"Suburgatory"

After three seasons, the comedy will come to a close. The show never became as popular as ABC's "Modern Family" and "The Middle."suburgatory cancelled

"Once Upon A Time In Wonderland"

The spin-off never had the same success as its source material "Once Upon A Time" on Thursday nights.once upon a time in wonderland alice

"Trophy Wife"

The series starring Malin Akerman ("The Proposal") was liked by critics, but had a costly cast to maintain.

trophy wife abc tv

"The Neighbors"

We were surprised this comedy following a family of aliens on Earth, made it to a second season.the neighbors abc
"Super Fun Night"

No one thought Rebel Wilson's comedy was fun enough to stay around for more than one season.super fun night rebel wilson

FOX

"Raising Hope"

The comedy starring Martha Plimpton and Garret Dillahunt will come to an end after four seasons.raising hope

"Surviving Jack"

Christopher Meloni's return to television in the '90s-themed sitcom had similar ratings to other renewed series, but didn't make the cut as something Fox thought had future potential.phone waiting christopher meloni surviving jack

"Almost Human"

The futuristic cop-buddy show was pulling in numbers similar to Kevin Bacon's "The Following"; however, Variety reports financial disagreements with Warner Bros. TV may have had a hand in the show's cancellation.almost human j.j. jj abrams fox

"Enlisted"

Despite good reviews, the Friday time slot for the show never helped it gain traction with viewers.enlisted fox

"Rake"

Keegan Deane's legal drama received pretty favorable reviews, but after seven episodes ratings hovered under 2 million viewers. A little over 1 million tuned in for the final episode.rake fox

"Dads"

The show survived brutal early reviews, but in the end, Seth MacFarlane's live-action comedy may have been a bit too much for television.dads fox

"The X-Factor"

Simon Cowell's reality competition never lived up to the success of "American Idol."Simon Cowell smiling X Factor

NBC

"Community"

It took five seasons for Dan Harmon's cult comedy to receive the axe after being on the bubble amid low ratings for some time.community cancelled

"Revolution"

NBC wanted an apocalyptic series without zombies, but network executives decided to axe the J.J. Abrams' series after two seasons.Revolution cancelled nbc
"Crisis"

The midseason drama starring Dermot Mulroney and Rachael Taylor held its own in a late Sunday night time slot; however, the numbers weren't good enough for a renewal.

crisis cancelled

"Dracula"

NBC tried to catch onto the vampire craze a few years too late after the "True Blood" and "Twilight" phenomenon.dracula nbc cancelled

"Believe"

It just wasn't a good year for J.J. Abrams' production company Bad Robot. Even Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron ("Gravity") couldn't help the supernatural show off the ground.believe nbc cancelled

"The Michael J. Fox Show"

The show was cancelled a little while back, but it's still worth noting here since NBC put a lot of time and marketing into highlighting Fox's return to TV. Despite solid early ratings, the show quickly dipped in ratings as the series carried on.

michael j fox

"Growing Up Fisher"

J.K Simmons’ midseason sitcom in which he played a blind father had decent ratings, but didn’t perform better than its lead in, “About a Boy.”

jk simmons growing up fisher

The CW

"The Carrie Diaries"

"Sex and the City" fans weren't interested in seeing what Carrie was like in this prequel high school drama.

the carrie diaries cancelled

SEE ALSO: 15 midseason TV shows you should be watching

NOW WATCH: How To Get All The TV Shows You Love When You Finally Decide To Cancel Cable

Join the conversation about this story »








Standard Hotel Investigating Leaked Jay Z And Solange Fight Footage After 'Security Breach'

$
0
0

Beyonce Jay Z

The internet was abuzz Monday after TMZ posted a video of Beyoncé's sister, Solange, physically attacking her husband Jay Z in an elevator last week as the group left a Met Ball after party.

The drama went down at the Standard Hotel in New York City's Meatpacking District, and the venue is finally speaking out on the viral video.

“We are shocked and disappointed that there was a clear breach of our security system and the confidentiality that we count on providing our guests,” The Standard Hotel announced late Monday.

“We are investigating with the utmost urgency the circumstances surrounding the situation and, as is our customary practice, will discipline and prosecute the individuals involved to our fullest capacity.”

In case you somehow haven't yet seen the video, watch below:

Beyoncé instagrammed this quote about relationships following her family's fiasco:beyonce quote

Meanwhile, RadarOnline reports Solange has deleted all pictures of her sister from her Instagram, except one vintage shot posted in 2013, below:

SEE ALSO: Here's What Everyone Wore At The 'White Tie'-Themed Met Gala

Join the conversation about this story »








Fox Chairman: Batman Prequel 'Gotham' Will Be This Fall's Biggest Show

$
0
0

gotham TV show

Last week, Fox announced it picked up Batman prequel series "Gotham" for a full season this fall.

The origin story will follow the adventures of a young Bruce Wayne along with Detective James Gordon's rise to Commissioner.

Monday morning during Fox's programming conference call the network's Broadcast Chairman Kevin Reilly gave high praise to the drama, predicting it will be "this season's biggest and noisiest hit."

"When you get these franchises with some built in profiles and anticipation ... I think the anticipation and the build up can can exceed the delivery," said Reilly. "While I felt like we potentially had something really huge in 'Gotham,' you're always nervous that it won't live up."

Reilly continued saying the show feels like it will live up to the hype, saying it has something that sets it apart from ABC's superhero series "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"This is conjecture on my part but I think they (ABC) struggled with that to find the creative footing on 'Avengers,'" said Reilly. "Also, those weren't the actual franchise characters."

In contrast, "Gotham" will revolve around characters audiences are familiar with like The Penguin, Commissioner Gordon, Bruce Wayne, and The Riddler.

"It really feels like it knows what it is and the real selling point to me with 'Gotham' right from the get go was these are the actual series franchise characters," said Reilly.

Reilly notes some original characters will also be introduced like gangster Fish Mooney (Jada Pinkett Smith).

While the Fox series may have familiar characters, the roles are still being filled by actors fans may not recognize in the roles.

Ben McKenzie ("The OC," "Southland") will play Detective Gordon while David Mazouz ("Touch") will play the young Wayne. 

The future Catwoman will be played by newcomer Camren Bicondova. Robin Lord Taylor who has appeared in “The Walking Dead” and “The Good Wife” will play the Penguin.

You can view the entire cast, here

gotham cast batman prequel fox

This isn't the first time a network has attempted a "Batman"-themed sitcom.

The WB, before it eventually became CW, aired "Birds of Prey" back in 2002.

The show, which followed the adventures of Batman and Catwoman's daughter, lasted one season. "Birds of Prey" had a big ratings dropoff after the premiere episode which teased Mark Hamill voicing the Joker.

However, that was long before Christopher Nolan's famed "The Dark Knight" series hit theaters.

"Gotham" will premiere this fall on Mondays at 8 p.m. 

NOW: Meet the cast of Batman prequel series "Gotham"

AND: The first image of the Batmobile that will be in the Batman / Superman movie

Join the conversation about this story »









Ailing Radio Host Casey Kasem Missing Amid Family Dispute

$
0
0

Casey Kasem

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge on Monday ordered an investigation into the whereabouts of Casey Kasem after an attorney for the ailing radio personality's wife said the former "Top 40" host had been removed from the country.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Daniel S. Murphy ordered a court investigator and adult protective services to find out where Kasem is being treated and report back to the court. Kasem, 82, suffers from advanced Parkinson's disease, can no longer speak and has been in various medical facilities chosen by his wife, Jean Kasem.

Casey Kasem's children have complained that they have been unable to see their father in accordance with an agreement with their stepmother. Daughter Kerri Kasem had sought a temporary conservatorship and was appointed her father's temporary caretaker on Monday. Her attorney, Troy Martin, said the family believes the entertainer has been taken to an Indian reservation in Washington state.

Murphy's order came after Craig Marcus, an attorney who appeared on Jean Kasem's behalf at Monday's hearing, said he did not know where the radio personality was but knew that he had been removed from the country.

"I have no idea where he is," Marcus said.

The revelation brought stunned protests from Murphy and two of Casey Kasem's daughters, two of the entertainer's three children from a previous marriage.

"Your statements concern me even more," the judge told Marcus, who declined to comment after the hearing.

Marcus said in court that Jean Kasem had every right to move her husband as she saw fit.

Murphy appointed a doctor to look into Casey Kasem's care and ordered a court-appointed attorney to find out his whereabouts as soon as possible.

Casey Kasem gained fame with his radio music countdown shows, "American Top 40" and "Casey's Top 40," and was the voice of Shaggy in the cartoon "Scooby Doo."

As temporary conservator, Kerri Kasem will have access to her father's medical records and other reports that have previously been sealed by court order.

Kerri Kasem's case is the second one opened by one of the former host's children to try to gain access to their father and have some oversight over his care. A previous case by daughter Julie Kasem was dismissed after she reached a settlement with her stepmother, but the daughter said Monday that agreement has been breached.

In a court filing last week, Kerri Kasem's attorneys wrote that the entertainer has been repeatedly moved without warning and his children have been unable to see him. The complaint accused Jean Kasem of elder abuse by isolating her husband from his family.

"We've been troubled for a long time," Kerri Kasem said after Monday's court hearing. She said Murphy's orders will ensure that the truth about her father's care comes out.

"Justice has been served today," she said.

SEE ALSO: Standard Hotel Investigating Leaked Jay Z And Solange Fight Footage After 'Security Breach'

Join the conversation about this story »








M. Night Shyamalan Is Making A Mysterious TV Show, And It Looks Really Good

$
0
0

wayward pines matt dillon

Fox is unveiling its new slate of TV shows today.

Among them is a new limited 10-episode series called "Wayward Pines" from M. Night Shyamalan, the director behind "The Sixth Sense," and it looks really good.

Based on "The Wayward Pines" series, the show has a lot of big-name talent including Oscar nominees Matt Dillon, Terrence Howard, and Juliette Lewis along with Oscar winner Melissa Leo.

Here's the plot synopsis from Fox:

"WAYWARD PINES is an intense, mind-bending 10-episode thriller starring Academy Award nominee Matt Dillon ("Crash") as a Secret Service agent on a mission to find two missing federal agents in the bucolic town of Wayward Pines, ID. Every step closer to the truth makes him question if he will ever get out of Wayward Pines alive."

The show feels like Fox's attempt at its own "True Detective."

Check out the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: 25 shows that have just been cancelled

Join the conversation about this story »








24 Iconic Portraits Of The Coolest Americans Ever

$
0
0

ElvisPresley_Marshutz_Stanley

What exactly do we mean when we call someone “cool?” Most would struggle to describe it, but just about everyone knows "cool" when they see it. It is a distinctly American invention that finds its roots in African-American culture, Jazz, and the multitude of icons that the American fame machine has produced. 

A new exhibition and book, "American Cool," currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C., traces the origins of “cool.” It also includes a look at the 100 “coolest” Americans of all time.

To decide who made the list, curators Frank H. Goodyear III, the co-director of the Bowndown College Museum of Art, and Joel Dinerstein, the director of the American Studies program at Tulane University, engaged in a vigorous debate based on four criteria. 

Dinerstein explained to PBS Newshour: “First an originality of artistic vision as established through a signature style, which is to say their artistic vision cannot be separate from their personality. Second, that in a given historical moment, they were perceived as a cultural rebel. Third, that they have high profile recognition. Fourth, that they have a recognized cultural legacy.”

While the usual suspects are featured, including James Dean, Jimi Hendrix, and Hunter S. Thompson, there are many less obvious faces on the "cool" list as well. All are, however, what Dinerstein calls,"the successful rebels of American culture."

The National Portrait Gallery shared a selection of the portraits with us here, but you can see the entire collection in the book or at the gallery until September 7th.

Long Island-native Walt Whitman was a poet, essayist, and journalist, best known for his seminal poetry collection "Leaves of Grass" (1855), which was criticized for its overt sexuality.WaltWhitman_Hollyer_NPG_82_25Frederick Douglass was an African-American orator, writer, statesman, and activist. After escaping from slavery in 1838, Douglass wrote a landmark autobiography of his experience and became a leader of the abolitionist movement.FrederickDouglass_unid_NPG_74_75Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s. At the time of his death from alcoholism at 28, Beiderbecke was little known outside of the jazz community. beiderbeckeBIXNicknamed "the Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s. She is often considered the greatest singer of the era.BessieSmith_VanVechten_NPG_91_108Billie Holiday was a jazz singer and songwriter, whose style was inspired by jazz instrumentalists. She worked with many of the titans of early jazz, including Count Basie, Artie Shaw,  and Louis Armstrong.BillieHolliday_Willoughby_NPG_97_96Though born in Britain, Audrey Hepburn made her mark on American culture as a film, TV, and Broadway icon during Hollywood's "Golden Age," with the films "Breakfast At Tiffany's" (1961) and "My Fair Lady" (1964).AudreyHepburn_Halsman_NPG_95_96Hailing from Hoboken, New Jersey, Frank Sinatra was one of the most influential and best-selling entertainers of all time.FrankSinatra_Leonard_RutgersHumphrey Bogart was named in 1999 by the American Film Institute as the greatest male star in the history of film. He appeared in such iconic movies as "Casablanca" (1942), "The Big Sleep" (1946), "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), and "Sabrina" (1954).HumphreyBogart_Halsman_NPG_85_11Lauren Bacall is a film and stage actress most famous during Hollywood's "Golden Age." She often appeared alongside Humphrey Bogart and was a mainstay in the film noir genre, often playing the "femme fatale" role.LaurenBacall_Eisenstaedt_TimeLifeConsidered by many to be the greatest actor of all time, Marlon Brando achieved acclaim for playing the role of Stanley Kowalski in the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951) and later for his roles in "On The Waterfront" (1954), "The Godfather" (1972), and "Apocalypse Now" (1979).MarlonBrando_Halsman_NPG_98_38James Dean is best known as an icon of teen disillusionment, which he exhibited prominently in the film "Rebel Without A Cause" (1955). He died in a car accident at 24.JamesDean_Schatt_NPG_91_209Mississippi-born Muddy Waters is considered the "father of modern Chicago blues" and is credited with influencing some of the biggest acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin.MuddyWaters_Stewart_RutgersMiles Davis was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Davis revolutionized jazz in  the '50s, '60s, and '70s, pioneering the jazz fusion, jazz-rock, and jazz-funk genres.MilesDavis_AvakianActor Steve McQueen has been called "the King of Cool" for his anti-hero persona and his many popular iconic movies, such as "The Great Escape" (1963) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968).SteveMcQueen_Claxton_FaheyKleinHailing from Seattle, Washington, Jimi Hendrix was called "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music," by the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.JimiHendrix_McCartney_NPG_96_26_publicity okJoan Didion is a writer and essayist best known for her documentation of the tumultuous American culture in the 1960s.JoanDidion_Wasser_NPG_2012_35Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist that first achieved recognition as a graffiti artist on the Lower East Side during the late 1970s. He died of a heroin overdose at 27.Basquiat_Kasterine_NPG_2011_24Scottish-born David Byrne is a founding member of American new wave band Talking Heads, one of the most popular and influential bands of the 1980s.DavidByrne_Resnick_NPG_2011_106Debbie Harry is a singer-songwriter, most famous for being the lead singer of the punk rock and new wave band Blondie.DebbieHarry_MapplethorpeOne of the most influential pop stars of the last 30 years, Madonnna broke through in the early '80s with her debut single "Everybody" and later with "Like A Virgin."Madonna_SimonKurt Cobain was the lead singer and guitarist of grunge band Nirvana. Cobain struggled with heroin addiction and depression through much of his life, eventually committing suicide at 27 in 1994.KurtCobain_Seliger _NPG_2013_68Tony "The Birdman" Hawk is a former professional skateboarder, widely considered to be one of the most influential pioneers of skateboarding. TonyHawk_Schoeller_NPG_2010_37Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro has appeared in numerous cult films including "The Usual Suspects" (1995), "Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas" (1998), "Snatch" (2000), and "Sin City" (2005).BenecioDelToro_Bird_NPG_2012_32

SEE ALSO: The Most Powerful Person At Every Age

FOLLOW US: Business Insider Is On Instagram

Join the conversation about this story »








11 Icons Of American Pop Culture Who Are Actually Canadian

Jay Z And Beyonce Show Up To Nets Game As Family-Drama Headlines Go Wild Online

$
0
0

Beyoncé and Jay Z gave a show of solidarity at the Brooklyn Nets playoff game against the Miami Heat Monday.

The Nets tweeted this image:

 

It was their first appearance together since TMZ published a blockbuster video Monday morning showing Beyoncé's sister, Solange, attacking Jay Z in an elevator at an after-party for the Met Gala at Manhattan's Standard Hotel May 5.

The hotel has since said it is investigating how surveillance footage from the elevator was leaked to the press

Beyoncé and Jay Z have not commented on the incident. 

The superstar couple have been a fixture throughout the Nets' playoff run at their seats next to the team's bench.

Jay Z formerly owned a stake in the Nets.

Join the conversation about this story »








Viewing all 103316 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images