Mark Cuban did something that no one's ever done on "Shark Tank" before: On the show, he made a deal not to invest in a company, but buy it outright.

The deal to buy struggling novelty sticker company evREwares for $200,000 made for great drama for the show's viewers, but it turns out the deal never went through.

When the sister cofounders behind evREwares, Becca Nelson and Ellie Brown, pitched their novelty sticker company to the Sharks in the latest episode of the sixth season, all the investors determined that the business was headed toward failure.

Cuban, however, saw an opportunity to take the company's existing connections and reinvent the brand as an outlet for fan merchandise for his NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks. He made an offer to buy evREwares, and after an emotional conversation, Nelson and Brown decided to let go of their baby.

But despite the great television that came from the surprising offer and subsequent tears, the sisters later decided that they couldn't follow through with it, according to ABC 11, the network's local affiliate for the sisters' hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina.

After taking some time to think about it, the sisters told ABC 11, they realized they got caught up in the moment and weren't willing to let go of their company, which produces premium wearable stickers meant for children's parties or lighthearted special events.

"We were berated for a solid 25 minutes," Nelson said in her ABC 11 interview, which led the sisters to believe in the moment that their company, which had $300,000 in sales in 2013 but was on track to make just $50,000 in 2014 after retailers decided not to place more orders, was struggling too much to survive.

It got them thinking about "the sacrifices that you make every day with your kids, your spouse, your family, everything" since founding evREwears in 2011, Nelson and Brown said. "In the hallway, we were like, 'We could take all that back.' You could feel the whole set, just the energy, change," Nelson said.

"Mark and his team reached out right after the show," Brown told the Triangle Business Journal. "It was really hard, but Becca and I didn't feel like we could sell our company."

On the set of "Shark Tank," Cuban told the misty-eyed sisters, "I promise to take good care of your baby and do the best I can to raise it from the dead and turn it into something special."

When the sisters told Cuban they changed their minds, he was "so nice about it," Brown said, and he even offered to be a free adviser to help turn the company around, which is a deal the sisters are more than happy to take.

SEE ALSO: Barbara Corcoran Explains Why She Likes Investing With Mark Cuban

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Miranda Sings is a character created in 2008 by Colleen Ballinger as a satire of bad YouTube musicians. She now has over 3 million YouTube subscribers and has appeared on Nickelodeon, "The Tonight Show" and "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee."

Produced by Devan Joseph

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It's an exciting time for Disney. With a flurry of successful superhero movies, the animated juggernaut Frozen, and new Star Wars movies on the horizon, things are looking up. Meanwhile, the company's stock is up around 500% since 2009. But where does Disney's money really come from?

As you'll see in the graphic below, The Walt Disney Studios films actually account for a fairly small percentage of their revenue.

SEE ALSO: The World's 100 Most Desirable Employers

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The 45th annual World Economic Forum is this week. The conference takes place in a snowy, mountainous Switzerland town, Davos, where 1,700 private jets are expected to drop off tons of billionaires and celebrities over the next four-days, Newsweek reports. 

That's much more air traffic than the area usually gets. Helicopters are also a popular form of transportation; 20% of last year’s 2,500 conference goers reportedly flew in choppers to Zurich airport.

Attendees include Bill Gates, Google’s Eric Schmidt, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Yahoo, CEO Marissa Mayer and Business Insider's CEO Henry Blodget, as well as about 40 world leaders.

Davos is an annual gathering of the world's 1%, and it begins Tuesday. Some guests pay $71,000 or more to attend the conference, which is said to be the ultimate networking event where top business deals get done.

Blodget, who has attended the conference for the past few years, describes why its worth flocking to Switzerland.

"One executive of a major multi-national told me this morning that he and a colleague will meet with 100 clients in the next three days," Blodget says. "Their company sponsors the conference, too, because the branding and association is helpful, but there's nowhere else in the world that they can cram so many high-level meetings into so little time with such efficient travel."

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The burger with the most calories in the world can be found at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas, which has made national headlines for killing its customers with its over-the-top, gluttonous fare.

According to Heart Attack Grill owner Jon Basso, though, death has been good for his restaurant's business. We went to eat there and tried the 19,900-calorie Octuple Bypass Burger.

Produced by Will Wei

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Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) isn't backing down after he criticized President Barack Obama for letting his daughters listen to Beyoncé.

However, the 2008 presidential candidate and potential 2016 contender still doesn't seem eager to start a feud with the singer.

"Nothing! She is half a page in a 242-page book," Huckabee exclaimed Tuesday on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" when asked what his problem with Beyoncé is.

In his new book, "God, Guns, Grits, and Gravy," Huckabee generated controversy for attacking Beyoncé and her husband, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, for allegedly "crude" lyrics. In a subsequent interview with People magazine, Huckabee also went after Obama for letting his teenage daughters listen to the singer.

"I don't understand how on one hand they can be such doting parents ... and yet they don't see anything that might not be suitable for either a preteen or a teen in some of the lyrical content and choreography of Beyoncé," he told People.

Huckabee nevertheless argued the controversy only proved his point about the insular nature of elites in New York and Washington. 

"It's not something that I would be afraid to talk about. And in fact, the reaction to it within the land of what I call 'Bubble-ville' validates my point," he said on "Morning Joe." 

Huckabee was also asked about his comments about Beyoncé during a Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week." He repeated his criticism of Obama and said the president's daughters should listen to more "wholesome" lyrics.

"She doesn't have to do some of the things that she does in the lyrics, because it's not necessary. She has nothing to make up for, she's an amazing talent," Huckabee said of Beyoncé. "It was President Obama ... who said that some of the lyrics he won't listen to with his daughters because it embarrasses him. Well here's my point: If it embarrasses you, then why would you possibly think it's wholesome for your children to put it into their heads?"

NOW WATCH: How To Make Your Own Custom Charts In Excel

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Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper," a film based on the life of former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the deadliest sniper in US military history, posted a $89.5 million opening weekend that smashed records for January. 

Despite earning six Academy Award nominations, including best picture and best actor, the film has politically divided audiences.

Filmmaker Michael Moore tweeted to his 1.8 million followers that snipers are "cowards," though he later said Cooper's performance was "awesome" in a Facebook post.

My uncle killed by sniper in WW2. We were taught snipers were cowards. Will shoot u in the back. Snipers aren't heroes. And invaders r worse

— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 18, 2015

Former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich ripped into Moore:

Michael Moore should spend a few weeks with ISIS and Boko Haram. Then he might appreciate@AmericanSniper. I am proud of our defenders.

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) January 19, 2015

Comedian Seth Rogen also posted a tweet in which he likened the film to depictions of Nazi propaganda featuring a sniper in the film "Inglourious Basterds." After his post sparked conroversey, Rogen subsequently wrote an additional tweet noting "American Sniper" only "kinda reminded" him of the fictional Nazi movie. At least one prominent billboard in Los Angeles was defaced with the word "murder." And Kyle's widow has canceled some interviews following criticism.

The film is based on the true story of Navy SEAL sharpshooter Chris Kyle, who claimed more than 200 enemy kills (with 160 confirmed), making him the most lethal US sniper ever.

After four tours in Iraq, Kyle was shot point-blank and killed by Eddie Ray Routh, a veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Cooper defended the film.

"We need to pay attention to our vets. It doesn't go any farther than that," Cooper said in an interview with The Daily Beast. "It's not a political discussion about war. It's a discussion about the reality. And the reality is that people are coming home, and we have to take care of them."

Former Navy SEAL sniper instructor Brandon Webb echoes that sentiment, "Veteran causes are an extremely important issue, especially the transition from military to civilian life," Webb wrote to Business Insider in an email.

Both Webb and Kyle, who knew each other for more than 10 years, served on SEAL Team 3 as snipers. 

"Chris Kyle was a human being, a Texan, Navy SEAL, father, husband, brother, friends to many, and a hero to many; this, at a time when we need all the heroes we can get. I knew him to be a good person, regardless of all the hype floating around in the media," Webb writes.

NOW WATCH: How To Respond To 8 Illegal Interview Questions

SEE ALSO: Navy SEAL Sniper Instructor Describes America's Best Marksman Ever

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Comedy Central will roast the music industry's notorious troublemaker, Justin Bieber.

The news originally surfaced via Ryan Seacreast on Twitter:

 Bieber replied with enthusiasm:

Bieber has been the subject of mockery before. This weekend, Kate McKinnon parodied Bieber's Calvin Klein ad on "Saturday Night Live."

Bieber responded favorably to the sketch on Twitter:

The roast, which will air later this year, will be filmed in Los Angeles.

Kent Alterman, Comedy Central's President of Content Development And Original Programming, said in a statement:

"Justin has been asking us for a few years to roast him, and we just kept telling him to go create more source material first. We're thrilled he listened."

Other celebrities who have received this honor include the late Joan Rivers, Charlie Sheen, Bob Saget, and most recently, James Franco.

Watch Bieber get mocked on "SNL" this weekend below.

SEE ALSO: Team Bieber Says Bieber Is Just As Buff And Well-Endowed As He Looks In This Calvin Klein Ad

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90s girl-group TLC is back, and they're asking fans to help them fund their newest and final album on Kickstarter.

Most famous for singles including "Waterfalls," "No Scrubs," and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," TLC has set its fundraising goal at $150,000 by February 15. At the time of publication, the group had raised more than $65,000. Not bad, considering the Kickstarter was launched on Sunday.

According to the group's Kickstarter project, all the money raised will go toward funding the production and release of the new album. "The initial goal of $150,000 will go towards a writing session in the studio with a producer and engineer. The money beyond that will go to booking music producers, writing sessions, mixing sessions, recording sessions, and SO much more," according to TLC's Kickstarter page.

TLC says it took to Kickstarter to retain creative control over its music. "While major labels offer artists multimillion dollar recording and marketing budgets, they don't often give artists complete control of their own music. It is ESSENTIAL that we create our final album completely on our own terms, without any restrictions, with YOU," the group says.

TLC says this is the final album it will release. The last TLC album, 3D, was released in 2002. It will also be the first TLC album featuring only members Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the group's third member, died in a car crash in Honduras in 2002 while filming a documentary. 

SEE ALSO: Meet The Guy Who’s Using Kickstarter To Write A Book About What It’s Really Like Driving For Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar

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The blockbuster movie "American Sniper," which was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Bradley Cooper, has brought renewed attention to the story of the deadliest sniper in US military history.

Chris Kyle has 160 confirmed kills under his belt from his time as a Navy SEAL sniper in Iraq. The actual number of people he killed is likely even higher — Kyle claimed he killed 255 people. (Confirmed kills must be verified by witnesses.)

"American Sniper" had a huge opening weekend at the box office, netting $90.2 million. The movie, which is based on Kyle's autobiography of the same name, has been nominated for six Oscars, including best picture.

Kyle died in 2013 after being shot by a former Marine who was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The story behind Kyle's military career and subsequent return to the US is a bit more muddled and complex than what's shown in the movie, which has been the subject of a debate about whether the film overly glorifies Kyle and the horrors of war.

Kyle was born in Texas to a church deacon and a Sunday-school teacher, according to a 2013 profile of him in D Magazine. His father moved around a lot for work, so he grew up in different areas of the state.

His upbringing in Texas taught him to love guns. He went hunting with his father and brother and liked to practice his shot with a BB gun.

In high school, Kyle earned a reputation as a defender of his friends — he was willing to start a fight if it meant sticking up for someone else.

After high school, he attended Tarleton State University in Texas for two years before enlisting in the Navy and undergoing SEAL training.

Shortly after getting married, Kyle was deployed to Iraq and showed his skills as a sniper.

His first kill was in Nasiriya, Iraq, in 2003. He shot a woman who was preparing to throw a grenade at approaching Marines.

"The first time you're killing somebody, you're not even sure you can do it," Kyle said in an interview with Time. "You think you can, but you never know until you're actually put in that position and you do it."

In one legendary shot, later in his career, he hit an insurgent target who was 1.2 miles away. Using his scope, he spotted the insurgent on the roof of a building and took him out.

In an interview with Lester Holt on the "Today" show, Kyle called it a "lucky shot."

Kyle saw the killing he did as a necessary part of protecting American troops. He has said that he never regretted pulling the trigger, because he viewed it as an "us"-or-"them" scenario — either he takes out someone he sees as a threat, or that person takes out American troops.

In his interviews for the D Magazine profile, Kyle said: "You don’t think of the people you kill as people. They’re just targets. You can’t think of them as people with families and jobs. They rule by putting terror in the hearts of innocent people. The things they would do — beheadings, dragging Americans through the streets alive, the things they would do to little boys and women just to keep them terrified and quiet ... That part is easy. I definitely don’t have any regrets about that."

He started earning a dangerous reputation among the insurgents, who called him the "Devil of Ramadi" — one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq, where Kyle served — and put a bounty on his head. His fellow SEAL Team 3 members called him "The Legend" and picked the comic-book character "The Punisher" as their platoon's mascot.

"It gave me pride, knowing I was doing my job enough to get in the minds of the terrorists and make them fearful of me," he told Holt.

Kyle survived six IED attack and three gunshot wounds in four tours of duty in Iraq before retiring in 2009. His wife gave Kyle what he interpreted as an ultimatum: Taya wanted him to return home to his family and two young children, whom he hardly knew, or the marriage would be over.

Kyle, like many veterans, had trouble adjusting to civilian life after he returned home.

The hardest part about coming home was missing his "boys" and missing "being around them in the action," he told D Magazine.

"That’s your whole life, every day for years," he said. "I hate to say it, but when you’re back and you’re just walking around a mall or something, you feel like a pussy. ... You hear someone whining about something at a stoplight, and it’s like, 'Man, three weeks ago I was getting shot at, and you’re complaining about — I don’t even care what.'"

Kyle found that much of the American public didn't understand and couldn't relate to the realities of war.

"For the most part, the public is very soft," he told Time. "You live in a dream world. You have no idea what goes on on the other side of the world, the harsh realities that these people are doing to themselves and then to our guys. And there are certain things that need to be done to take care of [American troops]." 

Kyle eventually found a purpose in being a father and helping veterans and civilians. He started Craft International, a defense contracting company, and took veterans to shooting ranges as a sort of therapy.

It was during one of these sessions that Kyle was killed.

A woman who lived near Kyle had heard of how he met with veterans after they returned home for war, and she called him one day to ask if he could help her son, who was suffering from mental illness and might have been suicidal. So Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield agreed to take the 25-year-old Marine to the shooting range to blow off steam, according to D Magazine.

It may seem a shooting range is an unusual place to bring a person suffering with PTSD, but former Navy SEAL sniper instructor Brandon Webb says this is quite normal. "It's like guys going out and playing catch and talking about issues,” Webb said in an interview. “Every Marine is a rifleman. It’s a familiar environment. There’s a level of trust and the walls come down.”

Eddie Ray Routh shot and killed both Kyle and Littlefield. He is now facing trial for their murders.

Bradley Cooper, who plays Kyle in the film adaptation of his autobiography, got Kyle's blessing to make the movie shortly before he died.

The film's release started a debate about how accurate Kyle's story is.

He claimed in his book, without naming names, that he punched former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura at a bar after Ventura insulted Navy SEALs. Last year, a jury awarded Ventura $1.8 million in damages for the passage in Kyle's book that they deemed libelous.

Another story that's part of Kyle's legend couldn't be verified by reporters. Kyle had reportedly told some people that shortly after he got back from Iraq, he killed two men at a Texas gas station when they tried to carjack him.

When a reporter asked him if the story was true, Kyle said it was. But when news outlets went looking for documentation of the incident, they couldn't find it.

Cooper has argued that the film is meant to make people pay attention to the plight of veterans — nothing more.

"[American Sniper] is not a political discussion about war," Cooper told The Daily Beast. "It’s a discussion about the reality. And the reality is that people are coming home, and we have to take care of them."

Webb, who served on SEAL Team 3 with Kyle, wrote that "Chris Kyle was a human being, a Texan, Navy SEAL, father, husband, and a hero to many at a time when we need all the heroes we can get. I knew him to be a good person, regardless of all the bulls--- floating around in the media."

Amanda Macias contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: How To Take Control Of Your Mind And Focus Better

SEE ALSO: People Are Freaking Out Over Responses To 'American Sniper'

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There are a million hilarious comedians out there, but few stand the test of time. 

Crowdsourced rankings website Ranker came up with a list of the funniest people of all time. They asked users to vote on the funniest comedians, actors, and producers who've built careers on making people laugh. Over 150,000 people voted. Below are the top 25.

1. Robin Williams

Though he tragically passed away at age 63, Williams will be eternally remembered for his roles in hit films both comedic and dramatic, including "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Good Will Hunting," "Dead Poet's Society," and "Aladdin." Williams also created a solid stand-up catalog throughout his career, showcasing his signature improvisational style. 

2. Will Ferrell

Ferrell is kind of a big deal— especially considering his uproarious performances in now-classic comedies such as "Anchorman," "Elf," and "Step Brothers." Ferrell also gained fame and followers from his 10-year run on "Saturday Night Live," where he kept fans asking for more cowbell.

3. Bill Murray

Best known for his roles in "Ghostbusters," "Groundhog Day," and "Caddyshack," Murray got his start on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 70s. Later on, Murray became one of Wes Anderson's go-to actors, starring in several of his films, including "Moonrise Kingdom," "Rushmore," and "The Royal Tenenbaums."

4. Jim Carrey

Known for his over-the-top facial expressions and rubber-like body movements, Carrey made a name for himself with breakout hits "Dumb & Dumber" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Though he's taken on more serious roles — and even won a Golden Globe for his performance in "The Truman Show" — Carrey can always be counted on for a laugh. 

5. Steve Martin

Though he's recognized as a movie star these days, Martin got his start writing for TV shows and in stand-up, where he perfected his trademark absurdist brand of comedy and performed for sold-out arenas. His signature style also kept audiences laughing through hit films such as "All of Me," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," and "The Jerk."

6. Eddie Murphy

The Brooklyn-born comedian first rose to fame as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" in the early '80s, where he perfected his signature impersonations, taking on the personas of Bill Cosby and Muhammad Ali, among others. Murphy's film career is also nothing to laugh at as he starred in hits "Beverly Hills Cop," "Trading Places," and "Coming to America."

7. George Carlin

Few comedians can claim their antics made it all the way to Supreme Court, but Carlin's "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" sketch became the central to FCC v. Pacifica Foundation case after the profanity-heavy routine was played on the radio. That wasn't the only controversy the late comedian caused — he was widely known for his risqué humor and willingness to take on hot topics.

8. Richard Pryor 

One of the most respected comedians of all time, Pryor gained fame for his provocative stand-up routines, where he often used profanity and wasn't afraid to delve into controversial topics like race. The late comedian also had a healthy film career, starring in movies such as "Brewster's Millions," "Stir Crazy," and "Harlem Nights."

9. Bill Cosby

Despite recent scandals, Cosby's longtime career in stand-up and television still makes comedic history. In addition to the eponymous "The Cosby Show," he also created "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" and "Cosby," and cultivated a successful career in stand-up. 

10. Leslie Nielsen

Don't call him Shirley— despite starting his 60-year career as a dramatic actor, Nielsen cemented his name as a comedy legend through his deadpan delivery in roles such as Dr. Rumack on "Airplane!" and Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun." In fact, "Airplane!" is often referred to as the funniest movie ever. Nielsen passed away in 2010.

11. Steve Carell

Widely recognized as the "World's Best Boss" Michael Scott on the American version of "The Office," Carell is also one of the world's greatest comedians, known for his roles in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Anchorman," and "Little Miss Sunshine." 

12. Chris Farley

Despite a tragically young death at 33, Farley packed a lifetime of laughs into his career, with a long-running stint on Saturday Night Live, as well as a solid lineup of movies. Farley starred in now-classic hits such as "Tommy Boy" and "Wayne's World."

13. John Belushi

One of the first cast members on "Saturday Night Live," Belushi kept audiences laughing with his loud, energetic performances, which propelled him to a successful movie career before his untimely death at age 33. Today he is best recognized for his roles in "The Blues Brothers" and "Animal House," the latter of which is immortalized through posters plastered across every college dorm in the country. 

14. Mel Brooks

Unlike his counterparts on this list, Brooks brought us humor from behind the camera, writing and directing classic hits such as "Spaceballs," "Blazing Saddles," and "The Producers," the latter winning him an Oscar for best screenplay. Brooks is also one of few people in Hollywood to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

15. John Candy

Like many great comedians, Candy got his start touring with Second City comedy troupe, where he grabbed audiences' attention with his wit and dry humor. After his breakthrough role in "Splash," opposite Tom Hanks, Candy cemented his place in comedy history with starring roles in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck" before a heart attack took his life at age 43.

16. Chris Rock

Like his mentor Eddie Murphy, joining the cast of "Saturday Night Live" proved a jumping-off point for Rock's career. Post-SNL, Rock starred in HBO's "Bring in the Pain," which earned him two Emmy awards. He's since built a solid stand-up career and created multiple TV shows, including "The Chris Rock Show" and "Everybody Hates Chris."

17. Lucille Ball

Ball made a career out of her role as the clumsy-yet-lovable Lucy Ricardo on "I Love Lucy." The show ran for six years, before spinning off into "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," which ran for three more seasons. Ball also starred in "Yours, Mine and Ours" and "The Facts of Life." She died in 1989.

18. Mike Myers

Another "Saturday Night Live" alum, Myers took his popular "Wayne's World" skit to the big screen with two movies by the same name. He's also the face of the "Austin Powers" franchise and the voice of Shrek. 

19. Tina Fey

Tina Fey is everywhere these days — and for good reason. After getting her break on "Saturday Night Live" in the mid '90s, Fey went on to create and star in "30 Rock," which was nominated for a record-breaking 22 Emmys in 2009, and won for outstanding comedy. She also wrote and starred in "Mean Girls" — and if you haven't seen it, you can't sit with us. 

20. Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld's eponymous show turned the sitcom world on its head with his "show about nothing" concept that became a ratings behemoth in the '90s. Throughout its tenure, "Seinfeld" was nominated for a slew of awards and took home several Primetime Emmys. The show also spawned a horde of popular catchphrases, including "yada, yada, yada" and "not that there's anything wrong with that." 

21. Dan Aykroyd

As part of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live," Aykroyd created several memorable characters including Beldar, an alien father who inspired the film "Coneheads" and Elwood Blues, half of the Blues Brothers duo opposite John Belushi. He's also recognized for his roles in hit comedies such as "Trading Places" and "Ghostbusters."

22. Chevy Chase

Chase got his start as a writer and actor on "Saturday Night Live," where his deadpan humor made him a breakout star. He left SNL after a single season and went on to star in classic films such as "Caddyshack," "Fletch," and "National Lampoon's Vacation."

23. John Cleese

Though he originally aspired to become a professional athlete, Cleese turned to comedy as a way to make friends as a kid. After college, he helped develop "Monty Python's Flying Circus," which threw audiences for a loop with its absurd plots and unconventional punchlines. Cleese left the show after three seasons, but returned to work on later releases, including "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian."

24. Zach Galifianakis

Best recognized as oddball Alan from "The Hangover," Galifianakis has already had a rich career in comedy. In addition to the "Hangover" franchise, he appeared in "Due Date" and "The Campaign," and hosts the "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis" web series on Funny or Die.

25. Phil Hartman

Hartman is best remembered for his time on "Saturday Night Live," where his celebrity impressions and deadpan delivery kept fans laughing for eight seasons. He was also a long-running guest star on "The Simpsons" and helped create the character Pee-wee Herman. Tragically, Hartman garnered national attention when he was murdered by his wife in 1998.

SEE ALSO: 11 Great TV Shows That Were Cancelled In 2014

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In honor of the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary, the band is reuniting for three final farewell shows July 3-5 at Soldier Field in Chicago. 

The show will be titled "Fare Thee Well," and will mark nearly two decades after the band last performed together with the late Jerry Garcia at the same 55,000-capacity venue.

Grateful Dead Ticketing mail order begins today, January 20th, to continue the band's snail mail ticketing tradition.

Online tickets, which range in price from $59.50-$199.50, will first be made available to members of the Grateful Dead fan club before anyone else, but still on a first-come-first-serve basis from Feb. 9-11.

After that, a local public presale will occur Feb. 12-13, with a general public sale to follow Feb. 14. Ticket information is available at Dead50.net. 

The band's devoted fan base, also known as Dead Heads, are already snail-mailing in their ticket requests and in keeping with tradition, are intricately decorating the envelopes in hopes of helping their chances at getting tickets.

Our Grateful Dead ticket order envelope! Thanks to Jakes little bro for decorating it for us! #Dead50#GDTSTOOpic.twitter.com/47NLE3kGec

— Ellen Nied (@AndSheWasN2F) January 20, 2015

Past fan art is even the subject of 2011 book "Dead Letters: The Very Best Grateful Dead Fan Mail," which showcases years of fan art on envelopes.

The book's description explains:

"Dead Heads went to extraordinary, often inspiring, lengths to get their hands on concert tickets by mailing the band and its staff. After all, the only way to get tickets for the Dead was to go directly to the source. Most often, this took the form of letters (and envelopes) with personalized Dead artwork the likes of which the U.S. Postal Service had ever seen."

With the new tour set to release tickets next month, many Dead Heads are uploading photos of their decorative envelopes to social media under the tag #Dead50, in honor of the group's upcoming anniversary.

Check out some of the most detailed artworks below:

Wish us luck on #GDTSTOO cc @rskipnis#Dead50pic.twitter.com/D1tQKOJKgz

— Ikes (@DedFishHed) January 20, 2015

Off we go! I'll be there regardless. #dead50#gratefuldeadpic.twitter.com/CYhgQMkhzA

— Tribe Zero (@TribeZero) January 20, 2015

Things like this make me realize I have no chance. RT @mkdevo: Saw this on the facebooks. Awesome. #Dead50pic.twitter.com/CHdaGaih1i

— Cameron Garrison (@CGarrisonKC) January 20, 2015

In line at the post office. #Dead50 thanks for the color @theBetsyCAT!!! pic.twitter.com/dHuoDtho52

— \mm/ Phil's \mm/ (@PhilthyG) January 20, 2015

American Beauty... #Dead50 Artist: Lisa Stambler Shiroff pic.twitter.com/kYKrPigo9M

— Ikes (@DedFishHed) January 19, 2015

You guys are AMAZING!! I've seen so much creativity with ALL these envelopes. Here are just a few... #Dead50#NFApic.twitter.com/ZXzyVasn9V

— Marigold (@deadgirltoo) January 20, 2015

Fare thee well my little envelope! #Dead50pic.twitter.com/to8z7nRmMh

— Rennie Karnovich (@needsmorechalk) January 20, 2015

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It's hard to imagine how someone could blow through millions of dollars.

But it happens a lot.

From Michael Jackson to Francis Ford Coppola, we rounded up riches-to-rags stories, featuring high-profile people who managed to lose their fortunes (and sometimes get them back again).

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye's estate has an estimated net worth of $5 million.

Back in 1976, the Motown legend's divorce from his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, led him to file for bankruptcy. In order to cover the $600,000 Gaye owed his wife in alimony payments, the singer gave Anna the rights to his album "Here, My Dear."

The singer's financial troubles — along with drug addiction — followed him for the rest of his life, even though he continued to record albums and perform. He even moved to Europe in 1981 to avoid dealing with the IRS. Gaye was killed in 1984 when his own father shot him after a heated argument. 

Kim Basinger

When Kim Basinger filed for bankruptcy in 1993, the actress had a net worth of $5.4 million.

Her reason for filing for bankruptcy was backing out of filming the movie "Boxing Helena." Main Line Pictures sued her to the tune of $8.1 million for breach of contract. In a new trial three years later, Basinger settled for $3.8 million.

Basinger has since appeared in multiple films, including "8 Mile" and "Cellular," and she signed a contract with IMG Models — at 60 years old. As of last year, she had an estimated net worth of $36 million.

Meat Loaf

Meat Loaf currently has an estimated net worth of $25 million, a far cry from where he was decades earlier.

The singer filed for bankruptcy in the '80s after Jim Steinman — who wrote many of Meat Loaf's songs — filed a lawsuit against Meat Loaf. This came just after the not-so-succesful release of Meat Loaf's album "Dead Ringer."

The singer's last hit album was released in 1993. He has since acted in movies (including "Fight Club"), released the TV series "VH1 Storytellers," and published an autobiography.

Netflix will start streaming the controversial comedy "The Interview" to its customers on Jan. 24, the company announced in its fourth quarter earnings Tuesday afternoon. 

The film — which is about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un — was pulled from major movie theaters after Sony recieved threats from hackers, but was available to rent and buy on YouTube, Google Play, and XBox Video in December. It cost $5.99 to rent or $14.99 to own. 

If you're a Netflix customer, you'll be able to watch it for free starting Saturday. 

"We are thrilled to offer exclusively the controversial comedy, The Interview, to our US and Canadian members beginning this Saturday, Jan. 24 - just thirty days after it debuted in theaters and pay-per-view," the company wrote in its earnings report. 

SEE ALSO: Overstock Is Going To Take On Amazon's Video Streaming Service

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With any given pitch, the "Shark Tank" investors are looking for a personality they trust, a product they can add value to, and an opportunity to make a ton of money.

In rare instances, all five Sharks see each of these requirements fulfilled, as they did with Max Gunawan, the San Francisco-based founder and inventor of Lumio.

In the latest episode of the TV show's sixth season, Gunawan entered the tank seeking $250,000 for 8% of his company, which produces a sleek book that unfolds into a rechargeable, adjustable fanned lamp. The ends are magnetic, which means they can be linked to each other or attached to metal fixtures.

The investors all found the product delightful, interesting, and useful, but they appeared most impressed with Gunawan's dedication and hustle.

He left a career in architecture to develop Lumio in 2013, raising an initial round of funding on Kickstarter. He sought only $60,000 on the crowdfunding site but made almost $580,000 by the time the campaign ended. By the end of 2013, he brought in $1 million in sales without any traditional marketing campaign.

Gunawan said his projected sales for 2014 ranged from $2 million to $2.5 million, thanks to distribution deals in art museums across the US and retailers in Tokyo. A healthy 15% of revenue was profit.

But, Gunawan said, demand surpassed supply, and he wanted the capital and strategic partner to scale his business.

Each Lumio book retails for $190 at a cost of $80 to produce. To lower production costs, Gunawan told the Sharks, he traveled to the Chinese factory constructing his products and lived there for four months to help optimize the process. He was able to lower the cost to $65 per book and was looking to further reduce it to $50.

"I don't think we've ever had anybody come out here and say, 'I got a factory in China, and I went and lived there for four months'!" investor Robert Herjavec said.

"And I know what that's like, and that was not easy!" investor Lori Greiner adds.

Herjavec kicked off a round of offers in which all five Sharks — Herjavec plus Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, and Greiner — all explained to Gunawan why their background and expertise would be the key to Lumio's continued success.

We've summarized the "Shark fight" that ensues, paraphrasing each of the investors' positions:

Robert Herjavec: I like where you're taking the company and your valuation is fair. $250,000 for 10%.

Kevin O'Leary: I'll double the valuation of your company from $3.1 million to $6.2 million, so that you can sell equity for more in the future, if necessary. $250,000 for 4% equity, with $7 royalty/unit until I make $500,000 on the deal.

Mark Cuban: Demand on e-commerce will skyrocket once the "Shark Tank" episode airs; e-commerce is my specialty. I'll provide capital to grow inventory to meet demand and will optimize your e-commerce system, in exchange for enough of the company to make it worth my time and energy. $500,000 for 16%.

Lori Greiner: I see presence in museum shops as crucial to success. I'd like to use my background in product development to help you create the next generation of products, which could include colored lighting. $250,000 for 12% and a $250,000 line of credit.

Daymond John: Lori and I are the only Sharks who "eat, sleep product every day," and I'm the better pick because I'll use my network to license the product out and secure distributors and will provide enough money so that you won't need to finance again. $750,000 for 20% and a $10 million line of credit.

RH: Will up offer. I think you're already on the right path, and I don't want to see you give up too much equity. $350,000 for 10%.

Gunawan ended up making a deal with Herjavec. "He's exactly who I wanted to partner with," Gunawan said after he left the tank.

In his pitch, Gunawan shared the prototype of a portable Lumio book, which he wanted customers to always keep in their bags while traveling. His Japanese distributors say their customers are eager to buy, and it's now available for preorder on the Lumio website.

Herjavec told Business Insider last year that he seeks entrepreneurs he wants to hang out with and guide to success, rather than those who require him to do their work for them. As he explained to Gunawan in the tank, he respects his vision and wants only to provide resources and advice along the way, rather than charting a new path for Lumio.

After the episode premiered, Herjavec wrote about Gunawan on Twitter: "Success takes sacrifice and true commitment — living in the factory — such an incredible guy."

Herjavec struck a goofy pose with a Lumio book after making the deal:

SEE ALSO: Here's Why Mark Cuban's Historic 'Shark Tank' Deal To Buy A Company Outright Never Went Through

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Check out the Business Insider Jobs section >>

As part of our new partnership with CareerBuilder.com, each week we'll feature one of the awesome jobs advertised on the Business Insider jobs board.

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A cool video has emerged of amateur filmmakers recreating Hollywood-inspired special effects.

The footage, shot by a young filmmaking group called 'Scrape the Sky' in Nancy, France, shows the viewer how to reproduce classic movie effects on a tight budget.

Produced by Jason Gaines. Video courtesy of Associated Press.

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There's an unforgettable scene in "Birdman" where Michael Keaton is forced to walk through New York's Times Square in his underwear after getting locked out of his dressing room mid-performance at a nearby Broadway theater.

But what many don't realize about the key scene is that Keaton really had to dodge unsuspecting, gawking fans in New York's busiest area — all in one continuous shot with no cuts.

Here's what the scene ended up looking like in the film:

But the shoot wasn't easy.

The film's director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, explained the logistical nightmare to Variety:

There were four takes, starting at 8:30 p.m. If the shot was too early, the lighting wouldn’t work; too late, the crowd would thin. Crew was kept to a minimum, to draw as little attention as possible. Keaton’s movements were accompanied by only four people: Lubezki [cinematographer]; the focus puller; the boom operator; and the digital imaging technician. Eight production assistants worked on crowd control. Inarritu was close by; for two of the four takes, he shot Keaton with his smartphone for footage used in a subsequent scene in which Emma Stone watches the incident on YouTube...

Because production couldn't afford to shut down Times Square or fill it with paid extras, real fans and onlookers became part of the shot.

"We worried about security," Inarritu told Variety, adding that there was a fear someone would stare at the camera or walk into the scene. "There was no possibility to cut away if that happened" since it was one long take, the director notes. "If any scene in the film failed, I could not remove it or manipulate it. It had to be perfect."

Here's what the shoot looked like in reality as a passerby in Times Square:

In order to divert people's attention from the camera, Variety reports that Inarritu hired a group of street drummers who danced and performed nearby. "All the tourists wanted to look at these drummers. A half-naked man in Times Square? They’ve seen that before," said the director.

"Birdman" production designer, Kevin Thompson, explained further to Yahoo Movies:

"Having the drummers there really assisted in gathering and holding the crowd, and then also holding space along one side of them. It created an energy that helped, I think."

Now watch the shoot from the drummers' point of view:

"Even though it does look like chaos, we did have to control the crowd and extras," added Thompson. "For the most part we just had a ton of film crew dressed as pedestrians that we’d guide, and then all these extras taking pictures. It was very complicated."

Another challenge that production faced was all of the prominent brand advertising in the background of the Times Square shoot.

The "Birdman" legal team had to get permission from each brand to be used onscreen, reports Variety.

But it wasn't just the Times Square scene that was tough to shoot. The entire film was made to look like one continuous, two-hour shot.

In order to achieve the look, the cast underwent shots that took anywhere from seven to 10 minutes to film, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"Everybody showed up every morning frightened," Keaton told EW. "The crew too. I think we were all thinking, I don't want to be the guy who lets everybody down."

The cast, crew, and camera team had to be in sync at all times on the very fast 30-day shoot.

Here's how EW describes what one mistake would cost them on set:

"Anything—a misremembered line, an extra step taken, a camera operator stumbling on a stair or veering off course or out of focus—could blow a take, rendering the first several minutes unusable even if they had been perfect."

"You had to be word-perfect, you had to be off script, and you literally had to count your paces down to the number of steps you needed to take before turning a corner," Keaton told EW. 

But the challenging shoot was worth it.

"Birdman" recently led the Oscar nominations with nine nods, including best picture, best actor for Michael Keaton, best director for Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and achievement in cinematography for Emmanuel Lubezki, the Oscar-winning cinematographer who worked on "Gravity."

On a production budget of just $18 million, the film has raked in nearly $42 million since its late October limited release.

Check out the "Birdman" trailer below:

SEE ALSO: Here's How Ridiculously Difficult It Was To Film 'Birdman' In 30 Days

MORE:  'Birdman' Starring Michael Keaton Is The Best Movie Of The Year

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Virtual reality has never been more popular thanks to the Oculus Rift, but VR has actually been around for decades.

The 1991 ABC Primetime Live report "Virtual Reality" is a fascinating and often humorous look at what virtual reality was like almost 25 years ago, and it highlights just how fast technology has evolved since then.

While the virtual reality headsets from the late 1980s and early 1990s looked similar to the basic design of the Oculus Rift (a head-mounted display strapped to your face), they cost between $50,000 and $200,000. As a reference point, the Oculus Rift is targeting a price between $200 and $400.

From exploring virtual Martian landscapes to helping doctors plan for radiation therapy, here are some examples of what VR looked like in 1991.

This is what virtual reality headsets looked like.

Some headsets were smaller than others. This VR headset isn't that much bigger than the Oculus Rift.

How far have we come with game graphics since 1991? This is how this virtual city was described. "Detailed models of city landscapes are giving urban planners a chance to redesign Main Street without ever lifting a stone."

NASA was using virtual reality to recreate the landscape of Mars using 2D photos captured by Viking orbiters.

Doctors were exploring the possibilities of using virtual reality and CAT Scan images to create 3D models of a patient's body. This particular demo was used to practice aligning radiation therapy beams to get rid of a tumor.

This is what first-person shooter video game looked like back then.

Even with the bulky headsets and primitive graphics, virtual reality enthusiasts in 1991 were already asking deeper questions about the technology and how it would affect our lives.

"What kind of reality are our grandchildren going to accept?" asked virtual reality author Howard Rheingold in the broadcast. "Is the natural world with real trees and real rivers going to be there, or are we going to live in 800-story high rises all plugged into our virtual realities in which we walk through artificial forests? This might be a turning point for the human race. We might be going inwards towards an artificial experience."

SEE ALSO: The 13 Best New Apps You May Have Missed Recently

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“Breaking Bad” spin-off “Better Call Saul” premieres on AMC next month, and it’s everything you could possibly want from a spin-off of the hit series — musical montages that pull at your heart strings, cameos from some of your favorite Albuquerque natives, and plenty of Saul trying to talk his way out of trouble.

We’ve previewed the first two episodes of the spin-off series featuring lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), and it's hands-down one of the best mid-season premieres we’ve seen so far.

There’s an incredible amount of payoff for fans of the original series with subtle nods and references to the parent show. For those of you who may be groaning and rolling your eyes, don't worry. The show doesn’t overdo it. If you're not looking for the references, you most likely won't even see some hidden in plain sight.

It is absolutely imperative that you do not miss the first minute of the series. "Better Call Saul" opens with a brilliant black and white sequence. It may throw you off at first, but once it’s revealed where the scene is heading, fans are going to lose it ... in a good way. I cannot emphasize how much I’m looking forward to fellow “Breaking Bad” fans' reactions online, so don’t tune in late.

The series itself follows Saul in 2002, six years before he has ever met Walter White and before he’s the big-shot criminal lawyer we’re introduced to in “Breaking Bad.” There’s no trace of sidekick Heull and Goodman’s not driving around a fancy Cadillac DeVille (though there’s a nice reference to it in the opening episode that fans will notice).

Instead, Saul is a down-on-his-luck lawyer just trying to get by. He’s not the most confident, cocky counselor we’re accustomed to seeing. He doesn’t even go by Saul Goodman at this point. He’s just Jimmy McGill, a lowly lawyer hungry for clients, who drives around a Toyota Esteem.

Odenkirk never misses a beat. He’s so energetic as the spritely McGill, you could just sit and watch him talk the entire time he's in a courtroom, hashing it out with twin teenage boys, or trying desperately to save his own skin. You don’t even need to know what he’s necessarily rambling about because, to be honest, no one else probably does either.

Here’s a line of dialogue from him as he’s representing a young teenager: 

“Do you remember 19? Let me tell you. The juices are flowing, the red corpuscles are corpuscling. The grass is green, and it’s soft, and summer’s going to last forever.”

Do you know what a corpuscle is? McGill's talking about red blood cells.

It’s Saul’s usual bull, filled with grand hand gestures and priceless facial expressions, but it's not winning over many at this point in his career. One of the best parts of the premiere is a reintroduction to former characters like Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks), Gus Fring’s right-hand man on “Breaking Bad.” Mike is still the sarcastic, wise-cracking curmudgeon fans love, but instead of waving around a gun, the former Philadelphia police officer is working as a pretty harmless parking lot attendant at the local Albuquerque courthouse. 

He and McGill go back and forth a bit in the premiere, and we look forward to seeing their inevitable future interactions on the series. 

More interesting, are the glimpses of Jimmy McGill’s backstory and his relationship with his older brother Chuck (Michael McKean), who is suffering from an illness.

It’s easy to see from the pilot that “Better Call Saul” (BCS) is going to be a show about the rise and fall of Jimmy McGill, as much as its parent series is about the rise and fall of meth kingpin Walter White. 

So it makes sense that the show not only feels a lot like “Breaking Bad," but also looks a lot like it. Gorgeous visual shots take you back to the streets, deserts, and skies of Albuquerque, New Mexico (especially in episode two). Some of the shots literally remind us of scenes from "Breaking Bad." (Sorry, no screengrabs.)

We know from "BB," creator Vince Gilligan has a way with close-up montages. Expect to see more of those on screen from sweet treats getting baked in black and white to tomatoes getting sliced and diced.

The first two episodes also feel eerily similar to the several early episodes of “Breaking Bad” content wise. In "Breaking Bad," Walt and Jesse take a man captive, tie him up in a basement, and then discard of his body. No one dies in the first two episodes of "BCS," but the parallels between the openings of the two series is a little uncanny. 

That's both good and bad. Since it's a prequel series, you know the stakes are a bit lower for some characters — Mike's not going anywhere — yet, "BCS" still has the ability to fill you with excitement and laughs at one moment while tearing the rug out from under you so that you're rocking back and forth in your seat a bundle of anxiety-ridden nerves. Still, in some ways, it slightly feels like something we may have seen before. 

Does the pilot episode stand up to that of “Breaking Bad”? No, but, to be fair, I don’t think many opening premiere episodes do.

The premiere is a little slow at points, but when Jimmy runs into two young teens who try to scam him out of $500, the action starts to pick up and the final minutes of the premiere will have you glued. The very final shots of the episode will make you wish you didn't have to wait an entire day to see what happens next.

It'll be worth it. The second episode, which airs the following evening, is pretty much non-stop action. I can't say much about it without spoiling anything, but there's one repeated word that should quickly catch on and be a big hit. You'll know it when you hear it, and it's sure to be all over Twitter.

"Better Call Saul" premieres on AMC Sun., Feb. 8 at 10 p.m. before moving to its regular timeslot Mon. Feb. 9 at 10 p.m. 

Watch a trailer for the series.

SEE ALSO: Here's the "Breaking Bad" creator's love letter to fans about spin-off "Better Call Saul"

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