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'South Park' Just Won An Infringement Case Against The 'What What In The Butt' Guy

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Big news, America. The "What What In The Butt" guy from YouTube lost his case against Viacom for allegedly infringing on the video in a 2008 "South Park" parody. 

Wired's David Kravets reports the court said "this is an obvious case of fair use," despite South Park using the same idea, framing and shots. 

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's decision, which you can read in all its hilarity here.

Choice quote: "The heart of the video features an adult African American male ensconced in a bright red, half-buttoned, silk shirt, dancing, grinning creepily at the camera, and repeatedly singing the same cryptic phrases: “I said, what what, in the butt” and “you want to do it in my butt, in my butt.”

Now jam out to the viral video below (or not): 

SEE ALSO: Reddit users present 25 real-life cheats > 

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Chasing Phantoms: Everything You Need To Know About The 'Mad Men' Season Finale

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"My friend down there, she was wondering: Are you alone?" — a blonde to Don Juan Draper

The season five finale of "Mad Men" ended on both a high and low note: although SCDP is rolling in dough (apparently it had a great insurance policy in case a partner died), almost everyone's personal life has gone to shit. Unless, of course, you're Roger and gallivanting around, butt-naked in newly-single bliss. See the slideshow for photo evidence.

The relationship that has the most to lose, of course, is Don's. The season opened with the honeymoon phase. Smitten with Megan, we held our collective breath whenever Don encountered a beautiful woman and he, surprisingly, barely took notice. Well times they are a-changing. In the final seconds of an overall sleepy finale — to accommodate all of the characters' clinical depression — Don looks up from his Old Fashioned at the beautiful brunette whose friend propositions him on her behalf, intrigued, as he ... faded to black!?! Why, producers, why?

Titled "The Phantom," Don battled the ghost of his past as other characters chased other phantoms, be it their careers or past relationships.

"It will go away—it always does."

Raise your hand if you were surprised that Don is the kind of guy who refuses to see a doctor, or in this case dentist, when he's sick.

Yeah, that's what we thought. 

Months after Lane's death, Don experienced both emotional and physical pain as he suffers from a toothache of epically symbolic proportions. As he fights his rotting tooth, Don relents to his guilt and begins to see images of his half-brother, Adam.

When Don finally goes to a dentist and gets laughing gas, his drug induced vision is far more depressing than Roger's dalliance with LSD. He sees Adam, who is sporting a noose-shaped bruise on his neck to remind Don of the eerie similarities in their deaths. "You're in bad shape, Dick. It's not your tooth that's rotten."

Uh oh.



"Don't worry, I'll hang around. Get it?"

We do.



"I've been very blue."

Rory Gilmore/Beth and her side boob made another appearance in the show's season finale. She runs into Pete on her train into the city with her husband, who is checking her into a mental hospital to undergo electric shock therapy for being "blue." (Because this was a time when husbands could institutionalize their wives for the blues or, say, cheating).

Her final wish before the treatment erased her memories was to sleep with Pete one last time. "Please, please, give me this." Really? Well, that wouldn't be our first choice, or even in our top five, but we went with it. 

When they're in post-coital bliss, Pete, apparently under the impression that he ejaculates high doses of Lithium, asks,  "Don't tell me you don't feel better?" She doesn't. She gets the treatment. She forgets who Pete is while we worry that he's going to hurl himself out of the hospital window.



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Spoiler Alert: 'True Blood' Premiere Recap—Did Tara Survive?

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Confused? You may be after watching the very bloated season five premiere of "True Blood."

New vampires, villains back from the dead, new love interests—and that's only in the first few minutes.

While Sookie is dealing with the aftermath of Tara's gunshot wound, vampires Bill and Eric are on the run, new vampires are running amok— while old ones are returning from the dead—and the Shreveport werewolf pack is hunting down Sam

If things still don't make sense, we've broken down the premiere for you.

If you haven't watched it yet, read this after you do.

Steve Newlin comes out of the closet … and is in love with Jason.

Wait. What!?

Newlin didn't show up at Jason's to sink his teeth in him (well, okay, he did, but not in that sense of the word).

Newlin lays his heart on the line ... outing himself as a "gay vampire American"; however, Jason politely declines.



Yeah, Newlin's not liking that answer.

As Jason says, that's not how love works.



Jessica returns to claim a stake in Jason.

Too bad she was faking it. She just didn't want the Reverend all over her boy toy. 



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'Madagascar' And 'Prometheus' Scare Off 'Snow White'—Here's Your Box-Office Roundup

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It's no surprise that "Madagascar 3" and "Prometheus" won big this weekend.

Combined, Dreamworks' heavily advertised kid flick and Ridley Scott's much-anticipated summer blockbuster earned more than $110 million at the box office this weekend, squashing the competition. 

Other than a steady cash flow from the top five, much stays stagnant at the box office with a few big dips with the ever-sinking "Battleship" and "The Dictator." Otherwise, "Moonrise Kingdom" gets a bump from an added 80 theater count.

Out of the top ten this week include "For Greater Glory," horror film, "Chernobyl Diaries" and Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows" after a four-week run. 

Though out of the top ten for two weeks, "The Hunger Games" will cross the $400 million mark domestically today.

10. Bill Murray's "Moonrise Kingdom" moves up three spots from last week to join the top ten. The Romeo and Juliet-esque film about two lovers fleeing their home, brought in more than $1.5 million in week three.



9. Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy "the Dictator" falls four spots this week with $2.1 million. After a month on screen, the film has earned $55.1 million, inching closer toward its $65 million budget.



8. Universal's "Battleship" gets shot down four spots as well, earning $2.2 million. Universal's potential blockbuster has made just under $60 million of its $209 million budget.



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Robin Roberts Reveals Bone Marrow Disease, Will Get Transplant From Sister—Here's Today's Buzz

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  • Robin RobertsAfter beating breast cancer several years ago, "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts just revealed she has a bone barrow disease called MDS, or myelodysplastic syndrome—and is getting a transplant from her sister. "I am very fortunate to have a sister who is an excellent match, and this greatly improves my chances for a cure," she says. "My doctors tell me I'm going to beat this–and I know it's true." 
  • Matthew McConaughey and his baby mama, model Camila Alves, tied the knot Saturday in sunset ceremony Austin. The actor has come a long way since naked bongo-drum playing on the beach.
  • And not a member of the cast of "Jersey Shore" but acting like one, Madonna, 53, flashed her nipple during a concert in Turkey over the weekend. Watch the purposeful nip-slip stunt here, if you're into that sort of thing.

SEE ALSO: "Prometheus" & "Madagascar" scare off "Snow White"—Here's This Weekend's Box Office Round Up >

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Ohio Woman Blames P. Diddy And Jay-Z For Her Car's Seizure

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An Ohio woman will likely see her lawsuit against the city of Columbus thrown out after a judge found her claims too frivolous to entertain.

Michelle R. Mathis sought $500 billion from the city after her car was impounded and sold while she was in the hospital recovering from a traffic accident, according a court document obtained by thenewspaper.com

The claim seems valid enough – Mathis said the impound lot never notified her that her car was taken – but it's when she pins part of the blame on two hip-hop moguls that things get strange.

"Plaintiff’s Complaint also contains references to human trafficking and musicians Shawn Carter (“Jay-Z”) and Sean Combs (“P. Diddy”)," Justice E.A. Deavers writes in his recommendation to dismiss the suit. "Although Plaintiff believes that these musicians may be involved in the seizure of her vehicle, these allegations do not support her attempt to state a facially plausible claim."

We got our hands on the original complaint, in which Mathis says Diddy and Jay-Z "are known to have government influence" and claims she's a victim of human trafficking. The entire complaint is written by hand (see an except below). 

Mathis also claimed the impound lot only sold her car because workers there held a grudge against her for prior complaints. Apparently, another car of hers had been damaged after it was towed by the same company, according to the report.

"The mere fact that Plaintiff had poor experiences with the towing of a vehicle she previously owned is not enough for the Court to reasonably conclude that the City of Columbus has adopted an implicit custom or policy that encourages its employees to violate Plaintiff’s federal rights," Deavers writes. 

In a nutshell, the judge dismissed the suit on grounds that it's frivolous and would unfairly put the public on the hook for any award in Mathis' favor. 

Based on this excerpt from her complaint alone, we can't say we blame him:

compalint

DON'T MISS: Reddit users reveal 25 real life cheats >

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BREAKING: Not Only Is Kate Upton Clothed, But She's Dressed Like A Hipster In A New Spread

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Stop the presses: Kate Upton stars in a beach shoot and she's not in a bikini.

The Sports Illustrated model is the new face of the Fall 2012 campaign for Dylan George and Abbot + Main, and she has made the shocking transformation into a hipster. Not only doesn't Upton tease a potential wardrobe malfunction, but the male model is actually showing more skin than the bikini model.

The whole clothes thing is actually a great look for Upton. Maybe she's trying to class up her look so that she doesn't have to fork over $25K to attend the Met Ball next year.







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PHOTOS: On The Red Carpet And Inside Last Night's Tony Awards

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Tony Awards

On Sunday Night, Broadway's biggest stars gathered at the Beacon Theatre in New York for the 66th Annual Tony Awards.

Neil Patrick Harris acted as host for the third time, honoring the best in both dramatic plays and musical theater.

While the show's ratings slipped to an all-time low and were even beaten by a "Family Guy" repeat, the show proved entertaining for those who follow, and are interested in, the theater.

The musical "Once," based on the 2006 film of the same name, was the night's big winner with eight awards, but "Clybourne Park" and "Death of a Salesman" did well too—despite actor Philip Seymour Hoffman being snubbed for his portrayal of Willy Loman.

From Hollywood hotties to Broadway's brightest, see who came out to celebrate this year's Tony Awards.

Singer Sheryl Crow, a presenter, made her first public appearance since announcing earlier in June she has a benign brain tumor.




Jessica Chastain takes a sheer risk on the red carpet, donning a sparkling see-through dress by Marios Schwab. The Oscar nominated actress will make her Broadway debut in "The Heiress" this fall.



"Book of Mormon" co-creator Trey Parker brought date Emma Sugiyama, who pulled an Angelina Jolie on the red carpet.



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Director Peter Berg Admits He Wasn't Passionate About Making 'Battleship'

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"Battleship," the high-concept but underperforming action film released by Universal earlier this year, made a surprise appearance in discussions about risky movies and passion projects at the Produced By Conference on Sunday morning.

Peter Berg, the director of that film, was taking part in a discussion entitled "Passion Projects: Making Films Everyone Says Will Never Get Made" when he addressed the elephant in the room: that his last film, based on the board game, was the kind of movie generally seen as the antithesis of a passion project.

"I have a movie in theaters right now which has obviously underperformed in many ways," he said. "When [a movie] doesn't work, it's an … interesting opportunity to look at what went wrong and how it went wrong."

Also read: Christopher Nolan Says Digital Is All About Money, Not Quality

With "Battleship," he said, the scale of the movie simply overwhelmed everything else. "It was a movie that I tried as hard as I could to get inside of. But the concept is so big and powerful, and the money is so big and so powerful, that the movie is going to run away with itself."

In the end, he said, he failed to find a personal connection that would make him passionate about the movie. "I want to get inside the movie's world and feel like I know it better than anyone, and I couldn't do that … It was an interesting eye-opener." 

His comments about "Battleship" came on a morning when a couple of the biggest panels at the Producers Guild's Produced By Conference dealt with the problems of getting risky movies made in an increasingly conservative studio system.

Also read: Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns: 'We Don't Want to Be The New Major'

Grazer shared his story about launching "Splash" in the face of a competing mermaid movie that would have starred Warren Beatty and Jessica Lange, and about reviving "American Gangster," which Universal killed after already spending $28 million.

"It was a movie that I tried as hard as I could to get inside of. But the concept is so big and powerful, and the money is so big and so powerful, that the movie is going to run away with itself," — Peter Berg, "Battleship" Director

The studio told him to never mention the words "American Gangster" again, he said – but he ignored them and immediately repackaged the Denzel Washington film with a new director, Ridley Scott, and co-star, Russell Crowe, in place of original players Antoine Fuqua and Benicio del Toro.

Also read: Shonda Rhimes, Bill Lawrence, Nigel Lythgoe: Our Worst Pitches Led to Hit Shows

Grazer and Berg also talked about their experiences together making "Friday Night Lights," and about the night Berg tried to get the studio excited about making the film by flying a batch of executives to Odessa, Texas for a Friday night high-school football game.

None of them wanted to go, he said – but they reluctantly agreed while stipulating that they'd leave at halftime. Instead, they stayed until the end and fell in love with the world of high-school football. Then, on the way home, the engines failed and the power went out on their airplane.

"I was like, 'Fuck!'" said Berg.

"I knew I had the green light, and instead we were going to crash." But the power came back on, they made it home "and by the time we got off that plane, we had had the communal experience that ignited the particular passion necessary to get that movie made."

Earlier on the same soundstage on the Sony lot, another group of producers spent an hour talking about their own passion projects, and about the future of film production in an era where, as moderator Michael Shamberg pointed out, the annual chart of top-grossers is dominated by sequels and nearly 70 percent of box-office revenue comes from international.

"The audience is causing the change," said Ceán Chaffin, director David Fincher's producing partner. "The audience that we want [for serious dramas] is harder and harder to find."

"We have to be more inventive and resourceful than we ever had to in the past," added Mark Johnson, who began his career with "Diner" 30 years ago.

battleship The session was titled "Game Changers: Where Movies Should Be Going," but most of the producers admitted that they don't really know where movies should be going – they just know that it's difficult to make quality films and difficult to find an audience.

"The most elusive thing is always good," said Doug Wick, producer of "Gladiator" and the upcoming Baz Luhrmann version of "The Great Gatsby." "Making something that turns out good is the hardest part."

The panel, which also included "Moneyball" producer Michael DeLuca, talked about dream projects that took years to get off the ground. For DeLuca, it was "Moneyball": "It took eight years," he said of the film, which would have died if Sony's Amy Pascal hadn't been a big supporter. "I've sworn off dream projects since then."

Johnson, though, admitted he has a dream project he's currently hoping to get off the ground: a script from "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan called "Two Face."

"I still think it's the best script I've ever come across," said Johnson, one of the producers on "Breaking Bad." "It's a comedy about racism, and it’s a very hard sell, but I'm convinced it's going to get made."

In a discussion of future projects, Chaffin said that she and Fincher (who was watching from the back of the soundstage) are considering a movie that would partially be shot in 3D.

"We think 3D should be applied very specifically," she said. "We're actually thinking of mixing 3D and 2D in one film."

Again and again, the conversation circled back to dealing with studios in an uncertain era in which even the old standbys are no longer safe bets. "If you just get a mediocre director and a superhero, it's not a particularly good equation for a studio anymore," said Wick.

"I want to get inside the movie's world and feel like I know it better than anyone, and I couldn't do that … It was an interesting eye-opener." — Peter Berg, Director

And when a film doesn't work, the producers agreed that the results can be devastating. Johnson talked about going into a months-long depression after the commercial failure of Alfonso Cuaron's "A Little Princess," which he said was "the closest thing to a perfect movie I've ever made."

And Chaffin said she and Fincher were badly shaken by the commercial failure of "Fight Club," which Fox executives hated and which couldn't find its market until it was released on home video.

"'Fight Club' was devastating," Chaffin said. "All of us who worked on the film thought we had something great."

Throughout the session, Sony's Pascal received so much praise from the panelists that eventually Shamberg stepped in.

"Everybody here loves Amy," he said, "but we also like the others."

"All except one," said Chaffin, who declined to specify the one. 

SEE ALSO: Five things we learned from "Prometheus" >

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Kim Kardashian Spent HOW Much On A Lamborghini For Kanye West's Birthday Gift?

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Choosing a birthday gift for a boyfriend or girlfriend is a big step in a new relationship.

And Kim Kardashian appears to have mastered the art of gift giving—while making all other girlfriends look bad in the process.

For his 35th birthday on Friday, Kim bought her boyfriend Kanye West a present that would impress even him: A rare black Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 valued at $750,000.

Needless to say, "that s--- cray."

See photos of the exact car HERE.

SEE ALSO: Bikini-Clad Kardashian Clan Cover Notorious B.I.G. In Homemade Music Video >

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Glenn Beck's New $100 Million Contract Is Bigger Than Rush Limbaugh's (CCMO)

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Glenn Beck once said that leaving Fox News Channel, as he did in 2011, would earn him $40 million by allowing him to concentrate on his own web-based subscriber operation, GBTV. Now The New York Times reports he has signed a $100 million contract for his radio shows to appear on Clear Channel Communications stations across the country.

The move puts the pressure on Rush Limbaugh, whose advertisers abandoned him earlier this year after he called a college student a "slut" because she supported contraception coverage in healthcare plans. The Times said:

Now carried by more than 400 stations, the show typically ranks No. 3 among all news-talk radio shows, behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, so the contract extension brings a measure of stability to local stations that carry it.

Limbaugh's contract is worth $50 million per year.* Beck's is worth $100 million over five years.

Bloomberg added that the deal "doubles" Beck's existing pay.

*Correction: This item originally said, incorrectly, that Limbaugh was paid more than Beck. Apologies.

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Check Out These Amazing Houses Brad Pitt Built In The Lower 9th Ward

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When Brad Pitt toured New Orleans two years after Hurricane Katrina occurred on August 29, 2005, much of the area was still barren and in ruins. 

As a result, he founded the "Make It Right" project to help rebuild the Lower 9th Ward in Louisiana where more than 4,000 homes were destroyed by Katrina.

Since 2008, Pitt's plan to build sustainable, storm resistant homes and rejuvenate the area has been well underway.

While you can check out a list of the houses and progress made here, one of our friends recently visited the area to see the progress made and generously shared some of his photos with us.

The houses are elevated above the flood line for safety. Each is elevated 5 to 8 feet depending on the request of the homeowner.



The houses have metal roofs, escape hatches, hurricane window fabric and roof access.



"If there were another Katrina, these would withstand that kind of force. You could throw a two by four into it at 100 mph and it wouldn't penetrate these homes," says Pitt.



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Warner Bros. TV Is Buying Alloy Entertainment

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Warner Bros. Television Group is buying Alloy Entertainment, with which it already collaborates on shows including "Gossip Girl," "The Vampire Diaries" and the upcoming "666 Park Avenue."

WBTVG has signed a deal to acquire Alloy from an investor group led by ZelnickMedia. Leslie Morgenstein, who has served as president of Alloy Entertainment and its predecessor, 17th Street Productions, Inc., since 1999, will stay on to run the company within WBTVG.

The closing of the transaction is expected in the third quarter of the year. Terms were not disclosed. 

Five of Alloy Entertainment’s properties are produced and distributed by WBTVG: CW's “Gossip Girl” and “The Vampire Diaries,” ABC Family's “Pretty Little Liars” and “The Lying Game,” and ABC's upcoming “666 Park Avenue.” All started as book franchises aimed at teen girls and young women.

Alloy Entertainment film properties included two “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” films for Warner Bros. Pictures and “The Clique” for Warner Premiere.

About 50 Alloy Entertainment properties have hit New York Times bestseller status, including "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "Gossip Girl," "The Clique," "The Luxe" and "Pretty Little Liars."

SEE ALSO: Movie scenes recreated by Legos > 

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TMNT: The Complete History Of Everyone's Favorite Pizza-Loving, Radioactive Turtles

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If you were a kid in the 1980s or 90s, you probably spent some time reading, watching, or playing with four adolescent reptilian martial arts experts with irregular DNA.

To make sure I got the scoop on everyone’s favorite heroes in a half-shell, I went straight to the source—co-creator Peter Laird—who was kind enough to answer our burning questions about the franchise. If you’re looking for a thorough history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this is a pretty good place to start. 

Check out the complete history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles >

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Artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created TMNT in 1983.

Struggling artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were living in Northampton, Massachusetts, when they came up with the Turtles in November 1983.

As a joke, Eastman drew a turtle standing on its hind legs, wearing a mask, with nunchucks strapped to its arms. Eastman wrote “Ninja Turtle” on the top of the page. Laird laughed and then drew a more refined version of the turtle.

Not to be outdone, Eastman drew four turtles, each armed with a ninja-style weapon. Laird outlined the group shot in ink and added “Teenage Mutant” to the “Ninja Turtles” title.

As Eastman and Laird began fleshing out the Turtles to create a comic book, they had to give the Turtles names. At first they tried Japanese names, but it just wasn’t working. So they tried great Renaissance artists instead – Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Laird told me, “It felt just quirky enough to fit the concept.”

In May 2012, that original drawing of the Turtles sold at auction for $71,700.

 

Check out 18 Fabulous Photos of Famous Flappers at mental_floss.



The first comic book sold 3,000 copies within a few weeks, making it an instant success.

In March 1984, Eastman and Laird created a new company, Mirage Studios, so named because there was no actual studio other than Laird’s living room. Then, Eastman used his $500 tax return, Laird emptied his bank account of $200, and they borrowed $1300 from Eastman’s uncle to print 3,000 copies of their first comic book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After printing costs, they had just enough money left to run an ad in Comics Buyer’s Guide Magazine, an industry publication.

Thanks to that one ad, comic distributors across the country started calling, and Mirage sold all 3,000 copies within a few weeks. With more orders coming in, they printed another 6,000 copies and easily sold through those, too. By May, they’d made enough money to pay back Eastman’s uncle and split a roughly $200 profit.

Although the comic was meant to be a “one-shot,” a single issue, self-contained story, they realized they might be on to something. So, in January 1985, they completed issue #2 and quickly received orders for 15,000 copies, which was so successful that distributors demanded 30,000 reprints of #1, and even more of a second print of #2. #3 fetched orders totaling 50,000 copies, and sales continued to climb, peaking at issue #8, which sold 135,000 copies thanks to a guest appearance by Dave Sim’s character Cerebus, a barbarian aardvark.

The first issue of the comic originally sold for $1.50. But if you’re looking for a first-print copy of TMNT #1 today, it’ll cost you in the neighborhood of $2,500—$4,000.



The Teenage Mutuant Ninja Turtle brand started to expand in the late '80s.

  • TMNT ran under the Mirage Studios banner from 1984-1995 for 75 regular issues, as well as dozens of mini-series, one-shots, and limited series spin-off titles.
  • Archie Comics used the cartoon Turtles for 72 issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, which ran from 1988—1995.
  • The Mirage Turtles moved to Image Comics in 1996 for 13 issues and a mini-series, before being canceled in 1999. While at Image, the series took some odd turns: Splinter became a bat, Donatello changed into a cyborg, Leonardo lost a hand, and Raph became the new Shredder.
  • When Peter Laird brought the Turtles back to Mirage in 2001, he completely ignored the Image years and they are no longer considered part of the TMNT canon. His new series ran until 2010 with 30 issues in print, and #31 available only online. Although the series was not officially concluded, Laird has no immediate plans to publish more.
  • Since August 2011, publisher IDW has been running a new TMNTcomic, featuring artwork from co-creator Kevin Eastman.

Check out Test-Tube-to-Table: 11 Up-and-Coming Genetically Engineered Animals at mental_floss.



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15 Crazy Stories Of Celebrity Blackmail And Extortion

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With their high profile lifestyles, blockbuster paychecks, and status in Hollywood, celebrities are often the easiest targets for extortion and blackmail. 

Past victims have included daytime talk show host Oprah Winfrey, actors Rob Lowe and John Travolta, and even "Cheetah Girl" Adrienne Bailon.

In 2010, "Buffy" fans were heartbroken when "Angel" actor David Boreanaz was forced to come clean about his marriage infidelities to wife of nine-years, Jaime Bergmanafter an unnamed woman (allegedly Tiger Woods' mistress, Rachel Uchitel) threatened to go public with their scandalous love affair. But Boreanaz is not alone.

With their name and reputation on the line, celebrities are quick to jump into legal action.

Bill Cosby's "illegitimate daughter" wanted $40 million from the star.

In 1998, Autumn Jackson came forward claiming to be Bill Cosby's illegitimate child. She threatened to leak her story to media outlets unless she received $40 million from the actor. The only thing she got from the actor was five years of jail time.



Steven Seagal was accused of bringing down the mob.

From 2003 to 2008 Steven Seagal's ex-producer Julius Nasso attempted to connect the actor in conjunction with the downfall of a powerful mob family. Nasso later denied the claims and agreed to a plea deal for extortion. However, Nasso later sued Seagal for breach of contact, where it was reported he dropped the charges in exchange for $500,000.



"Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis was forced to star in his own sex tape.

The mastermind behind "Girls Gone Wild" was forced to star in his own scandalous sex tape. In 2004, Darnell Riley broke into Joe Francis' house, where he used a gun to force Francis to star in his own sex tape. In exchange for withholding the tape, the thief demanded an unknown amount of money. In the end, Francis didn't give into the demands and the tapes eventually went public.



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11 Crazy Sneakers From The Adidas Designer Behind The 'Shackle Shoes'

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Most people had no clue who Jeremy Scott was until this week, when Adidas debuted his Winter 2012 collection.

It included the "JS Roundhouse Mid," a shoe topped off with plastic shackles. Claims of racism and insensitivity regarding slavery soon followed and late last night Adidas pulled the plug on the shoe.

The American fashion designer is known for his outrageous designs. He has partnered with Adidas since the mid-2000s. Within the sneaker world, his Wings collection is the iconic center of the brand's Originals Collection. Among celebrities, he is a favorite of Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry and others.

The shackle shoe is just the tip of the iceberg.

Jeremy Scott x Adidas JS Wings

Prior to the recent controversy, Scott's most famous work with Adidas came with his popular Wings series. This was a 2009 model featuring 3D wings in place of the famous Adidas stripes.



If you needed something flashier

These JS Wings 2.0 are in gold and feature a more pronounced wings. Old school Adidas fans will enjoy the classic three stripes.



The Shackle Shoes

Here's the only reason why most of you know or have seen Scott's work, the JS Roundhouse Mid, aka the shackle shoe. This was part of Scott's Winter 2012 preview. After photos were posted on Facebook, some criticized the design for making light of slavery. Yesterday, Adidas announced it was pulling the shoe.

Here's the statement from Adidas via Darren Rovell:

Our collaboration with Jeremy Scott has always stood for creativity & originality. Jeremy Scott is renowned as a designer whose style is quirky & lighthearted & his previous shoe designs for adidas Originals have, for example, included panda heads & Mickey Mouse. The design of the JS Roundhouse Mid is nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous & unique take on fashion & has nothing to do with slavery. Since teh shoe debuted on our Facebook page ahead of its market release in August, adidas has received both favorable & critical feedback. We apologize if people are offended by the design & we are withdrawing our plans to make them available to the marketplace.

The New York Observer's Foster Kamer has an interesting view on the inspiration on the shoes, hint—it's not slavery.



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11 Ex-Criminals Who Completely Turned Their Lives Around

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Georgia Durante

Ex-criminals like Frank William Abagnale — the man who inspired 'Catch Me If You Can' — prove that it is possible for anyone to turn their lives around, even after decades in prison. 

We've compiled a list of 11 people — including a former Mafia member and a former target on FBI's Most Wanted list — with amazing stories.

Some are well known, but most are not. 

Former hacker Kevin Mitnick was on the FBI's Most Wanted list before launching his own security firm

When Mitnick was 16, he hacked the computer system Digital Equipment Corporation and stole their software, reports Gerry Smith at The Huffington Post.

He was a fugitive for nearly three years before being arrested in 1995 and released in 2002. His new company, Mitnick Security, helps other companies discover security lapses in their systems. 



Georgia Durante was a getaway driver for the Mafia before starting a stunt-driving company

At one time, she was known as the Kodak Summer Girl, but eventually, the former model married into the Mafia and became a getaway driver. 

Since then, she's turned her life around by starting her own stunt driving company Performance Two that's created scenes for more than 100 movies. She's also published an autobiography, "The Company She Keeps."



Frank William Abagnale was a world-famous con man by age 21. Now he runs a fraud consulting company.

Between the ages of 16 and 21, Abagnale wrote $2.5 million in fraudulent checks and successfully posed as an airline pilot, doctor, lawyer and college professor. He was later apprehended by the French police and served five years in prison.

Abagnale was released early under the conditions that he'd work with the U.S. government. 

According to his firm's Web site, he works with consulting financial institutions, corporations, and law enforcement agencies on fraud and security. To date, he has serviced more than 14,000 companies. 

His story was made into the film "Catch Me If You Can," which was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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PHOTOS: Here Are The Hottest Looks From Last Night's Critics' Choice Awards

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Zooey-Deschanel

On Monday night, the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles played host to the Broadcast Television Journalists Association Second Annual Critics' Choice Awards.

In attendance were some big-name stars, including the cast of "Modern Family" (Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Julie Bowen, and Ty Burrell), the adorable Max Greenfield from "New Girl," and veteran actors Lucy Liu, Julianne Moore, and Kevin Costner.

"Homeland" and "Community" won big, taking home Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series respectively, while "New Girl" and "Modern Family" were recognized for their hilarious actors, including Ty Burrell.

Burrell showed off his funnyman status in his acceptance speech when he said, "I just can’t believe I have a job. I spent the bulk of my life unemployed, so much so that when I walk into a room like this my first instinct is to case the place for food. My fake wife (Julie Bowen) can attest to that.

Also among the presenters were Donald Faison, Busy Philipps, and "New Girl" Hanna Simone

Zooey Deschanel ruled the red carpet in her stunning Oscar de la Renta Resort 2013 dress. The comedic actress also tied with Amy Poehler for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Jess in "The New Girl."



Christina Hendricks showed off her curves in this gauzy black gown with princess sleeves and a gold clutch. Her other accessory? Her award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for her role as Joan in "Mad Men"



The cast and producer of "Community" pose with their award for Best Comedy. Danny Pudi and Joel McHale look dapper in their suits alongside producer Russ Krasoff. Allison Brie stunned in an elegant Oscar de la Renta dress while Gillian Jacobs donned a floral black and white dress.



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Here Are The Highest Paid Models Of The Year

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Models

Just in case you weren’t jealous enough of supermodels for their perfect figures, endless supply of couture and equally hot boyfriends, we bring you another reason: the Forbes Highest Paid Models list. Every year, Forbes reports on the world’s most wealthy residents, and while their main Billionaires list tends to be a barrage of tech nerds and ugly investment bankers, we can assure you this list is not.

For the past few years, Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bundchen has held court at the top spot, raking in well over $40 million thanks to a ton of endorsement deals and campaigns. Oh, and every once in awhile, she actually walks on a runway. This past year, she closed out shows for Alexander Wang and Givenchy.

While it’s no surprise that Gisele leads this glamorous pack, there are some shockers on this year’s list. Click through the gallery above to find out who made the cut — and more importantly, how much they made.

Click here to see the models >

10. Candice Swanepoel

South African beauty Candice Swanepoel walked away with $3.2 million at just 23. Sigh. The model lifestyle.



9. Carolyn Murphy

Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover girl Carolyn Murphy has carved out a lovely career for herself, earning $3.5 million last year.



8. Lara Stone

Gap-toothed beauty Lara Stone pulled in $3.8 million this year for a variety of campaigns including Calvin Klein.



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We Think LeBron's 'Decision' Was A Great Move. Do You Agree?

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lebron decision

LeBron James is more popular, powerful and rich than he was before his infamous "Decision". Clearly he survived this so-called blunder.

The question is whether he would have been even more successful had he handled things differently.

Brand guru Jonah Disend of Redscout tells us The Decision was a critical error:

The Decision did him NO favors as a brand and he will spend years trying to come back from it.

By him going to Miami, he is a follower, not a leader.  He wants to be seen among an elite class of players - a class of players who have teams built around them rather than someone who has to chase the team and the championship.

The Decision could have been a great moment of transparency, but instead it made him a bad guy, turning his back on his city. If he had just left without The Decision, the fallout wouldn't have been as bad.  He loved having the city of Cleveland adore him and then he turned his back on them.  He knew that if he left, the team would just fall apart but he wanted to win a title (easy, fast - rather than working on it in his home town) so he left. Turning your back on a city that was in dire need of him hurt him more than anything else—doing it on national television was just cruel.

We, however, think it was a good career move:

(1) All press is good press. The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. Nike knows this, and was quick to cash in on the controversy with the powerful "What Should I Do?" commercial. (2) Titles are the most important part of a legacy. Joining Wade and Bosh in Miami was at least arguably his best option, and he might win his first title this week.

Please tell us what you think and let us know in the comments.

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