Who's the real Stephen Colbert?

When Colbert was first named David Letterman's replacement on CBS' "Late Show" in April of last year, Colbert said he would be himself, not the right-wing character he played on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."

That led many to wonder who they had been watching for nearly a decade. Well, short of actually showing you when he hits the "Late Show" stage, Colbert has an answer that comes with a visual aid.

"I promise you, if you're wondering who the real Stephen Colbert is, there's a super cut online of me laughing, me breaking character the entire time — that's me," he said earlier this week at a Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills, California, according to a transcript acquired by Business Insider.

The video consists of nearly 14 minutes of Colbert breaking character, flubbing lines, and genuinely finding the lines too strange or too hard to say without giggling.

"I'm laughing at our jokes," Colbert said. "What I do with the show is we do the show for each other all day, and it's my job and my privilege and my responsibility to translate to you, the audience at home, what we already did for each other. That guy who can't stop laughing, that's the real Stephen Colbert. I can't wait for him to be the only guy you see."

Watch the video below:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert can't wait to mock Donald Trump on the 'Late Show': 'Right now, I'm just dry-Trumping'

MORE: The 5 moments everyone is talking about from Jon Stewart's final 'Daily Show'

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NOW WATCH: Watch Stephen Colbert Complain About His Title 'Chief Of Secrecy' At The Apple Event

The way we consume music is changing more than ever.

Fewer people are choosing to own the music they listen to, in favor of paying a flat rate per-month for access to massive libraries of music.

Streaming services have ushered in this trend, making it the easiest time in history to have 30 million songs at your fingertips.

The general reception of music streaming has been good. But there is one thing very likely to happen in the future that consumers should be cautious about: artists who choose to stream exclusively with one platform.

It might not sound scary, but such a move could cause a lot of listeners to miss out. In some cases, even encourage illegal downloading.

So far, not many artists have chosen to stream their albums exclusively, but some big players have.

Taylor Swift chose to stream exclusively with Apple Music following several run-ins with Spotify, and after calling out Apple over artist royalties earlier this summer. Swift, however, does offer her album for sale on iTunes and elsewhere for those who don't use Apple Music.

On Friday, pop icon Prince announced he would stream his upcoming album, "HitNRun," exclusively on Tidal. It's not yet known if, or when, a digital or physical copy will be released. Rapper Lil Wayne also chose Tidal to release his most recent mixtape.

Though it is not happening on a large scale yet, it appears that artists granting exclusive rights to their music will play a huge part in the future of streaming. Every service wants a leg-up on the competition, and probably isn't concerned with subscribers of other services who may miss out on some content.

"If you can have exclusive artist engagement, that’s huge," streaming expert, Dr. Todd Green told Business Insider. Green, who is a professor with the Goodman School of Business at Brock University, says such agreements "automatically give one service a huge advantage."

It makes sense that some streaming services would want to land exclusive deals. If you can only stream wildly popular artists like Taylor Swift or Katy Perry on one platform, that potentially translates to revenue that's all but guaranteed.

It should be noted, however, that exclusive artist relationships are not a magic bullet, as seen with Tidal. Jay Z's latest music venture played the "exclusive content" card early on, but a rocky start and several corporate implosions caused Tidal to fumble.

On the other hand, Tidal has a ton of stars on its side already, which could help the company leverage that roster and, ideally, boost revenues if all of the artists released products with Tidal.

Of course, consumers have options — and though some might even pay for more than one streaming subscription, that's not an ideal path for most.

The good news is, we still have time. Even if some artists are threatening to affiliate with only one service, a complete shift won't happen overnight. Until then, enjoy the music.

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NOW WATCH: People doing backflips on a two-inch wide strap is a real sport called slacklining

CNN's Don Lemon had a rather unusual interview Tuesday night with two supporters of real-estate mogul Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Lynnette "Diamond" Hardaway and Rochelle "Silk" Richardson, who are both YouTube personalities, completely dominated the interview as Hardaway went into a passionate monologue with Richardson chiming in at points.

"He is going to make America great again," Hardaway declared at one point, echoing Trump's campaign slogan.

"Oh, yes he is," Richardson agreed.

"He is going to make America great, and that's why I stump for the Trump," Richardson added. "We have too many things happening in our country! We have a border that needs to be secure! We have ISIS trying to cut off heads! We have people going into movie theaters shooting it up, Don! We've got to secure this border! We've got to make America great again!"

They continued their back and forth while Lemon struggled to get in a word. As they promoted their website, WeBeSisters, Lemon offered an alternative name for the duo.

"And you be crazy, both of you — in a good way," Lemon said, laughing.

Watch below:

Richardson and Hardaway achieved some internet fame by blasting Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly after she moderated last week's Republican presidential debate. Trump accused Kelly of asking unfair questions, including about derogatory remarks the real-estate developer has made about women.

In a video with more than 1 million views, the two "stump for Trump" activists agreed with the Republican businessman and informed Kelly that she should have asked Trump about the border or how he wants to "make America great again."

"Hey y'all! Megyn Kelly — or Kelly Megyn, whichever one it is — listen, I heard that you said you was not going to apologize after the debate because what you did was good journalism. Little do you know that good journalism is asking relevant questions," Hardaway said. "'Mr. Donald Trump, what ways would you take and make America great again?' Those are good, relevant debate questions."

Watch below:

(via Mediaite)

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump on Megyn Kelly: 'She should really be apologizing to me'

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Warning: spoilers ahead

The long-awaited movie on iconic rap group N.W.A., "Straight Outta Compton," shows the meteoric rise of members Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, but it also holds a mirror up to events dominating the news cycle today, like the latest unrest in Ferguson, Missouri and numerous stories about excessive force used by police.

One of N.W.A.’s first big hits on their 1988 debut album Straight Outta Compton was “F—k tha Police.”

The song became a rallying cry for youth living in urban areas of the country — like N.W.A.’s home turf of Compton, California — that constantly endured police brutality and racial profiling.

In fact, the film depicts the birth of the song following the police harassing the group when standing outside of a recording studio. 

Later in the movie they are ordered not to play “F—k tha Police” at a concert in Detroit. They do not abide and gun shots ring out while they perform the song, once more causing them to be handcuffed and taken to jail.

Chants of “F--k tha Police” have now changed to #BlackLivesMatter over the last year, but the tension between those living in urban areas of the country and the police are as high as ever. Particularly since last weekend in Ferguson. Following the one year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown on Sunday, protests in Ferguson have carried on that have led to arrests and gunfire between citizens and police.

“Police in our society are trained to win at all costs. They’re not trained to uphold the law, to know your rights, to protect,” Ice Cube told The Daily Beast while doing press for “Straight Outta Compton,” in which he’s a producer. “Their thing is to win—win the argument, win the struggle, win the scuffle. Win. And if you have to violate somebody’s rights, so be it. Win on the street—we’ll deal with it afterwards.”

While other movies may have attempted to put a positive, uplifting spin on the situation by the end of the movie, “Straight Outta Compton” doesn’t let you off the hook. The Rodney King beating, trial (where all the officers involved were found not guilty), and eventual riot are laid out front and center.

By the end of the movie you leave with the sobering reminder that in the 27 years following the release of the Straight Outta Compton album things haven’t gotten better when it comes to police relations in urban areas.

And as Ice Cube went on to tell The Daily Beast, it’s one of the points in the movie they wanted to drive home.

“The same thing happened before I was born; there was a riot in ’65 in Watts with the police,” said Ice Cube. “It happened when we were doing records, and it’s still happening today. It was important to show that nothing has changed.”

“Straight Outta Compton” opens in theaters on Friday.

SEE ALSO: Dr. Dre's first album in 16 years is exclusive to Apple

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NOW WATCH: This is how rapper 50 Cent made millions and then lost it

If you're a young professional who's new to New York City, Next Step Realty wants to help you out.

The real estate brokerage company is the focus of ABC Family's new reality show, "Next Step Realty NYC," and is full of young brokers looking to help Millennials find their first home while dealing with their own personal and workplace drama.

"It is not easy to have 30 people under the age of 30 essentially running a multimillion dollar fast-paced growing business," the company's co-founder and CEO Blair Brandt told Business Insider.

"To see how that unfolds and how that’s managed is an educational process," he continued. "It has certainly been educational for me to live it. People will learn a lot from this show, whether it’s how to become a entrepreneur, about real estate, about finding your home, how to take nothing and turn it into something."

In that spirit of education, BI asked Brandt to share the three most important factors he and his brokers look at when helping clients find an apartment. Here's what he said:

1.) What's your budget?

"Especially with newer renters, you should establish a realistic budget and honor that," Brandt advised. "A problem with your conventional New York City broker is that they aren’t necessarily honoring the true budgets of clients. These clients are just out of college, just started a new job, or just finished an MBA. They’re on a fixed budget. So, we look at that closely.

2.) Where do you work?

"When you’re an entry level-type person in New York City, you’re working long hours, you’re expected to be there a lot," the broker pointed out. "So, making sure you can get to work quickly and easily is something we always talk about with them and make sure they’re comfortable with the neighborhoods they’re choosing."

3.) What's your lifestyle?

"Some clients prefer bolder, more charming units that are walkups downtown in the more expensive neighborhoods," Brandt explained. "And then sometimes, clients are more open minded about their neighborhoods and would live in a 'bang for your buck' area, but they do want a doorman or an elevator and amenities or a true two-bedroom instead of a converted one. That’s the trade off once we’ve looked at their budget and work location."

To continue your real estate education, "Next Step Realty NYC" airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family.

SEE ALSO: 'Next Step Realty NYC' star reveals 3 things you should look for in a real estate broker

MORE: Here's how 50 Cents blows through $108,000 per month

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NOW WATCH: Forget Ivanka — here’s the Trump daughter nobody’s talking about

Brian Williams has served his time.

NBC told CNN that the newsman's six-month suspension has ended.

Sometime in September, Williams will report back to work at MSNBC— where he anchored news from 1996 to 2004 — to cover breaking news and special reports.  Lester Holt replaced him as anchor at "Nightly News."

Williams was placed on suspension back in February after it was discovered that he lied about an incident while embedded with soldiers during the U. S. invasion of Iraq. NBC's investigation would later find several more occurrences where Williams fabricated the details of a story.

In June, Williams sat down for an interview with "Today's" Matt Lauer. The former anchor took responsibility for fudging stories he had told on-air and in public.

“I’m sorry,” Williams said.“I said things that weren’t true. I let down my NBC colleagues and our viewers, and I’m determined to earn back their trust. I will greatly miss working with the team on Nightly News, but I know the broadcast will be in excellent hands with Lester Holt as anchor."

SEE ALSO: MSNBC may be setting the stage for Brian Williams' return to TV

MORE: Nearly 70% of tweets about Brian Williams are negative

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NOW WATCH: Here's the interview with 'Stars and Stripes' that got Brian Williams into so much trouble

The Weinstein Company released the first trailer for Quentin Tarantino's much-anticipated next movie, "The Hateful Eight," on Wednesday.

This post-Civil War tale looks at a group of bounty hunters taking shelter in a lodge during a massive blizzard. But when one of them shows up with a captive who is worth a lot of money dead or alive, the plotting and deception begins. 

Tarantino's latest writing-directing effort stars Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Walton Goggins, and, of course it wouldn't be a Tarantino movie without Samuel L. Jackson.

"The Hateful Eight" opens in select theaters on Christmas Day and nationwide January 8, 2016.

Watch the trailer here:

SEE ALSO: The first trailer for HBO's creepy movie to TV adaptation 'Westworld' is here

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NOW WATCH: Ridley Scott is about to show us a world where the Allies lost World War II

Right now, the stunning Perseid meteor shower is in full swing, and astronomers estimate that tonight the shower will reach its peak, where viewers can see as many as 100 meteors an hour!

This will likely be the best meteor shower of the year, so if you're into watching hundreds of falling stars in a single night, then you won't want to miss it.

To see it, you have to find the right time and place, and several apps can help.

Here's a list of our top picks.

LEARN MORE: How to watch the most incredible meteor shower of the year this week

UP NEXT: The best places to watch this week's dazzling meteor shower

Dark Sky meter App measures how dark the night sky is in your area.

App: Dark Sky meter App (Buy it for iOS here.)

Price: $0.99

When it comes to watching meteor showers, you want to get find the darkest skies possible. Fortunately, there's a new moon tonight, which means the sky will be empty of moonlight and therefore extra dark to spot the meteors. 

Dark Sky meter gives you instant information about the viewing quality of the skies in your area, which includes not only how dark the sky is but also if there are any pesky clouds in the way.

Star Chart shows you where the constellations are in the sky, among other handy features.

APP: Star Chart (Get it for Android here.)

Price: Free!

Each meteor shower is named for the constellation from where the meteors seem to appear in the night sky. The Perseid meteor showers, therefore, appear to come from the constellation Perseus, named for the Greek mythological hero.

So, if you direct your gaze toward the Perseis constellation, you should have a great show. Star Chart can help you find where the Perseus constellation — as well as any other constellation — is in your night sky at any given time. 

The Meteor Shower Calendar App will make sure you never miss another meteor shower again.

App: Meteor Shower Calendar (Get for Android and iOS here.)

Price: Free!

This handy calendar lets you know when a meteor shower is coming up. It will even tell you when the shower stars, when it peaks, and when it ends. It will even tell you the phase of the moon so you know how dark the night sky will be at optimal viewing time.

The Perseid meteor shower takes place from the end of July through most of August, but the best time to watch, when astronomers estimate you can see as many as 100 meteors an hour, will be in the wee hours of the morning, beginning at 4 am ET on Thursday, Aug. 13, according to Universe Today.

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George R.R. Martin has been inspired by "Lord of the Rings." He plans a "bittersweet" ending like the one in those famous novels for his "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series, which HBO's "Game of Thrones" is based on.

"I’ve said before that the tone of the ending that I’m going for is bittersweet," Martin told the Observer. "I mean, it’s no secret that [J.R.R.] Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended 'Lord of the Rings.'"

Those who read the books (and didn't just watch the "Lord of the Rings" movies) know that Tolkien goes much further into what happened to the characters.

"It ends with victory, but it’s a bittersweet victory," Martin remembers. "Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives. And the scouring of the Shire — brilliant piece of work, which I didn’t understand when I was 13 years old: 'Why is this here? The story’s over?' But every time I read it. I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that’s the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge."

So, that's the definite plan for the novels. But, what about the TV show's ending (which is probably after Season 8)? This season, "GOT" outpaced the books. Who's to say that the producers will follow Martin's wishes?

Well, Martin does have some say. He's a writer and an executive producer on the series, as well.

So, which "GOT" character is Martin's "Frodo"?

SEE ALSO: George R.R. Martin joined thousands of fans at this amazing 'Game of Thrones' themed baseball game

MORE: Northern Ireland wants to turn the 300-mile ice wall from 'Game of Thrones' into a tourist attraction

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NOW WATCH: What really happened to Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones'?

There's a new moon coming around, which is good news for viewers because it sets the stage for what will be the most spectacular meteor shower of the year: the Perseid meteor shower.

The Perseid meteor shower takes place each year from the end of July through most of August, but there's always a peak time when we can see the most meteors pummeling our atmosphere and lighting up the night sky.

That opportune time will happen tonight in the wee hours of the morning at 4 am ET, according to Universe Today.

During that time, observers will be treated to between 50 to 100 meteors per hour, or about one to two per minute!

If you're not a morning person — or a night person depending on how you look at it — you can still see at least a handful of meteors between the hours of midnight and dawn on Aug. 11, 12, 13, and 14.

The Perseids are always one of the most stunning annual meteor showers, but this year's show will be especially beautiful because it takes place around the same time as this month's new moon on Aug. 14.

"The nearly moonless sky this year means the viewing will be excellent," Alan MacRobert, a senior editor at Sky & Telescope, wrote. Observers will have an almost completely dark sky with which to spot the Perseid meteors as they trace lines of white light across the night sky.

The best way to watch

The best way to watch any meteor shower is to find the darkest, clearest skies possible. That means getting as far away from city lights as you can. After that, you just need to direct your gaze skyward and enjoy the show — no special observing equipment necessary.

Unfortunately, for some across the US, cloudy conditions will prevent optimal viewing. If that's the case for you, don't worry: You can still watch the shower live.

NASA is offering a live broadcast beginning Aug. 12 at 10 pm ET and running through to 2 am, Aug 13. During the broadcast, NASA experts will discuss the history of the Perseids and take questions on Twitter from anyone who sends their questions to @NASA_Marshall with #askNASA in the tweet. The LiveStream is at the end of this post.

Here's a map showing where the worst and best places in the country will be tonight, according to AccuWeather.com.

Origins of the Perseids

Meteor showers typically come from the dusty, icy remains of comets. When a comet travels through the solar system, parts of it are blown off by the wind from the sun and left behind as the comet's dust tail.

As Earth passes through this tail, the tiny remains collide with Earth's atmosphere at about 130,000 mph.

Tonight's Perseid meteor shower comes from the leftovers of Comet Swift-Tuttle — named for its two co-founders, Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle, who found it in 1862.

When Swift-Tuttle's icy bits enter the atmosphere at such tremendous speeds, they rub against molecules in their, generating heat from friction. The heat grows to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit and vaporizes the piece of the comet. The light we see in the sky is actually the air around the comet that is so blazing hot that it radiates light.

Though the comet was only discovered about 150 years ago, our ancestors have been witnessing the Perseid meteor shower for millennia. The first documented sighting is recorded in the Chinese annals dated to 36 AD. The encryption translates to: "more than 100 meteors flew thither in the morning."

Comet Swift-Tuttle is about 16 miles across and takes 133 years to orbit the sun. Each time it makes its way to the inner solar system, it passes close to Earth. In fact, it's the largest object in the solar system that makes repeated close approaches to Earth at dangerously high speeds of over 130,000 mph.

Some have gone so far as to call it the "the single most dangerous object known to humanity," because if it collided with Earth, the results would be catastrophic. But don't worry too much:

Astronomers predict that the next time this comet will pass uncomfortably close — about 2.7 million miles away — will be in the year 4479. And they estimate that the probability of impact is 0.0001%.

Check out the NASA broadcast starting Aug. 12 at 10 pm ET below:

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NOW WATCH: Here's what you'll actually see when you watch this week's meteor shower

Rumors swirled this week that pop star Taylor Swift was purchasing her very own Scottish castle to be closer to the family home of her DJ boyfriend, Calvin Harris. 

She has since denied the rumor with this tweet:

Called "Tower of Lethendy," the historic castle is nestled in the hills — just one hour's drive from Edinburgh, Scotland, where Harris' parents live.

Despite the fact that Taylor is not buying the castle, the publicity she's given the $7.2 million estate is probably music to the listing agent's ears. 

Savills Real Estate is handling the listing. 

SEE ALSO: The 15 most expensive houses for sale in America

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Dating back to the 16th Century, the Tower of Lethendy is steeped in history.

It's surrounded by two private driveways and 39 acres of orchards and gardens.

It was built with local red sandstone under a slate roof.

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Expect to see more security around your local movie theater this weekend.

Universal Pictures has offered to reimburse theaters that are adding extra security guards ahead of the opening of the biopic, "Straight Outta Compton," The Wall Street Journal reports.

The film, which opens nationwide Friday, profiles the birth of the legendary rap group, N.W.A, and its founding role in modern-day hip-hop.

It also documents life in South Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, a tumultuous time when racial tensions between the community and the Los Angeles Police Department were brimming. Trust was in short supply, and violence — both from gangs and abject police brutality — was boiling over.

The Journal cites the 2012 theater shooting in Aurora, CO and another fatal shooting in Louisiana during a showing of "Trainwreck" last month as an impetus for the added security.

Not every theater operator is convinced the increased vigilance is necessary: "We're doing it for the public's peace of mind," Cinetopia Theater chain operator Rudyard Coltman told The Journal.

Theaters paying for more patrols have to get the costs approved by Universal first, The Journal reported. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This is how rapper 50 Cent made millions and then lost it

Each year, new and talented young actors and actresses rise to the top of the competitive world of Hollywood.

Some of these fresh faces will land coveted roles, turn studio projects into box office hits, and even go on to garner award nominations for their performances.

While some young stars — Jennifer Lawrence (24), Daniel Radcliffe (26), Emma Stone (26) — have already solidified their Hollywood stardom, others are on the verge of achieving it.

Let's take a look at 30 of the hottest rising Hollywood stars under the age of 30... 

SEE ALSO: 'Suicide Squad' star Margot Robbie is taking over Hollywood

SEE ALSO: How Cara Delevingne went from massively successful model to Hollywood starlet by age 22

Margot Robbie, 25, will star as Harley Quinn in the supervillain ensemble for 2016's "Suicide Squad." The stunning Australian actress had a breakthrough performance alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Wolf of Wall Street" and also starred with Will Smith in 2015's "Focus."

Zoe Kravitz, 26, appeared most recently in 2015's "Mad Max: Fury Road" and the acclaimed indie dramedy "Dope." She is the daughter of singer Lenny Kravitz and has also starred in the "Divergent" series and 2011's "X-Men: First Class."

Cara Delevingne, 22, made her breakthrough performance this year as the lead actress in "Paper Towns," a coming-of-age story based on a John Green novel. She will be featured in the upcoming film "Pan" and will also star as Enchantress in 2016's "Suicide Squad."

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Great music can be found all across the country. And every state has a famous band that hails from it.

To determine the most famous band from every state, we looked at reputation, record sales, and awards, considering each band within their own era.

We used the term "band" loosely here, including any musical act consisting of more than one person. We focused mostly on the state where each band originally formed, but also considered where their music was popularized, as well as artists' hometowns.

Check out which band is making your state proud.

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ALABAMA: Alabama

One of the most successful bands of all-time, Alabama has sold over 73 million records and has seven multiplatinum albums and two Grammys. The band sold more records during the '80s than any other band. Not only is their success impressive by any measure, but they also managed to make country music popular in the mainstream.

ALASKA: Portugal. The Man

Portugal. The Man released their debut album, "Waiter: You Vultures!" in 2006 and booked their first headlining tour the next year. The rock band released three more albums — including breakout record "The Satanic Satanist" — before signing with Atlantic Records in 2009. Danger Mouse, known for working with artists like Beck and The Black Keys, produced Portugal. The Man's most recent album, "Evil Friends."

ARIZONA: Alice Cooper

The first of the many shock-rock bands of the '70s, Alice Cooper kept fans entranced with their gender-bending outfits and dark, on-stage theatrics — concert-goers could expect performances to include stunts like Cooper's faux beheading via guillotine. But it's the music that kept fans coming back for more, and their riff-heavy brand of hard rock produced a string of hits including "School's Out" and "Be My Lover." Alice Cooper was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

HBO has struck a major 5-year deal with Sesame Workshop that will ensure "Sesame Street" and other productions will continue while also bolstering the pay channel's offerings for children.

For the next five years, new seasons of "Sesame Street" will debut on HBO, its multiplex channels, as well as streaming services HBO GO and HBO Now. Don't worry, "Sesame Street" will still air on PBS — just nine months after debuting on the pay channel and for free, according to a press release from HBO.

“Our new partnership with HBO represents a true winning public-private partnership model,” said Sesame Workshop CEO, Jeffrey D. Dunn, in a statement.

He continued, “It provides Sesame Workshop with the critical funding it needs to be able to continue production of 'Sesame Street' and secure its nonprofit mission of helping kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder."

The new episodes are slated to begin airing as early as this fall. HBO has also licensed 150 previously aired episodes.

That's not all. The HBO deal also includes a "Sesame Street" Muppet spin off series in addition to a totally original educational series for children.

HBO will also license approximately 50 past episodes of children’s series "Pinky Dinky Doo," an animated series for preschoolers,and "The Electric Company," which was rebooted in 2009,from Sesame Workshop.   

By beefing up its children's offerings, HBO is clearly looking to please current subscribers with children, as well as bring in more subscribers with young children. 

SEE ALSO: The Rock's 'Ballers' gets early renewal from HBO

MORE: HBO plans to end 'Game of Thrones' after season 8

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NOW WATCH: Forget 'True Detective' — HBO's new show 'Ballers' featuring The Rock looks like the hit of the summer

The Honest Company is a Los Angeles-based startup that makes household products with a conscience.

Founded by actress Jessica Alba, ShoeDazzle founder Brian Lee, and friends Christopher Gavigan and Sean Kane in 2011, the company focuses on creating baby and household goods that use only nontoxic, environmentally friendly ingredients. 

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the Honest Company has raised an additional $100 million in venture capital funding at a nearly $1.7 billion valuation. An IPO is reportedly in the works. 

We recently stopped by the startup's office to get a feel for its culture. We couldn't help but agree with our guide that the space looked just like a Pinterest page that had come to life. 

SEE ALSO: Jessica Alba's startup just raised $100 million at a $1.7 billion valuation

The Honest Company is headquartered in beautiful, sun-filled offices in Santa Monica, California.

Inside, you'll see plenty of Honest products and logos, including this flower wall by the kitchen area.

There's a large common area with long tables in which employees can eat lunch.

One of hip-hop artist Kanye West's most famous songs is "Mercy" — but his fans have no mercy for him.

West hasn't released any new music since his single "All day" hit airways five months ago, and people are getting antsy.

So in anticipation of his next album, one fan attempted to give West a little push. He started a petition on the White House's "We the People" site on Wednesday.

"Kanye West has kept us thirsty for too long," the petition read, according to Time.

West's last album, "Yeezus," was released in 2013.

"We haven't gotten any new singles in months," the petition added. "The President should order Ye to drop the album on the date August 21, as his producer Mike Dean has been teasing people about."

The petition immediately gained tons of signatures, eventually eclipsing the 100,00o mark. Petitions on "We the People" that reach over 100,000 signatures require President Obama to respond within 30 days of it going online.

But the post was later removed by the White House because it was "in violation of our terms of participation."

The terms of participation specifically state, "You agree not to create petitions ... that do not address the current or potential actions or policies of the federal government, or petitions that address a topic not included in We the People at the time the petition was created."

If the president won't make West release his next album, his fans will just have to wait.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We got into Kanye's free show in New York City and it was absolutely incredible

We’ve chosen the 9 famous people with the coolest signatures throughout history. 

Produced by Alex Kuzoian. Original reporting by Megan Willett and Skye Gould.

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Amy Schumer's recent Tami Taylor portrayal as part of a bold "Friday Night Lights" parody sketch hit all the right notes for the actress who played the football coach's wife.

"I loved it so much," she said on Wednesday's "Late Night With Seth Meyers."

The "Inside Amy Schumer" sketch, titled "Football Town Nights," revolves around a small town football team whose coach (played by "The Good wife" alum Josh Charles) institutes a "no rape" policy. The players and the town hate the new rule. Schumer plays the coach's wife, who's always carrying a wine glass that grows larger as the sketch progresses.

"I thought the whole skit was just amazing," Britton added. "And I personally loved her rendition of Tami Taylor. I was  very flattered and honored, particularly her use of the wine glass."

Apparently, Schumer's growing wine glass especially pleased Britton, because the character detail was her own.

"It really meant a lot to me. The wine glass was very important. It was my idea," she revealed. "I felt very seen by Amy."

Watch Britton and Meyers discuss the "FNL" spoof below:

SEE ALSO: The first teaser for Amy Schumer's raunchy HBO special was just released and it's amazing

MORE: Amy Schumer tells Jon Stewart the Louisiana theater shooting 'broke her heart'

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Rihanna has agreed to become an advisor on NBC's hit show "The Voice" next season, according to NBC Chairman Bob Greenblatt.

She will join Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams and coaches Adam Levine and Blake Shelton starting September 21 when "The Voice" returns for its ninth season.

"This is one of music's true supervisors coming on board to influence the lives and careers of the performers," Greenblatt said of Rihanna during a TCA press tour.

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