Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 103365 articles
Browse latest View live

Janeane Garofalo And A 'Big Bang Theory' Producer Had No Idea They've Been Married For The Past 20 Years

$
0
0

Janeane Garofolo

Comedian/actress Janeane Garofalo had no idea that she's been married to "Big Bang Theory" producer Rob Cohen for the past 20 years.

"Rob and I got married, for real, which we had to have a notary dissolve not 30 minutes before we got here tonight," Garofalo revealed at the New York Comedy Festival reunion for "The Ben Stiller Show," per the New York Post. "We were married for 20 years until this evening." 

Cohen was a writer on Stiller's series in the 90s, when the comedic couple tied the knot.

But apparently, what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas

"We got married drunk in Vegas. We dated for a year, and we got married at a drive-through chapel in a cab," Garofolo explained. "[We thought] you have to go down to the courthouse and sign papers and stuff, so who knew? We were married, and apparently now that [Rob] is getting married for real, his lawyer dug up something."

Cohen is currently engaged to Jill Leiderman, a producer on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Not that Cohen and Garofolo were ever meant to be. The "Reality Bites" actress joked “I’m sure I was terrible," to which Cohen responded “I will confirm that.”

Garofalo then added she no longer drinks.

SEE ALSO: Emma Stone officiates wedding for her publicists and 'Gangster Squad' director >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »





'Modern Family' Wanted Ariel Winter's Mom Banned From Set After Allegedly Starving Her Daughter

$
0
0

Ariel Winter Modern Family

After 14-year-old "Modern Family" actress Ariel Winter was removed from her mother's care last month amid allegations of parental abuse, sources are now coming out of the woodwork revealing sad stories of a seemingly overprotective mother's tight control over of her teenage daughter.

A source who worked on the show for over a year tells TMZ that Winter's mother, Chrystal Workman, was "hated" by the hit ABC show's cast and crew "because she made Ariel's life a living Hell."

According to TMZ, "the mom's obsession with Ariel's diet was so extreme" that she would only allow her daughter to eat egg whites and raw vegetables and would berate her for her physical appearance, saying her ears were too big and she looked didn't look good in her clothes.

According to the set source, crew members would try to "sneak" Winter food (like grilled cheese sandwiches) when her mom wasn't looking.

But it wasn't just weight Workman was controlling of with her daughter, she also put pressure on the 14-year-old to make more money to pay for their house, her agents, managers and publicists.

Winter is currently living with her adult sister, who was also removed from her mother's care for similar reasons 20-years-ago.

Winter's mother has been vocal in denying the allegations of abuse.

The next court hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 20.

Related:

'Modern Family' Star's Mom Files Charges Against Daughter's Boyfriend Amid Parental Abuse Allegations >

14-Year-Old 'Modern Family' Star Removed From Home After Alleged Parental Abuse >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Caption Contest: Win 2 Tickets To 'The Mentalizer' Live Show In NYC This Thursday

$
0
0

WHAT: Come up with the wittiest caption for the below image and you win two tickets (a $200 value!) to “How To Be A Mentalist" presented by Ehud Segev, "The Mentalizer"— a live Broadway show incorporating magic and mind tricks. Audiences will walk away knowing how to perform some amazing feats of the mind themselves, taught by the world renown mentalizer in the final stop on his popular world tour.

WHEN: Thursday, November 15, 2012.

TIME: 8:00PM - 9:15PM.

WHERE: New World Stages. 340 West 50th St, New York, NY 10019.

All you have to do is send your caption to Aweisman@businessinsider.com by Wednesday, November 14 at 12pm EST. We'll announce the winner Wednesday and you can claim your tickets at the theater's box office this Thursday.

Now start the ... brainstorming.

Old Spice Mindfreak

Think you have the best caption? Send it to Aweisman@businessinsider.com and clear your schedule for Thursday night.

To buy additional tickets to "The Mentalizer," CLICK HERE.

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Here's The Casting Call Randi Zuckerberg Sent Out Looking For New Yorkers In Tech For A New Reality Show

$
0
0

Hermione Ways freaks out startups silicon valley

Bravo's "Start-Ups: Silicon Valley" has only aired two lackluster episodes, but Executive Producer Randi Zuckerberg is already looking to cast another like-minded show in New York City.

Zuckerberg told The Wall Street Journal last week, “I’ve been here (in Silicon Valley) for 7 years, and know that after 10 p.m. it gets a little quiet.. Even when it’s daylight, most techies spend countless hours in front of a computer or a white board — not exactly television material."

Zuckerberg hopes that a New York-based show will draw "big personalities" in the startup world. She added that the show is still just an idea, but she will move forward if able to find colorful personalities for an East Coast-based cast.

But we have some casting ideas of our own ... The coolest people in New York Tech this year.

See what Bravo is looking for in the below casting call:

NEW YORK TECHNOLOGY SERIES for BRAVO

BRAVO is now casting CONFIDENT professionals with BIG PERSONALITIES in the STARTUP WORLD for a new reality series.

Do you have the next big StartUp? Are you an entrepreneur, engineer, designer, salesperson for a digital company, venture capitalist, blogger, vlogger – anything that relates to startups or entrepreneurship?

We’re looking for people living in New York... and who have a full time career and a full time lifestyle!

Single or in a relationship... gay or straight... as long as you live your life to the fullest (and are confident in who you are), we want to meet you!

Please submit a photo, profession, a little bit about your story, a link to your Facebook or Twitter accounts and your contact info to:RealityCasting@GothamCasting.com


Related:

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




The Johnny Carson Estate Has Finally Agreed To Let Hollywood Make A Biopic On The Late Show Host's Life

$
0
0

Johnny Carson

Seven years after his death and 20 years since "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" went off the air, there is finally movement on a biopic about the life of legendary late night host, Johnny Carson.

The film will be based on the Bill Zehme book "Carson The Magnificent: An Intimate Portrait," reports Deadline.

Zehme, who has also written features on late night hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman, was the only journalist Carson spoke to after his retirement in 1992.

The film version of Zehme's book will be adapted for the big screen by John McLaughlin, who wrote the Oscar-winning "Black Swan" and upcoming "Hitchcock."

McLaughlin, who is currently working on the script, will again team up with his "Hitchcock" producer, Tom Thayer, to bring the Carson project to life. The two will reportedly shop McLaughlin’s script to buyers right after the holidays.

While Carson appeared in viewers' homes every week night and won six Emmys throughout his career, he preferred to keep his private life just that while he was alive. This film would uncover the four-times-married Carson's personal life for the first time.

Now who should play the title role?

Watch Carson interview David Letterman about Jay Leno:


SEE ALSO: Read the witty rejection letter David Letterman send Jimmy Kimmel in 2002 >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Take A Tour Of The Real-Life Deserted Island From 'Skyfall'

$
0
0

javier bardem skyfallThe island behind Javier Bardem's master hideaway in "Skyfall" does not have a happy story.

If you've seen the 23rd Bond film, you remember the abandoned island housing Bardem's villain. Its remains reminded us of the ruinous, barren wasteland Christopher Nolan depicted in "Inception."

Unlike Nolan's film, the deserted island shown in the latest Bond flick isn't a dream. It's real. 

And, it didn't always look the way it did in "Skyfall." 

Located off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, is the now-abandoned island of Hashima.

In 1959, the small island was overflowing with people, of essential use to Japan for its underground coal mines. Today, the abandoned Hashima mirrors a post-apocalyptic world.

A documentary of the island appearing on YouTube reveals some of the more harrowing details of the island.

Located nearly 18 miles from Nagasaki, Japan is the island of Hashima.



Also known as Battleship Island, the entire plot of land is 480 by 150 meters.

(Japan Guide)



The Mitsubishi Corporation purchased the island in 1890 with the purpose of using the island as one of Japan's primary coal mining facilities during World War II, the Korean War, and afterward.

(Japan Guide)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.




Donald Trump Blasts Cher And The Half A Million People Who Signed A Petition Asking Macy's To Dump Him—Here's Today's Buzz

$
0
0
  • Jack Nicholsonis being courted to play Robert Downey Jr.'s father in the David Dobkin-directed dramedy "The Judge." RDJ is already on board to star as a successful attorney who returns to his hometown for his mother's funeral only to discover that his estranged and Alzheimer's-stricken father, the town's judge, is the murder suspect.
  • Cher Donald TrumpDonald Trump's latest Twitter feud is with Cher, who, after seeing Trump in a Macy's ad, tweeted: “I’ll NEVER GO TO MACY’S AGAIN ! I didnt know they sold Donald Trump’s Line! If they don’t care that they sell products from a LOUDMOUTH RACIST CRETIN,WHO’D LIE LIKE “HIS RUG”TO GET SOME CHEAP PRESS ! I CANT BELIEVE MACY’S THINKS HE’S THE RIGHT “MAN” 2 REPRESENT THEIR NAME!” Trump responded to Cher and half a million other Twitter haters who signed a letter urging Macy’s to drop him, by tweeting “I don’t wear a “rug”—it’s mine. And I promise not to talk about your massive plastic surgeries that didn’t work.” Meow.

Watch the now-controversial ad, also featuring Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber andMartha Stewart, below:

SEE ALSO: Tour Silva's real-life deserted island from 'Skyfall' >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Vendors And Crew Angry About $500K In Money Owed From Shuttered 'Motor City'

$
0
0

Randall Emmett

Crew members and vendors on the thwarted Gerard Butler thriller “Motor City” are angry that two months after the production abruptly shut down they still have not been paid about $500,000 in overdue bills.

According to documents obtained by TheWrap, “Motor City”s’ debts range from sums as low as $50 to nearly six figures.

Among other outstanding bills are more than $88,000 owed to the city of Atlanta, $22,000 to second-unit director Charles Parish, $8,434 to Sycamore Communications Corporation, $2,200 to Congo Transportation Company, and $555 to Burban Rentals.

Also read: Indie Film Financiers Emmett/Furla, Envision Entertainment Add $275M to Fund

“In 10 years working as a union employee in this business, this has never happened to me before, and I haven’t contacted my union because I naively assumed it would work itself out," J.P. Jones, a property master who is owed $5,000 for his work on “Motor City,” told TheWrap. "Because of the reputations and everything involved, I thought they’d do the right thing.”

Financed by producer Emmett/Furla, production on "Motor City" ended last summer when backing for the revenge thriller fell through with two weeks to go before cameras started rolling. Joel Silver’s Dark Castle was also producing and Warner Bros. was set to distribute.

People associated with the production claim that for the last two months, Emmett/Furla has ignored calls or tried to shift blame for the delinquency on other production entities. But Randall Emmett, co-founder of Emmett/Furla, said he was not ducking bills.

"Nobody’s dodging anything," Emmett told TheWrap. "Anybody can say they're owed whatever they want when a movie shuts down. We've got to protect our money, because it's real money, and it means something to us. But everything will be paid off before the end of the year."

Also read: Why Well-Meaning Billionaires Like Megan Ellison May Ruin the Movie Business

Emmett said that the company has already spent $2.8 million on the production and still hopes to resurrect the film next year. The plug was pulled on production when it became clear the film could not meet the release date, he said. 

It seems unlikely Emmett/Furla would have trouble paying the outstanding bills. The company recently announced more than $500 million in new funding from Envision Entertainment and is readying a string of big-budget projects, such as the Russell Crowe and Mark Wahlberg film “Broken City” and Peter Berg’s Seal Team drama “Lone Survivor.”

The company, which has previously backed films like "Rambo" and "End of Watch," also recently unveiled high-profile deals with the likes of Hasbro and launched a new television unit.

Emmett promised that everyone would be made whole. "The vendors are frustrated, as are we, that the movie is not going forward,” he said. "It's upsetting to everybody, and it's unfortunate. But the financial part of it will be handled and people will be paid."

It is not necessarily uncommon for bills to be delayed when pictures are shut down. But vendors who spoke to TheWrap were worried they would never get paid.

 Some crew members are going through their unions to get payment.

Southern Picture Cars’ Treasurer Robyn Taylor said she is ready to go to court over the $53,355 her company is owed for its transportation work, while Sandeman Executive Cars’ office manager Diane Craik said she has filed suit in small claims court over the $2,500 she’s due for ferrying crew to and from the Los Angeles airport.

“I kept calling the office, and they’d say someone would get back to me, but they never did,” Craik said. “It’s a small percentage of what they owe, but to us it’s a lot of money.”

She said that when she finally reached Emmett/Furla executive Brandon Grimes, he told her that checks had been written but were not funded yet.

“It’s really funny because Gerard Butler, he lives on our street, and my husband said maybe we should put a note on his door,” Craik said.

SEE ALSO: 12 things you didn't know about James Bond >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »





Sesame Street's Kevin Clash Cleared Of Underage Sex Allegations After Accuser Recants Story

$
0
0

elmo kevin clash

On Monday, it was announced that Kevin Clash, the 12-time-Emmy-winning voice actor behind the "Elmo" character on "Sesame Street" had taken a leave of absence from the kid-friendly show after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

52-year-old Clash admitted to a relationship with the accuser, but vehemently denied that anything happened while the teen while he was a minor.

While "Sesame Street" granted Clash a leave of absence "to protect his reputation," TMZ published alleged emails from the Muppeteer to the accuser, in which he wrote "I'm sorry that I keep talking about sex with you, its driving me insane...I want you to know that I love you and I will never hurt you. I'm here to protect you and make sure your dreams come true."

But on Tuesday, the accuser changed his tune and recanted his story, claiming he was an adult during the time of the affair, after all.

The accuser's lawyer released a statement saying, "[The accuser] wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship. [The accuser] will have no further comment."

Sources close to the situation revealed to TMZ, "The accuser's attorney had been meeting with Clash's attorney ... discussing a financial settlement and 6-figures were on the table."

Clash then has also released a statement: "I am relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest. I will not discuss it further."

SEE ALSO: Voice of Elmo takes leave of absence from 'Sesame Street' after allegations of sex with a teen >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




New 'Oz The Great And Powerful' Trailer Shows James Franco & Mila Kunis In A Mystical Land

$
0
0

Mila Kunis James Franco Oz

A more in-depth trailer for director Sam Raimi's "Oz the Great and Powerful" was just released, revealing further details about the mystical land of Oz where the film takes place.

The film, set to be released on March 8th, stars James Franco as the Wizard Oz, Mila Kunis as witch Theodora, Rachel Weisz as witch Evanora, and Michelle Williams as witch Glinda. 

Set as a sort-of prequel to the classic "Wizard of Oz," the film tells the story of how a magician from Kansas fulfills a prophecy to become the ruler of Oz. It follows in the footsteps of "Wicked," the Broadway musical "Wizard of Oz" spinoff that tells the backstories of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. 

The movie is directed by Raimi, who also directed the "Spiderman" trilogy, and is produced by the same producer as 2010's "Alice in Wonderland." The estimated budget of the film, according to IMDB, is $200 million.

Watch the colorful yet spooky trailer here:

SEE ALSO: Take a tour of the real-life deserted island from 'Skyfall' >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Here's What Jake Lloyd—The Boy Who Played Anakin Skywalker In 'Star Wars'—Looks Like Today

$
0
0

anakin skywalker

With all the news circulating about the new "Star Wars" film in 2015, we only found ourselves recounting the old–and repressed–films and its actors. 

We've heard recently from Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill about their thoughts on the new franchise.

But what about the prequels?

More than ten years after "Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace" Liam Neeson has become an action star in the "Taken" franchise, Natalie Portman has won an Oscar, and Ewan McGregor was in Spanish film, "The Impossible" with Naomi Watts last month. 

And, then there's Jake Lloyd who played little Anakin Skywalker in 1999. Three years prior, he starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in holiday film "Jingle All the Way."

Since his Jedi days, Lloyd voiced characters in a handful of "Star Wars" video games and made an appearance in 2005's "Madison" starring Jim Caviezel.

However, he quit acting after "Star Wars," telling The Telegraph the Lucasfilm experience was a nightmare.

"My entire school life was really a living hell — and I had to do up to 60 interviews a day."

Rather than continue his acting career, Lloyd returned to school, and is focusing on editing these days.

So, what does he look like now at age 23?

See how he's transformed:

Here's Lloyd as Anakin in "Star Wars" in 1999:

anakin skywalker star wars

In "Madison" in 2005:

madison jake lloyd

And, here he is ten years after "Star Wars" in June 2009:

jake lloyd today

And, today, at age 23:

jake lloyd today

Here's one more:

jake lloyd today

SEE ALSO: Anakin called the sandy dunes of Tatooine home. Now, check out the deserted island featured in "Skyfall" >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




LA County Might Not Actually Be Able To Force Porn Stars To Wear Condoms

$
0
0

hungarian porn actresses

The porn industry is already fighting back against a new LA Countyordinance that forces its stars to wrap it up during shoots.

Measure B requires all porn actors to wear a condom and producers to get a permit to shoot raunchy scenes.

But porn stars and producers claim the industry already does plenty to keep actors safe so the condom requirement isn't necessary and will ruin films' authenticity.

The Free Speech Coalition sent a letter last week to the LA County Board of Supervisors declaring its plans to legally challenge the measure, AVN reported at the time.

"We believe that the law is not only unconstitutional on the grounds of forced expression, but also falls within the jurisdiction of the state of California rather than local government," Free Speech Coalition CEO Diane Duke wrote. "Therefore, we will file suit and challenge this intolerable law in court."

And the coalition might actually stand a chance.

Measure B could be seen as a restriction on filmmakers' expression, meaning the new statute violates the First Amendment.

"It has long been established that sexual speech that is neither obscene nor subject to some other legitimate proscription is fully protected by the First Amendment," Antonio Hayes wrote for Verdict. "Thus, requiring pornographic films to include condoms might be a content-based distinction with regard to that speech."

But if Measure B supporters can prove the industry actually is unsafe and riddled with STDs, the public health concerns might override any First Amendment concerns, ThinkProgress reported Tuesday.

DON'T MISS: LA's New Condom Law Could Doom The Porn Industry >

Please follow Law & Order on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Jon Bon Jovi's 19-Year-Old Daughter Arrested After Suspected Heroin Overdose

$
0
0

Jon Bono Jovi Daughter Stephanie

Jon Bon Jovi's 19-year-old daughter Stephanie Rose Bongiovi was arrested at Hamilton College in Upstate New York early Wednesday morning after allegedly overdosing on heroin.

Bongiovi was found unresponsive, but alive, in her college dorm room, where police and emergency personnel responded to the scene and discovered a “small quantity” of heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, reports TMZ.

When the student came to, she was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and criminally using drug paraphernalia — all misdemeanors.

A  21-year-old male student was also arrested and charged with drug possession.

The two were eventually released from custody and have a court date in the future.

Following the incident, Hamilton College said in a statement WKTV:

"In addition to violating state law, the actions alleged to have been committed by the students violate Hamilton College policy. The college is cooperating with the police investigation. Our first concern is always for the safety of our students. Out of respect for the privacy of our students and in accordance with federal regulations we do not discuss individual health or disciplinary matters."

Bongiovi is the eldest, and only daughter, of Jon Bon Jovi’s four children with his wife of 23 years, Dorothea Hurley.

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Dan Rather Tells Us About The Time He Used Heroin

$
0
0

Dan Rather Vivian Giang

Dan Rather is a hero to many in the news industry — including myself — for his determination to do anything to get the story.

The most famous example is probably when he tied himself to a tree during a hurricane in 1961 — a stunt that landed him a job at CBS New York.

But that's not the most daring thing he's done.

When I interviewed Rather in my last semester at journalism school, he told me about the time he used heroin for a story.

Rather previously discussed this incident in an interview with Cliff Jahr at the magazine Ladies' Home Journal in the 1980s.

During our interview, I asked Rather about his choice to take such a drastic step for a story. He paused, then said, "I made the mistake of ever talking about it." 

He was willing to open up to me about his experience. I've posted a transcript with his permission, edited slightly for clarity:

"I was working in radio in Houston in 1956 and 1957 and it's hard for people below a certain age to understand that drugs were not a problem at the time ... very little was known by most people about recreational drugs. 

A group of musicians came to Houston and they were arrested for heroin [possession]. I had never heard of heroin. In fact, on the radio later, I pronounced it [wrong]. ... Remember this was in the '50s. Houston was not the big city it is now.

I knew a lot of police officers. They said they had arrested these people for heroin. I had no idea what it was ... [the police] described it to me as best as they knew from what people told them. 

So I said it would be a good story to get some heroin — [though] I had no idea how to get it — and then describe how you feel. And so I did that with the help of the police in the police station. Hard to imagine these days, but I knew these guys pretty well.

So they injected me at the police station and I made notes as best as I could have, of what the effects were. And we produced a series of 'This is what heroin is; This is why people take it; This is what you experience while you're under the influence; This is why it's dangerous.'

It was no big deal, but it got to be a big deal. It didn't get a lot of attention at the time. That was that. 

I had never really thought about it ... that was until a magazine interview in the 1980s..."

Rather's willingness to take risks — and to take responsibility for his actions — generated controversy, but they won him a lot of respect too. There's a reason he was the face of CBS News for decades.

Don't miss: 

Please follow Careers on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »


And The Winner Of Business Insider's 'The Mentalizer' Caption Contest Is ...

$
0
0

Old Spice Mindfreak

On Tuesday, we put out a call to Business Insider readers to submit their wittiest captions for the image at right.

The winner was promised two tickets (a $200 value) to see “How To Be A Mentalist" presented by Ehud Segev, "The Mentalizer"— a live Broadway show incorporating magic and mind tricks in the final stop on Segev's popular world tour.

After looking through all of your clever submissions, Team Business Insider voted on the below.


And the winner is ...

"Old Spice … So good it’s guaranteed to blow your brains out."
 
Congratulations to reader Marc Selter of Long Island who will be seeing "The Mentalizer" this Thursday night in Times Square.
 
A special shout out to these runners up:
  • "Testing Proctor & Gamble's newest shampoo: Brain and Shoulders"
  • "I'm in a bathroom with no toilet! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
To buy additional tickets to "The Mentalizer," CLICK HERE.
 
To check out our original call for captions, CLICK HERE.

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »





Tom Hardy Will Star In Video Game-Turned-Movie 'Splinter Cell'

$
0
0

tom hardy

From superheroes to video games, Tom Hardy has been cast as Sam Fisher in the adaptation of "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell" video game series to the big screen.  

Game creator Ubisoft confirmed Hardy will play the role of the NSA black-ops agent in the upcoming film.

From Variety:

"Tom Hardy is currently one of the biggest talents in the film industry, and he has a phenomenal ability to take on complex and varied roles with his broad range of acting skills," said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Ubisoft Motion Pictures. "His involvement in the 'Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell' movie is exciting news for movie and video game fans alike."

 Ubisoft also announced Eric Warren Singer will work on the screenplay. He previously wrote the script for 2009's "The International" featuring Clive Owen. 

Warner Bros. and Paramount have been battling it out for rights to the film since the summer. 

SEE ALSO: What happened to the actor who played young Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars" >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Here Are Jessica Alba And Gwen Stefani In The New Windows Phone 8 Campaign

$
0
0

Microsoft is rolling out its new ad campaign for Windows Phone 8 tonight, and it features a star studded group of spokespeople. The agency is Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

The spots airing during "Modern Family," "The Voice," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live" ask viewers to "Meet Jessica" (Alba) and "Meet Gwen" (Stefani) and their Windows phones.

Microsoft will launch Andy Samberg and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton spots Thursday.

The spots focus on functionality, but unfortunately it seems like the famous faces are expected to make up for the ads' lack of intrigue and edge.

Watch the spots below:

Please follow Advertising on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




U2's Bono Is Terrified Of The Fiscal Cliff And The 65,000 Lives That Are At Stake

$
0
0

U2's Bono sat and spoke with World Bank President Jim Young Kim about What It Will Take to end poverty.

The discussion eventually gravitated toward the impending fiscal cliff – the billions of dollars worth of tax cuts and spending programs scheduled to expire by the end of the year.

"There's real jeopardy," he said. "Sequestration, should it happen...it costs about $2 billion of the programs that we care."

Bono estimated that potential funding cuts would affect around 275,000 people and could lead to around 65,000 deaths.  The Wall Street Journal's Sudeep Reddy notes that these are based on estimates from the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

"Think about that: deaths," he warned.

But based on recent discussions he has had with political leaders, he's optimistic.

"We know there are going to be cuts," he said.  "We understand that.  But not cuts that cost lives.

"I'm still terrified [of the fiscal cliff]...I'm at least encouraged that programs that are working will not be cut."

Here's the full discussion. Bono talks about the fiscal cliff at the 25:55 mark.

Please follow Clusterstock on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




12 'Sesame Street' Scandals That Have Plagued The Show's History

$
0
0

Katy Perry Sesame Street

With the recent alleged sex scandal involving Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, fans of "Sesame Street" have begun to see their beloved show in a very different light.

While the under age sex allegations have since been dropped, the scandal has still cast a shadow over what is supposed to be a colorful, kid-friendly show.

But this isn't the first time the popular PBS children's show has gotten bad press.

The show's 43-year history has been riddled with scandals, ranging from the more recent Katy Perry appearance debacle to the long-time rumors about Bert and Ernie's sexual orientation.

In 1969, "Sesame Street" was aimed toward an older audience and was labeled "Adult Only."

Early episodes of "Sesame Street" showed Cookie Monster smoking a pipe and an early green incarnation of Grover partaking in civil disobedience with hippies.

According to an NPR interview with The Week's Dale Hrabi in 2009, original episodes from 1969 to the early '70s are labeled "adult only" upon purchase and were meant to reflect the era. 

Here's the Grover clip we mentioned:



In the 1970s, African American muppet Roosevelt Franklin caused controversy among parents.

Franklin appeared on "Sesame Street" from 1970-1975 before being removed from the show after allegations that he promoted negative stereotypes of black children. While he was often shown teaching about Africa and values, his rowdy nature and after-school-detention-looking class angered parents. 



In the 80s, the show was forced to address Mr. Hooper's death.

When actor Will Lee, who played Mr. Hooper, died in 1982, "Sesame Street" writers had a challenging task on their hands. During a Thanksgiving Day episode in 1983, adult characters on the show explained death to Big Bird, who didn't understand why Mr. Hopper wasn't coming back. While the topic was addressed in a sensitive manner, many parents believed their children were still too young to learn about it.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.




Here's How Much The 'Twilight' Characters Are Worth [Infographic]

$
0
0

Later today, the final installment of "The Twilight Saga" will hit theaters ending a four-year run in theaters.

While hordes of teens are waiting in line to see Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson reunited on screen, we're more interested in knowing the financials of the Forks' inhabitants. 

Author Stephanie Meyers lets it known that the Cullens are wealthy beyond belief; however, she's never specific about the exact amount the vampire clan holds.

For the release of the film H&R Block put together a graphic estimating the income taxes and worth of the Cullen, Swan, and Black families.

According to the infographic, the Cullens are sitting on billions of dollars while Edward has well over $45 million to care for him and Bella.

If Twilight Characters Filed Taxes

SEE ALSO: 12 things you don't know about James Bond >

Please follow The Wire on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »




Viewing all 103365 articles
Browse latest View live


Latest Images