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Lindsay Lohan Hits A Person While Driving, Flees The Scene—Here's Today's Buzz

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  • Lindsay LohanAfter a fairly successful stint on "Saturday Night Live," Lindsay Lohan is already back to her old tricks—the partygirl actress struck a Hollywood club manager last night, which could violate her probation in the shoplifting case.
  • Real life lovers Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis sign on to co-star as a couple in the relationship comedy, "Relanxious." The film is about a mentally ill girl who meets a mentally ill boy... cue the controversy.
  • Paramount has shifted the release date of zombie flick "World War Z" to summer 2013. The film, based on the Max Brooks novel, was slated for December 2012.
  • Alex Pettyfer put a ring on Elvis' granddaughter, Riley Keough. The couple have been dating for six months, we hope this doesn't end with an achy breaky heart.
  • Meanwhile, former "90210" darling Jenni Garth and  her "Twilight" star husband Peter Facinelli announce they are divorcing. The couple have three daughters.
  • In news that probably only this writer cares about, "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes has signed on to write the "Gypsy" screenplay, which will star Barbra Streisand as Mama Rose. Streisand the perfectionist will also produce, obviously.
  • Jimmy Kimmel interviews Will Ferrell entirely en español. Watch Ferrell make quite the entrance below.

           

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Here's The Memo From Rush Limbaugh's Network Suspending His National Advertising

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microphone

Premiere Radio Networks has told all radio stations carrying the Rush Limbaugh show that they do not need to run its national "barter" ads for the next two weeks, according to Radio Info. The move makes the Limbaugh show -- currently suffering from a boycott of advertisers -- more lucrative for the local stations that syndicate his show.

PRN allows local stations to air Limbaugh free of charge. In return, the stations give PRN a set amount of free airtime outside the show for PRN's national advertisers, in a "barter" agreement. By temporarily suspending that obligation, those stations can now sell the extra airtime to different advertisers.

In addition, Safeway and other advertisers are demanding Rush-free programming for their ads, the radio trade news site reported:

Some advertisers have begun asking stations to submit Rush-free "programming grids." That's to ensure that their spots don’t air inside the Limbaugh program. One TRI reader says “Safeway is among the clients now asking for such programming grids for every daypart. And it’s not just Rush, it’s other controversial programming.” Late last week, TRI reported the Premiere memo about keeping 98 clients away from controversial programming, and on Monday the story about the two-week “barter holiday” for all barter spots carried by Premiere’s news/talk affiliates.

The New York Times called the moves the most serious rebellion against Limbaugh in 20 years. It's a rebellion fueled by social media: Back in the day, it was difficult for consumers to tell advertisers they disapproved of their support for an obnoxious show. Today, companies' Facebook walls and Twitter feeds can become clogged within minutes by thousands of angry customers.

The memo suspending Limbaugh's national barter ads notes only two national advertisers, LifeLock and Lear Financial, have stuck with Limbaugh after he called Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke a slut because she supported healthcare coverage for contraceptives. Here's the memo:

"Attention Traffic Managers of Premiere News/Talk Affiliates:

"We are suspending the requirement to run barter spots for two weeks, March 12th and March 19th, for our News/Talk affiliates only.

"Please replace/re-traffic any Premiere barter spots immediately. Contractual requirements to run barter spots are being suspended for these two weeks only. Replace them with Lifelock and Lear Financial or a local spot of your choice.

"This suspension does not apply to in-program commercial provided by Premiere within any of its live news/talk programming."

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Here's The Greatest Disney Movie Idea You'll Never See

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Before there was the man and the mouse, Walt Disney illustrated Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a character he animated for Universal Studios and lost the rights to in 1928. He then had to start from scratch, coming up with an original character—Mickey Mouse—which brought him his ultimate fame; however, there was still that little rabbit that got away, a rabbit that very well could have been Disney's staple icon. 

Sounds like a great story, right? Too bad it isn't.

French artist Pascal Witaszek produced a farce movie mock-up of a Disney biopic called "Walt" featuring Ryan Gosling as the lead. Witaszek even appears to have captured the very essence of a frustrated artist trying to come up with a new character concept to outshine his Oswald creation. Check the poster out below.

Although, it would be great to hear the story of Disney and the mouse, we think it would be better to hear about Mickey's often shelved predecessor, and older brother, Oswald. After 78 long years, the company finally received the rights to Oswald back after trading sportscaster Al Michaels from Monday Night Football to NBC in 2006.

The Walt Disney poster isn't the first of Witaszek's handiwork. The artist specializes in producing biopic posters, having a total of 17 on his site. You can check out more of Witaszek's work here

walt-disney-pascal-witaszek

Also, see five films that have scored ZERO on Rotten Tomatoes >>

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Check Out 'William' And 'Harry' Celebrating After Winning A Polo Match—In The Nude

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Cosmopolitan Magazine

Every year, Cosmopolitan UK runs a naked centerfold section in order to promote the men's cancer charity, Everyman.

In this year's issue, Princes William and Harry get cheeky as they bare all in the locker room after a winning polo match.

Well, at least their look-a-likes do.

The image is shot by photographer Alison Jackson, who often portrays celebrities and royals in somewhat compromising positions.

Check out other funny, fake pics of The Royal Family here and risqué photos of celebrities such as Russell Brand and Lady Gaga here.

Everyman charity released the below statement regarding the fake photograph:

"Through the cheeky Centrefolds campaign, Cosmo has brought what could be
an awkward topic of conversation for men to the forefront. Everyman is extremely grateful for Cosmo¹s ongoing support and for turning what could
just be innocent eye candy into a potentially life-saving message."

Check out the fellas below. We're sure the Palace is thrilled.

Alison Jackson

Not that the real-life princes don't like to have fun.

Check out this impromptu dance performance by Prince Harry during a recent visit to a charity organization in Jamaica.

Now check out another hilarious parody, this time of "The Bachelor">>

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British Adventurer Bear Grylls Fired By Discovery Channel

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bear gryllsBear Grylls, the fearless television star of Discovery Channel's survival show "Man vs. Wild," has been fired by the network over disagreements concerning two upcoming projects, the Daily Mail reports

Click here for a fascinating interview with Bear Grylls > 

A spokesperson for the network told The Hollywood Reporter's Marisa Guthrie that "due to a continuing contractual dispute with Bear Grylls, Discovery has terminated all current productions with him."

Sources told the news website that the cable station severed ties with the British outdoorsman after it was "unable to get Grylls to participate in two unannounced projects." 

"Man Vs. Wild," which was launched in 2006, catapulted the former member of the British Special Air Service to fame as a wilderness expert able to survive in some of the harshest environments. To stay alive in desperate situations, he was often shown performing dangerous techniques and chomping down on everything from giant grasshoppers to elephant dung. 

The sixth season wrapped in August.  

If you'd like see Grylls during happier times, check out this series of candid interviews we recently published in which the TV personality answers questions about his adventures on "Man Vs. Wild." 

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10 Things To Know About Kristen Bell, The Sweet Actress Who Loves Potty Humor

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Krusten Bell

We all know that Kristen Bell loves sloths.

But what most people don't know about the 31-year-old former "Veronica Mars" and "Heroes" actress is that she's vegetarian, loves potty humor and wants a butt that looks like a cupcake.

Bell graces the cover of this month's Women's Health Magazine and reveals a few things you don't know about the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" star.

While she doesn't disclose any "Gossip Girl" secrets, Bell does give us an intimate look into her life with fiancé, actor/comedian Dax Shepard.

Five Fave Flicks:

1. Waiting for Guffman
"Amateur theater. Eugene Levy. Dairy Queen! What's not to love?"
2. The Jerk
"Steve Martin is a lovable loser raised by a poor black family with a dog named Shithead."
3. Strangers with Candy
"Amy Sedaris as a heroin addict/boozehound who goes back to high school."
4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
"A holiday disaster, Griswold family-style."
5. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
"Aaaaalrighty then!



Geek Chic:

"I'm a geek who loves fashion. There's been a reinvention of the word geek.It means [being passionate about] anything that's under the radar or sort of frowned upon, like Comic-Con."

"It's a giant comic book convention, and I've gone for the past four years to represent the shows I've been on. I have friends who wear 'Star Wars' costumes and act like the characters all day. I may not be that deep into it, but there's something great about loving what you love and not caring if it's unpopular."



Favorite Animal-Friendly Finds:

1. Uncle Eddies Vegan Cookies
"It doesn't even matter that they're vegan. They're simply the best cookies. Ever!"
2. Seventh Generation laundry detergent in lavender
"I have very sensitive skin but because it's all-natural, the fragrance isn't irritating."
3. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps in peppermint
"These soaps can be used for anything. The peppermint is nice for a foot soak at the end of the day."
4. Heather Heron "luxury hemp" handbags
"Designer bags that are animal friendly: Enough said."
5. Hamadi Shea Leave In Daily Conditioner/Styling Cream
"Tested on actresses, not animals."



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Charlize Theron Just Adopted A Baby Boy From South Africa

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Charlize Theron BabyCharlize Theron has gone from "Monster" to mother.

The 36-year-old Academy Award winner has just adopted a baby boy from South Africa, where the actress was also born and raised.

Theron is the “proud mom of a healthy baby boy named Jackson,” the actress' rep told the Associated Press today.

In August, Theron revealed to Germany’s In Touch magazine, "I want a baby. If it would happen tomorrow I would still be very happy about it.”

And the single actress, who ended her nine-year relationship with actor Stuart Townsend in 2010, said she has no problem adopting as a single mom, adding,”Why not? I’m open to everything in life.”

Now learn 10 things that would surprise you about Kristen Bell>>

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Watch: Sarah Palin Vs. Julianne Moore In Mashup Video Of Real And Film Footage

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Tina Fey may have her hilarious Sarah Palin impression down pat, but how does Julianne Moore compare in the new HBO original movie 'Game Change"?

The movie garnered record-breaking ratings with 2.1 million people tuning in for its Monday night premiere and critics have given mainly positive reviews for Moore's portrayal of the polarizing politician.

Watch below and judge for yourselves.

Now let's reminisce about Tina Fey's Palin impersonation. Watch below.

Which actress do you think does a better Sarah Palin? Sound off below.

Now watch this R-rated video parody video of "The Bachelor">>

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REVEALED: Syrian Dictator Bashar al-Assad Downloaded This Incredible Song On iTunes

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The Guardian has just released a lot of fascinating emails from Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.

While there's a huge amount of important stuff in there, there's one thing that stands out above everything — Assad's taste in music.

As he couldn't get iTunes in Syria, al-Assad's iTunes account was registered to an address in New York. Emails between iTunes and Assad show a an unusual side of the Syrian strongman, with artists downloaded including Chris Brown, Blake Shelton, LMFAO, Leona Lewis and New Order.

Perhaps the most obscure was a song by 1990s British duo Right Said Fred, the touching "Don't Talk Don't Kiss". He did not seem to care for other songs by the duo, such as "Sexy Bum" and "I'm Too Sexy".

Spotify users can get a taste of Assad's tastes with a playlist we made here >

WATCH:

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The Top Ten Films That Scored A Perfect Rating On Rotten Tomatoes

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the godfather

Rotten Tomatoes is notorious for being the end-all for seeing a movie. The film site rates pictures as fresh or rotten according to critic's reviews. 

Earlier this week, we gave you five duds that received a historical score of zero from the critique site in honor of Eddie Murphy's latest film flop "A Thousand Words" joining the select group.

For kicks, we thought we'd see how many films have been granted the envious 100% score. Turns out the pickings aren't as far and few as we imagined. There are tens of films toting a perfect score—100 to be exact. 

Rotten Tomatoes keeps an ongoing tally of their highest-rated films. We've put together the top ten for your viewing pleasure. 

So, if you're sitting around on a Friday night and aren't sure what to watch, check out one of these top-rated films.  

Need more? You can check out the entire list of 100 here.

10. Rear Window (1954)



9. Waste Land (2010)



8. Deliver Us From Evil (2006)



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Celebrate Pi Day With Free Amazon Instant Video of Pi, The Movie (AMZN)

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Pieeeesss!

Pi Day is awesome.

While you're gorging yourself on a delicious piece of pie, or reciting the all the decimals by heart, take a moment to enjoy a complimentary Amazon Instant Video streaming of the movie Pi, available for free if you're a Prime member.

The DVD counterpart is also on sale for 27% off retail value on Amazon, though you might be able to find cheaper deals of the 1998 film at your local Walmart.

Expect the movie to be a lot less innocent than both pies and pi; the Darren Aronofsky flick is a psychological thriller about a man who goes crazy over the mathematical digits in his head. Don't say we didn't warn you.

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Keifer Sutherland Is Furious '24' Movie Has Been Halted

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kiefer-sutherland-24-jack-bauerKiefer Sutherland is furious at 20th Century Fox, which has called a halt to the movie version of his hit television show, “24,” over budget and star salary issues, TheWrap has learned.

The movie based on the conspiracy-terrorism-action show was in pre-production and set to start shooting next month, but has now ground to a halt because Fox will greenlight a budget no higher than $30 million, while Sutherland and producer Brian Grazer feel the budget needs to be in the low $40s at its tightest.

A Fox spokesman confirmed that the movie was on hold, and said it was related to timing. 

"We're still working on a script, and hope to make [it] when Kiefer next has time," said the spokesman. "But this all came down to timing, and seven weeks is not enough time to prep a movie like this."

But insiders on the project refuted that version of the situation. According to them, the Fox television star feels insulted that Fox has offered him a relatively measly salary of $1 million to do the movie.

Sutherland, who has helped Fox make hundreds of millions of dollars off the hit  show and is represented by CAA, wanted $5 million. (He is also the producer.)

Also read: Kiefer Sutherland: '24' Movie a Go This Year

Talks between the two sides continued up until the last 24 hours, with Fox co-chairman Tom Rothman getting involved, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation. One of those told TheWrap that the sides would be meeting at 2:30 Wednesday to try to work out their differences.

Sutherland's agency CAA had no immediate comment, nor did his management.

The "24" budgeting problem may cause potential problems with the Fox Television Network, which needs Sutherland for its new television series, “Touch.” That show debuts March 22, and Sutherland recently returned from traveling abroad to promote it.

"24" was meant to go into production in April, when "Touch" went on hiatus, according to a television studio spokesman.

Now all of that has been thrown into question, and all of the talent attached is apparently  furious.

Overall, Sutherland ‘s impression was that “the studio didn’t seem to be paying attention or be consistent with notes and thoughts,” said one person in his camp. In other words, the guy feels dissed.

Also read: Kiefer Sutherland's 'Touch': Watch a Sneak Preview Here (Video)

I know times are tough in this business, but I can’t quite figure out why Fox would nickel-and-dime a star like Sutherland, whose show has an international as well as a strong domestic audience. Yes, Sutherland has gotten inordinately wealthy off the series and, yes, star fees have come down in recent years -– but still.

Individuals involved with the movie pointed out that Fox has gone through similar troubles in the past and its reputation has been hurt as a result.

Said one of those individuals: “At the end of day it’s not only hard to make movies at Fox specifically, but it’s also no fun.”

This post originally appeared at The Wrap

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Did Goldman's Greg Smith Just Pull A Don Draper? (GS)

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don draper mad men

As the financial world reels from Greg Smith's public condemnation of Goldman Sachs' allegedly declining ethical practices, both Forbes and The Wrap claim that the resignation letter—delivered in the form of a New York Times op-ed—came straight out of an episode of "Mad Men."

For the uninitiated (and those in need of a refresher after the show's 17-month hiatus), the penultimate episode of season four featured Don Draper writing a similarly public, full-page ad (also in the New York Times) to explain why his ad agency would no longer work with tobacco companies.

But how do Smith's "Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs" and Draper's "Why I'm Quitting Tobacco" really compare?

Look at both openings. Draper began:

Recently my advertising agency ended a long relationship with Lucky Strike cigarettes, and I’m relieved.

For over 25 years we devoted ourselves to peddling a product for which good work is irrelevant, because people can’t stop themselves from buying it. A product that never improves, that causes illness, and makes people unhappy. But there was money in it. A lot of money. In fact, our entire business depended on it. We knew it wasn’t good for us, but we couldn’t stop.

Smith also opened with a reflection of his years spent at Goldman:

Today is my last day at Goldman Sachs. After almost 12 years at the firm — first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London — I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.

And both deal with the subjects of toxicity (literal and metaphorical) and the betrayal of clients. Smith says:

To put the problem in the simplest terms, the interests of the client continue to be sidelined in the way the firm operates and thinks about making money.

Draper said:

...here was my chance to be someone who can sleep at night because I know what I'm selling doesn't kill my customers.

While there are certainly some similarities, "Why I'm Leaving Goldman Sachs" hardly reads as a promo for next week's "Mad Men" premiere.

The major difference is that In "Mad Men," Lucky Strikes was the one to end its relationship with Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. And the agency tried (and failed) to land another tobacco account. Draper's letter isn't so much a resignation as the calculated slight of a spurned lover.

In Smith's op-ed, he is clearly doing the dumping.

Here's "Why I'm quitting Tobacco":

mad men

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How 'The Fifth Element' Predicted Lady Gaga And Everything Else About Modern Life—Back in '97

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Fifth Element

The Fifth Element, released in 1997, is on virtually no one's list of all time great movies, and yet it continues to run in virtual permanent rotation on cable TV.

Since its release, the special effects epic -- in which Bruce Willis's tax driver must save Milla Jovovich's doomsday savior from marauding aliens -- has grossed $263 million worldwide.

It's still hugely popular: 925 people have reviewed it on Amazon and it still carries four-and-a-half stars out of five. People are still adding new reviews to the retail site every few days -- even though it's now 15 years old.

Surprisingly, considering its nonsensical plot and feeble acting, it was a critical hit, too: Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, said at its release: "I would not have missed seeing this film, and I recommend it for its richness of imagery." It sure was pretty to look at (and the movie is equally entertaining with the sound off.)

But what explains Fifth Element's endurance, both with TV programmers and the audiences whom they expect to watch the movie repeatedly? Here's one possibility: by chance, Fifth Element touches on all the major angsts and dramas of modern American life, such as terrorists, Doomsday and cruise ships.

SEE ALSO: The 1976 Movie 'Network' Predicted YouTube and Two And A Half Men.'

Yes, a fashion model can carry an entire movie.

Before Fifth Element, Milla Jovovich was a model. Although she had done some movie work, she was best-known as the grunge Kate Moss. It was not at all clear that a model could play the lead in a movie with a $90 million production budget.

Now, Jovovich carries the Resident Evil franchise on her back, which has grossed $675 million worldwide.



We love divas.

The movie revolves around attempts to recover a sacred stone which is being smuggled aboard a spaceship by this blue tentacled singer. In a climactic scene, the concert is attacked by aliens who kill the diva -- but not before she can hand the stone to Willis.

Is Diva Plavalaguna from the movie any less weird than Lady Gaga from Earth? Or Nicki Minaj, for that matter?



And cruise ships.

Much of the action takes place on a giant space cruise ship headed to Fhlosten Paradise, a vacation planet. The cruise ship industry was in still its infancy in 1997. In 2011, a record 16 million people bought a cruise.



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Here Are Some Of TV's Best Product Placements (KFT)

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modern-family-oreo

In honor of Oreo's 100th birthday, the cookie will guest star on tonight's episode of Modern Familyreports AdAge. The staff of the ABC hit sitcom has written a scene that involves Luke Dunphy eating the cookie in an unusually interesting way.

From Seinfeld to The Office, here are some of TV's best product integrations>>

Oreo began talking to ABC about this placement last spring. (The brand has also been running a series of promos that feature the Modern Family characters celebrating their inner child, which is the theme of Oreo's birthday campaign).

"We chose to partner with the program because it brings to life fun moments of family connection in a humorous and entertaining way," said Kraft spokesman, Basil T. Maglaris, to AdAge. 

Co-creator Steven Levitan told AdAge in a January interview that the show turns down 90 percent of product placement requests. This season the show has already incorporated Toyota, Audi, and Target into episodes despite trying to limit deals like these to one to three a season.

Of course, product placement in television is nothing new. In the early days of radio and television, shows were often underwritten by companies like Proctor & Gamble; this is also why they were called soap operas.

Brands realized early on that they could benefit from their products being integrated into plot lines and associated with popular shows; production companies understood that these deals meant both equating themselves with valuable brands and, in most cases, money.

Today, as advertisers worry about fragmented audiences and the DVR making their commercials obsolete, more brands are trying to broker deals with popular shows. 

The Love Boat: Princess Cruises

The Love Boat was set aboard the Pacific Princess, part of the Princess Cruise Lines. Although the show ran from 1977 to 1986, this product placement was so valuable that until 2002 the cruise line was still using the slogan, "It's more than a cruise, it's the Love Boat.".



Knight Rider: Pontiac Trans Am

Taking product placement to another level, Knight Rider starred David Hasselhoff and his talking Pontiac Trans Am, KITT. General Motors gave the show's makers models of the then-new 1982 Trans Am, which was decked out as KITT. With that one show, the Trans Am became one of the most desirable cars of the early 1980s.



Seinfeld: Junior Mints

“Who’s gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It’s chocolate, it’s peppermint, it’s delicious!”

Seinfeld was turned down by M&Ms and Lifesavers before Junior Mint agreed to let their product be featured in an episode where it would be dropped into the open chest cavity of a patient during surgery.

The show was not paid by Tootsie Roll (Junior Mints’ parent company) for the placement. 



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Shaq Reveals How He Picks His Business Ventures, And The Weirdest Pitch He Ever Got

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shaq nba sports retirement

One Shaquille O’Neal you probably know: The retired basketball player who has four NBA championship rings and an Olympic gold medal, who was voted an All-Star fifteen times, and who ranks 6th on the all-time scoring list.

Or you might know another Shaq: The one who appeared in movies, released rap albums, was a character in video games, had a reality TV series, and is now an NBA television analyst for TNT.

But there’s one Shaq you probably don’t know: The one who has an MBA and is working on his Ph.D., who owns fitness centers, car washes, Five Guys franchises, nightclubs, and real estate, has his own shoe brand, and holds equity positions in companies like Google (his slice was pre-IPO), Vitamin Water, and Muscle Milk.

He’s also the spokesperson for the Dove Men+Care Journey to Comfortcampaign, a series where men share how they overcame obstacles in a journey to feel comfortable in their own skin.

And he “stars” in Shaq’s Big Excuse, a Facebook app based on the upcoming NCAA men’s basketball tournament: Fill out a quick form and Shaq will phone your boss, friends, or whoever you want to tell them why you won’t be available during the tournament. (My favorite: “We’re in a yodeling competition.”)

Inc: You’re a guy who seems as comfortable in his skin as is possible. You even conducted the Boston Pops. But I’m sure you didn’t always feel that way.

Shaq: My worst years were age nine to seventeen. I was shy. I was insecure. I stuttered. I wanted to be a basketball player but I wasn’t very good.

One day my father threw a paper at my chest and said, “Look at this guy. He just signed an NBA contract for $3 million a year, and he’s not that good.” I watched him play on TV and I thought, “I can do that.” So while everyone else was out doing juvenile delinquent stuff, I was on the court. I realized if I worked hard and stayed out of trouble, I could make a name for myself.

Inc: You’re on the way to becoming Dr. Shaq, but still, are there things you’re trying to change about yourself that would make you even more comfortable with who you are?

Shaq: Education is the main thing. I earned my MBA and I’m working on my Ph.D. I love learning about leadership, especially when it’s based on purpose and on trying to help other people become better leaders.

Inc: The average celebrity tends to invest in businesses where their name can help generate business, but your name doesn’t appear on many of your ventures. Some of your investments are pure business plays.

Shaq: One day I was riding through a neighborhood looking at all the huge houses, and I asked what the people who lived there did for a living. They owned businesses and they didn’t brag about what they did. I realized the business should be important, not just the name behind it.

Inc: In your book you talk about your Facial Recognition Advantage, and how being known can get you a meeting with almost anyone. But is it true you used to call Steve Jobs and ask for the new iPhone before everyone else got one?

Shaq: Oh yeah. That’s true. Didn’t work though.

Inc: There are obvious advantages to doing business with you… but what do you bring to the table that isn’t so obvious? If I take a meeting by Shaq, what will surprise me?

Shaq: The biggest surprise is that I do my due diligence ahead of time. If you contact me, I do my homework. Then, if I like your idea or your company or your product, I’m not really looking for an endorsement deal. I want a partnership. You get a great partner when you get me. I’m not interested in just taking your money. I’ll promote, I’ll help, I’ll do anything I can to make it work for both of us.

Inc: What’s the strangest pitch you ever got?

Shaq: A guy wanted to take my sweat, mix it with chemicals and create a cologne, and call it something like Elliuqahs (Shaquille spelled backwards.) Needless to say I turned that one down.

Inc: You’re pretty good at spotting undervalued business opportunities. If you were an NBA owner, is there a player today who is undervalued that you would “invest” in?

Shaq: Rudy Gay. Great player but he plays in a small market (Memphis). Get him in a big market and he would be a superstar.

Inc: What do you least enjoy about being an entrepreneur?

Shaq: Nothing. What’s not to like? You make your own decisions, you live with those decisions, and you move on. I don’t look for the quick hit. I invest in things because I believe in them. If you stick to that model, you can’t lose.

Inc: From the outside it appears your business strategy can be summed up as, “Hey, that looks like fun. I’ll try it.” How accurate is that?

Shaq: That’s it exactly. There are millions of opportunities. Why do something if you don’t think you can have fun?

Inc: My dad once said that someday, when you’re an old man sitting on a porch, the times that will make you feel good about your life are when you helped others. Is there a particular story that will make you smile someday when you’re sitting on your porch thinking back on your life?

Shaq: In my 20s I was at a car dealership in Los Angeles and an elderly lady was trying to buy a van. She came out crying and I asked her what was wrong. She didn’t have good credit and couldn’t get a loan. We talked for a while and she showed me a picture of her grandson who had lost his legs. She reminded me a lot of my grandmother who had just passed away, and I wanted to do something for her. So I bought her a van. I’ve helped a lot of people since then, but I will never forget how good it made me feel to help a person who really needed help.

 

This post originally appeared at Inc.

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Check Out Gwyneth Paltrow's Clothing Line That's Only Available In Scandinavia

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gwyneth paltrow lindex modern preppy

It makes perfect sense that Gwyneth Paltrow would license her name to a clothing line named "Modern Preppy." The blonde from Manhattan's Upper East Side, born of acting royalty (mother Blythe Danner, father Bruce Paltrow), is the ne plus ultra of the prep aesthetic.

It's a little weird, though, that Modern Preppy is currently only available in Sweden's Lindex chain of stores. Lindex has around 400 stores in Scandinavia, including Iceland, the Baltics, and Russia. It's a fast-fashion outlet, a bit like H&M.

She launched the label this month with a YouTube video and a blog, in Norwegian*:

Når Gwyneth ikke bærer vakre kjoler på den røde løperen, er det striper og "casual chic" som gjelder. Valget om å bruke henne som modell var enkelt ettersom hun nærmest er synonym med den moderne preppystilen.

Well, that's easy for her to say.

*Correction: This item originally said it was in Swedish until one of our readers caught the error.

Gwyneth's Lindex line keeps it bright and simple.



There's a lot of orange, green and white.



Modern Preppy leans less on pastels than, say, Lilly Pulitzer.



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Glenn Beck Says Walking Away From Fox Will Get Him $40 Million A Year

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Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck could make $40 million this year from his online TV operation, GBTV, according to the Wall Street Journal. That's 16 times his salary as a Fox News Channel host, a job that came to an end in April 2011 after an advertiser boycott of his show lasted more than a year.

These are the two key facts:

  • On Fox News, Mr. Beck averaged 2.2 million daily viewers and was paid $2.5 million a year.
  • GBTV, which jumped on the scene in September, is expected to bring in at least $40 million in revenue this year, supported by advertising and more than 300,000 subscribers paying as much as $9.95 a month for full access to GBTV, according to a person close to the company.

The numbers suggest an escape route for Rush Limbaugh if he ever suffers Beck's mainstream media fate: Charge a more targeted audience more money for the same product.

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LAST CHANCE: 5 Awesome TV Shows On The Verge Of Being Cancelled

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TV-Shows-To-Watch

After a three-month hiatus, NBC's "Community" is back on TV tonight. 

The show suffered a mid-season shuffle due to bad ratings/viewership, and to make room for returning comedy "30 Rock," which also hasn't fared well with audiences this season. 

"Community" will be taking the spot of Amy Poehler's show "Parks and Recreation" for a few weeks while the freshman comedy "Up All Night" finishes its first season. (All of which deserve to have through-the-roof ratings)

It's not just NBC, the other networks have some comedies and dramas that just aren't registering with audiences. CBS just announced its new renewals and many shows like the "CSI" spin-offs and the freshman medical drama "A Gifted Man" were left off the list.

Before any series gets cancelled, here are five we hope you'll start watching. 

Community-Cast-NBC1. "Community" - Obviously this is one we feel strongly about.

NBC executives gave the series a time-out in November when it announced its midseason lineup. But they never said the show was cancelled... they just neglected to mention a return date. 

Now that the show is coming back on the air, whether or not the show will get a season four is still a looming question. But considering how little faith NBC has had on the show this season, it's hard to be optimistic. 

"Community" is a hilarious, oddball comedy that follows seven friends in a study group at a community college. But instead of highlighting certain episodes or dwelling on the plot, it's better to mention the real champions of the series: the characters. 

Look out for an upcoming "Law & Order" spoof — apparently it's amazing. 

Cougartown-Cast-ABC2. "Cougar Town" - It can't help its name. Even the creators want to change it

Courtney Cox stars as Jules Cobb, a real-estate agent who is friends with her ex-husband, has a kid almost out of his teens, has a new fiancee that lives across the street, and holds wine-drinking gabfests in her kitchen with friends who live in her cul-de-sac. 

Another show that would be lost without its fantastic actors, this ABC show started out as a disappointment in the first few episodes, but it has turned into one of the best ensemble comedies currently on TV.

"Cougar Town" has had viewership problems right out of the gate which haven't instilled any confidence for ABC executives. When the fall season premiere calendar was announced last summer, the comedy was not on the list. The only reason ABC put it back on the air was due to the abysmal ratings and quality of their cross-dressing show "Work It." And even now, the ratings are hitting series lows. In fact, cast members Dan Byrd and Josh Hopkins have just been cast in new pilots unless "Cougar Town" is saved. 

Parenthood-Cast-NBC3. "Parenthood" - Back to NBC.

Ever since NBC transferred "Friday Night Lights" to DirecTV's 101 Network and ended the show prematurely at five seasons, there hasn't been another drama that has made as much of an impact on the Peacock network ... Until "Parenthood" came along. 

Created by "Friday Night Lights" showrunner Jason Katims, this family ensemble drama packs as many emotional punches as the football drama did while maintaining realistic life situations.

"Parenthood" just wrapped up its third season after getting an increase of two episodes. And while that is a  healthy sign, ratings are still much lower than they should be, leaving it permanently the subject of cancellation speculation. The fact that the third season finale wrapped a little too neatly also doesn't provide a lot of hope. Plus, it doesn't help that conservatives like Bill O'Reilly have criticized the show for its storylines involving teen sex. It simply needs another chance. 

Fringe-Cast-Fox4. "Fringe" - A J.J. Abrams show. Without giving too much away or confusing anyone, we can simply say that lately, "Fringe" has been on par with some of the greatest sci-fi shows like "The X-Files" or "Battlestar Galactica." But it's much more than gadgets and strange scientific theories.

But Fox execs are worried it's just too expensive to keep producing more episodes. In fact, Fox's entertainment president Kevin Reilly says the show loses a lot of money for the network and he is "not in the business of losing money."

Starring Anna Torv as FBI agent Olivia Dunham who investigates unexplained events, "Fringe" is one of the many shows on this list that got better and better with age.

This show, like Abrams' other series "Alcatraz," is a hard one to follow unless you start from the beginning. But it is definitely worth the effort. 

Alcatraz-Cast-Fox5. "Alcatraz" - Speaking of the other J.J. Abrams show... 

This prison-break thriller premiered just two months ago to very solid ratings and quickly became one of the best-watched new shows. 

But now, its numbers are dwindling. Even with a two-hour episode that aired last week, the show can't seem to pick up its momentum. While its direct competition on Fox was just cancelled ("Terra Nova"), there's still speculation on whether the show will see a second season. 

The show's premise is that prisoners who mysteriously vanished from the island in 1963 are now returning in the present day for some secret plan.

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10 Trailers That Were Better Than The Actual Films They Advertised

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damon-lindelof-hates-trailersDamon Lindelof (co-creator of "Lost") sounded off on Twitter late Tuesday night about his feelings on film trailers promoting trailers—they suck.

This comment comes after Ridley Scott released just that–a trailer for a trailer of his new movie "Prometheus," which Lindelof co-wrote.

See 10 trailers that are better than their movies >> 

The prequel to Scott's 1979 "Alien," "Prometheus" follows a group of explorers searching for mankind's origins. They end up finding aliens straight out of Scott's multi-million dollar franchise. The film features Michael FassbenderCharlize Theron and Guy Pearce:

The thing makes even less sense once you know that a 1:10 trailer for "Prometheus" was released in late December, and besides a few shots of the explorers' ship and the terrain, the teaser offers nothing new.

Here's Lindelof's tweet:

damon-lindelof-tweet

"Prometheus" isn't alone in promoting these sorts of trailers of late. Fox's "Ice Age" is an offender of releasing a trailer for a trailer for its upcoming sequel. Popular game franchise "Mass Effect" recently did one for the release of the trailer to the third version of its series. 

Although the Prometheus trailer-trailer was disappointing, there are some pretty good trailers out there, some that we dare say are better than the actual film. We've rounded up 10 trailers even Lindelof would give a thumbs up. 

Watch the trailer for a trailer below:

"Battle: Los Angeles" (2011)



"Cloverfield" (2008)



"Terminator: Salvation" (2009)



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