September 28, 2024

About the author  ⁄ Alicia Lutes

Watch ‘Reading Rainbow’ Host LeVar Burton Curse His Way Through A Hilarious Children’s Story

by 23 mins ago

It’s no surprise that over the years “Reading Rainbow” star LeVar Burton has picked up a few favorites in the children’s genre. But did anyone expect it would be the one titled “Go The F–k To Sleep,” like, at all?

The man responsible for turning hundreds of PBS-watching tots onto how and why reading is so FUN-damental (we couldn’t help ourselves there) explained as much to a room full of cross-legged adults and those watching video game production studio Rooster Teeth’s Internet stream in support of Extra Life.

“This is one of my favorite children’s stories,” Burton says in the video before diving in and causing a cacophony of giggles with the title of the Adam Mansbach cult favorite.

You should listen, revel in his “Captain Planet” t-shirt, but be forewarned — this is definitely not one for the kids (because spoiler alert: he drops the f-bomb. Like A LOT):

Extra Life, the annual event — a 24-hour gaming marathon to raise money for sick children — works with many outlets and video-game obsessives in order to raise funds and awareness for children’s charities. Burton’s reading of the aggressively worded story was a reward for viewers making $75,000 in donations.

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

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Beyoncé Mourns The Tragic Loss Of Her Tour Photographer Yosra El-Essawy To Cancer

by 1 min ago

It is with a heavy heart that we must report that international photographer and documenter of Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter World Tour — Yosra El-Essawy — has passed away at age 33 from cancer.

The Egyptian-born British photog was a staple on the tour, but also shot riveting images from the Egyptian revolution, in addition to weddings, events, and Beyoncé’s 2015 calendar. The news comes not even a year and a half following her diagnosis while on tour with Beyoncé. After being forced to leave the tour, El-Essawy kept fans updated of her progress on her Instagram account, and there was nary a shortage of optimism, either.

In honor of her friend’s struggle, the singer dedicated a performance of “Halo” to her during the tour last spring, in addition to creating a mini-documentary on El-Essawy’s passion.

Her passion for life and not taking for granted the beauty in the world was inspiring. On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Beyoncé posted two photos in homage to her friend El-Essawy, the first being a nod to a post of El-Essawy’s from this summer:

Our thoughts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones during the tragic time.

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

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There’s A Real-Life ‘Harry Potter’ Hotel And You Can Actually Stay In It

by 1 hour ago

Get ready, muggles — your tiny slice of Hogwarts heaven has become a reality thanks to the “Harry Potter“-inspired rooms (that you can stay in!!!) at The Georgian House Hotel.

You read that right: there’s a hotel in London with “Harry Potter”-themed rooms to transport you to Hogwarts without having to search for Platform 9 and 3/4! Who says magic isn’t real, right?

Outfitted with trunks, potion bottles, the occasional owl statue, some cauldrons, and spell books, the rooms will transport you right to Hogwarts with nary a wand or spell needed. Simply a way to pay the £249 a night fee.

That price goes up a bit if you tack on the full “Harry Potter” package, which includes a walking tour of some London landmarks for the film and a trip to the Warner Brothers Studio where “The Making of Harry Potter” tour takes place.

“I had heard that the ‘Harry Potter’ studio tour was the most popular attraction in London, and the fact the bus left from Victoria station meant we were in the perfect location for attracting tourists who had come to see the studio,” explained Georgian House partner Serena von der Heyde to The Independent.

Accio all of my dollars! And then just give them directly to The Georgian House.

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

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There’s A New Poster And A New Title For ‘Fast And Furious 7′

by 15 mins ago

An official poster, official synopsis, and official name change: all things that are — wait for it — officially official about the latest “Fast and Furious” installment. Ladies and gentlemen: get your engines revved for “Furious 7.”

With the original crew back together and a fitting send-off for Paul Walker, who died during the filming of “Furious 7,” James Wan’s latest feature has been making headlines for months. But now we’ve all got something meaty to sink our teeth into when it comes to the film’s details. Not only has the film’s new title been released, but so has an official synopsis for the cinematic doings of this mega-franchise.

“Continuing the global exploits in the unstoppable franchise built on speed, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of ‘Furious 7.’ James Wan directs this chapter of the hugely successful series that also welcomes back favorites Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, Elsa Pataky and Lucas Black. They are joined by international action stars new to the franchise including Jason Statham, Djimon Hounsou, Tony Jaa, Ronda Rousey and Kurt Russell. Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel and Michael Fottrell return to produce the film written by Chris Morgan.”

But the real exciting part? The new poster, duh! We are living in a visual age, after all, so what better way to celebrate the film’s new title than with a shiny new image, eh?

According to ComingSoon.Net, the ...

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‘The Walking Dead’ Is So Gross It’s Turning The Cast And Crew Vegetarian

by 2 mins ago

Norman Reedus is basically a vegetarian now, thanks to “The Walking Dead,” but he ain’t happy about it — nor is he the only one.

According to the actor — who explained that “I’ve become a vegetarian and I’m kind of bummed about it” — the series’ special effects are so disarmingly realistic when it comes to dismembered humans, zombie feeding frenzies, and the like, that most of the cast and crew have stopped eating meat of all kinds, finding it just too unsavory given, well, the series they’re working on.

Naturally, this has meant the catering on-set has gone off meat for a bit, with the vast majority of it being meat-free altogether. According to an “off-camera source” who explained it to UK paper The Daily Star, “about 80%” of the food served during filming has nixed flesh from its ingredients list.

“After watching Walkers realistically look as though they are consuming bloody human flesh or seeing heads and other body parts sliced off,” explained the source, “no one was touching the red meat or even chicken that was on offer.”

And it’s not just the regulars who’ve been put-off by the realism of their grisy set-up. “Often, we’re talking about hundreds of people who need to be fed on a show that regularly uses an enormous number of extras all made-up to look so scary they’d put anyone off eating.”

“Who could possibly sit down to liver and onions or a kidney dish after slopping around ...

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Of Course Bill Murray Introduced Londoners To American Football In A Bear Hat

by 28 mins ago

Just when we think Bill Murray cannot possibly out-Murray himself, he throws a bear hat on his head and gives the people of London a talkin’-to about football.

Don’t go changing, Bill. Don’t go changing at all.

When he’s not busy giving sage love advice and dropping in on rogue parties, the perma-king of all things chuckleworthy and unofficial ambassador of our hearts takes up side gigs, like being the face of American football in London. Which is exactly what he comedian got up to this weekend, introducing the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions to a crowd perhaps less familiar with their origins than folks living stateside.

The teams battled it out during a special match at Wembley Stadium early Sunday morning (October 26), and though American football in the UK seems counterintuitive, some brilliant person over at the NFL or FOX or something had the brilliant idea to put Murray into that all-encompassing introductory role — and let him do it his way. The Murray way. Which is to say, when he wasn’t introducing the backstory of these two particular teams, Murray spent his video time wisely: making bird calls.

We know it’s usually saved for the queen, Beyoncé, but we think she’d agree: Bill Murray’s lookin’ straight-up kookerifically ***FLAWLESS. I mean he definitely woke up like this, right?

Bill Murray is a gift to us all.

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her ...

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Pregnant Blake Lively Had A ‘Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants’ Reunion Off-Broadway

by 24 mins ago

Well, well, well: if it isn’t those age-old, movie-made friends turned real-life BIFFLES, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” Yes, that’s right: a pregnant Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel took in a little Off-Broadway matinee of “Lips Together, Teeth Apart” to support the fourth leg of this friendship, America Ferrera, in her latest starring role.

It’s sort of beyond adorable that this motley crew of celebrity ladies are still close after all these years. Not only that, but that they hang out and support each other? Even better! Aww shucks, now we kinda-sorta can’t wait for Lively bridal shower, where no doubt the girls will come together to buy a pair of all-fitting baby jeans for the soon-to-be Baby Reynolds so that she might start her own group of girlfriends to help her get by.

Or maybe this is all just part of a plot point for the third “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” film that’s allegedly forthcoming? Ooh! Our girls are all grown up: who says movie magic only stays on the screen, eh?

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

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‘The Avengers: Age Of Ultron’ Will Have Most Visual Effects Of Any Marvel Movie, Ever

by 9 mins ago

Get ready to be dazzled by the brilliant abilities of visual effects and the folks who make them because “Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron” is apparently replete with them. In fact the film has set a new record for the comic book-turned-everything-superhero-ever mega-house. Which is really no small feat when you consider just how shiny and VFX-y their other endeavors have been thus far.

Over at The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel’s Executive Vice President of visual effects and post-production — in addition to holding a title of executive producer on ‘Ultron’ — Victoria Alonso is quoted from a summit in Hollywood, spoke out about the film’s triumphs in that regard, putting previous record-holder, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and their 2,750 visual effects shot to shame. By a pretty wide margin to boot.

Alonso expects ‘Ultron’ to top out somewhere over 3,000 VFX shots, which is crazy when you consider that a good chunk of the film will take place on earth, compared to ‘Guardians’ which was a total intergalactic smoke show (because it’s not like they were sending Chris Pratt and Co. up into space or anything).

Naturally, this means we’re in for some seriously epic battles with some seriously impressive baddies. And everything’s just going to look g-o-o-d, in general, so get ready for the eye-feast, y’all.

In addition, Alonso hinted at the company’s next big effects move: upping their immersive sound game. And while Marvel “likely won’t be the first out of the gate,” they’re ...

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A 24/7 ‘Star Wars’ Channel Is Coming To Our Planet

by 21 mins ago

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… oh who are we kidding? This is happening right now! Or rather will start on December 1, when German TV network Sky Deutschland turns its Sky Hits digital channel into Sky Star Wars HD. And yes it will be all “Star Wars” all the time.

True to its name, Sky Star Wars HD will play nothing but the films and its related featurettes and documentaries for 2 weeks — starting December 1st and ending on December 14th — on a nonstop 24-hour loop. The only catch? You have to be a Sky subscriber in Germany and Austria to gain access to the intergalactic madness.

“We all know that for ‘Star Wars’ fans it is too long to wait till Dec. 18, 2015 (for the launch of the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VII),” explained Sky Deutschland’s Vice President of programming, Gary Davey. Guesstimating oh-so rightly (no doubt), Davey figured a 24/7 Star Wars network would ensure the hold-out was “a bit sweeter” thanks to the added programming than without.

For you German Jedis here’s the full deal: Sky Star Wars HD will show every Star Wars-branded film in their narrative — rather than chronological — order. Starting with 1999′s “Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” the loop itself will end with 1983′s “Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi.” But that’s not all! In addition to the films, the channel will ...

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Mr. Schue is Married! ‘Glee’ Star Matthew Morrison Makes It Official

by 1 min ago

Hot for teacher? Well “Glee” Star Matthew Morrison may have just given your dreams permanent detention, because Mr. Shuester just got married to his longtime girlfriend Renee Puente. And it was quite the musical affair!

Though there’s no word as to what sort of mash-up medley the students of Lima High performed — or if they were there at all, which, let’s be real they probably weren’t — it was an evening filled with entertainment and fanfare.

Pianist Chad Whidden played while soloist Kiley Dean sang “Feels Like Home” as Puente walked down the aisle and later, during the party, “Puente put on a special Hula performance for Morrison,” explained People. “He then joined her in a couples version.”

The newlyweds wrapped up the whole performance with a duet, singing Laura Benanti’s “Starry Eyed/Video Games.”

The whole evening took place at a private estate in Kihei on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Only 50 friends and family were in attendance — though chances are Sue Sylvester was lurking somewhere, attempting to crash and foil the whole affair. Thankfully, she didn’t. Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

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