Bubba Watson is the hovercraft-riding, swashbuckling, devout Christian, self-taught 2012 Masters winner who recently came under fire at the Travelers Championship after he berated his caddy on the 16th hole. The 34-year-old had been two strokes ahead, only to finish the tournament in fourth place, four strokes behind the winner.

Before the Travelers began, Watson caught up with The Huffington Post via phone to discuss his struggles since winning at Augusta in 2012 (he hasn't won an event since), his stance on the controversial belly putter, and why he has "never" feared Tiger Woods.

What was your take on the US Open at Merion?

A US Open doesn't really show you, score-wise, if you're playing great or if you're not playing so good. If you win, obviously you're playing great. I felt like I played good. I hit some good shots. They set it up where you can play great and still shoot over par, so that's just the facts.

How has life changed on and off the course since winning the Masters?

We adopted our baby boy the week before the Masters. My life changed right there. Winning this Masters made it that much more different. The crowds are bigger, more fans, more media attention. When I go places now to practice, people recognize me more. My son is the most important part, that's the part that's changed my life the most. Being a father. Trying to set an example for him. As he gets older he's gonna hopefully look up to his dad. That's my goal; trying to represent my family the right way.

Has having a son changed your perception of success, or how you define success?

You know, a little, yes. I don't judge my life based on if I'm No. 1 in the world or if I have the most wins. But having a son has helped me see that more and more. That shows you a lot more what that means.

Watson has not won a tournament since winning the Masters in 2012. (AP)

Do you feel more pressure because of the fans and added media attention?

No more pressure. My thing about that is I haven't won since then. I haven't played as well as I've wanted to. In my first five years on tour, I didn't have a win and then I had four in a short period of time; one was the Masters. And so golf is about ups and downs. Tiger [Woods] is an exception to the rule. Phil Mickelson is an exception. For the most part, an average guy on the PGA Tour, it's hard to get a multiple-win season. But no, it's not pressure on myself just wanting to perform at a high level.

The belly putter, which will be banned, has been a huge topic of debate. What is your stance on it?

I've always liked what the USGA said. USGA said that basically it's a short version of a golf swing, the putting stroke itself. When you put it in your belly, it's not really the same putting stroke. It's not the same motion. I agreed with them on that, and that's where I stand on that. I can see where the game is going that way. We've heard people say that it takes away the nerves. I mean, the nerves are still there -- don't get me wrong. If you have a belly putter and a putt to win, you're still nervous. Obviously I'm no scientist, so I haven't checked it out myself. I agree with the USGA, 100 percent.

Are guys talking about it though, perhaps off the course?

No. I haven't heard anybody talk about it. The USGA banned it, but it's not until 2016, so it seems weird. That'd be like, you're not allowed to take drugs but you can take them the next two years. It doesn't make sense. Pretty much their rules run the Majors, so I would have to see that the PGA Tour will fall in line, so I don't see any way around it.

You're pretty well known for your idiosyncrasies and superstitions.

Oh, I do some weird stuff on the course but I don't think it helps me any. It makes me just weirder I guess. I always gotta have three tees in my pocket, and right now they gotta be white and have my name on them, in pink. I've got my own ball markers that say "Bubba" on them. As soon as I break a tee, I've gotta get another in my pocket.

Have you always been like that?

You get used to certain things. Golf is so mental. They change your attitude on the golf course. For some reason, I always carry chapstick everywhere I go. I don't even use it some days, and I left it at the US Open. I was calling my trainer, who texted my wife, and my wife brought me chapstick. Little things like that. Different feel. You practice golf one way and it doesn't feel the same. It'd be like playing without my watch on.

What value do you place on your diet, in terms of nutrition and hydration?

I always drink water and cranberry juice; maybe some apple juice. I don't drink any soda, no caffeine. I try to work out six days a week, at least. My trainer's always with me.

Have you noticed what happens when you're not hydrated?

Oh yeah. I'm a little bit more tired and stiff. The energy level is down. The more hydrated I am, the more bubbly and happy I am.

What would you say are your short- and long-term goals in golf?

I always want to play in the team events. I've always had a goal to have 10 wins. You wanna compete in the Majors. The Majors are the ones that everybody talks about. Career[wise], I would love to be a Ryder Cup or President's Cup Captain. That would be an honor, a privilege.

Of Tiger Woods, Watson tells HuffPost: "Truthfully, I've never felt a fear-factor with him." (Getty Images)

With his recent success, Tiger Woods has become relevant once again. Is there a fear factor there or are you more aware of his presence throughout a tournament?

Truthfully, I've never felt a fear factor with him. The media has talked about that. It's one of those things -- like the US Open -- nobody feared who was in the field. Everybody fears that golf course. I think people fear a bad shot. When I'm trying to chase down the stretch on a Sunday afternoon, I'm trying to make a 10-footer. I'm not thinking about who's on the leaderboard. I'm think about, I'm one back, I'm two back. Obviously, when he doesn't play at his highest level, you're like: 'Well, he didn't feel right and he's not going to tell anybody.' We don't fear him. We fear the golf course.

Email me at jordan.schultz@huffingtonpost.com or ask me questions about anything sports-related at @Schultz_Report. Also, be sure and catch my NBC Sports Radio show, Kup and Schultz, which airs Sunday mornings from 9-12 ET, right here.

Robin Thicke has hit back at critics who called his hit song "Blurred Lines" (and its corresponding music video) as misogynistic. "I can't even dignify that with a response, that's ridiculous," Thicke told BBC's Radio 1.

He did, of course, dignify that with a response. Here it is: "I don't want to be sleazy, I'm a gentleman, I've been in love with the same woman since I've been a teenager. I don't want to do anything inappropriate."

Thicke says that his wife, actress Paula Patton, actually pushed him to release the NSFW version of the video that was pulled from and re-added to YouTube. "My initial response was I love the clothed version, I don't think we should put out the naked version," he said. "And then I showed it to my wife and all of her girlfriends and they said, 'You have to put this out, this is so sexy and so cool.'"

In the clip, Thicke, Pharrell Williams and T.I. cavort with naked models, flipping their hair and generally dancing around them. Some critics dubbed the video and song "rapey," pointing to lines like "I know you want it" and the video as "blurring" the lines of consent and agency.

Not so, says Thicke. "For me it's about blurring the lines between men and women and how much we're the same," he said. "And the other side which is the blurred lines between a good girl and a bad girl, and even very good girls all have little bad sides to them."

That doesn't totally jibe with Thicke's earlier comments. In an interview with GQ, the crooner was a bit more glib:

We tried to do everything that was taboo. Bestiality, drug injections, and everything that is completely derogatory towards women. Because all three of us are happily married with children, we were like, "We're the perfect guys to make fun of this."

People say, "Hey, do you think this is degrading to women?" I'm like, "Of course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I've never gotten to do that before. I've always respected women." So we just wanted to turn it over on its head and make people go, "Women and their bodies are beautiful. Men are always gonna want to follow them around."

The criticism certainly hasn't harmed the song's performance, as it continues to dominate the pop charts in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Remodeling a kitchen can be exciting... but also very overwhelming. Between researching appliances, choosing new cabinets and looking at tiles, there are just so many choices to be made. While we can't be there next to you at the paint store (remember, the color looks lighter on the strip!), we can take the guess work out of one big decision: the kitchen countertops.

There are literally dozens of products to compare, but we've narrowed down seven common options that you can't go wrong with. Whether you're an avid cook, a bit on the messier side or looking for a budget-friendly alternative, one of these materials will surely be a perfect fit.

1. Stainless Steel

What is it? It's exactly what it sounds like. Sheets of the metal are retrofitted to fit your unique design.
Why we like it: Chefs love how they're antimicrobial and super easy to clean and we love the metallic glow they give any kitchen.
Downfalls: Metal will scratch and etch over time, but this is part of the beauty of its patina.

2. Butcher Block

What is it? These beauties are typically made from a hard maple that is laminated and sealed.
Why we like it: If you're looking for the warm, rich look of wood, they're right up your alley.
Downfalls: This product needs to be sealed regularly because it is very porous. Unfortunately, it can scorch, stain and scratch.

3. Laminate

What is it? Paper or fabric sheeting is glued to a plywood substrate.
Why we like it: It's available in thousands of colors and styles, it's inexpensive and pretty durable.
Downfalls: You'll see seams, you can't cut on it and it will scorch if you put a hot pot on the surface.

4. Granite

What is it? A strong natural stone which can be polished or honed.
Why we like it: This can be found with many beautiful color variations, it resists chemicals and bacteria and it's relatively easy to maintain if you seal it once in a while.
Downfalls: There aren't too many issues, but it must be sealed and there will be some visible seams.

5. Solid Surfacing

What is it? Plastic resins with a stone look.
Why we like it: This material can be made virtually seamless and it comes in many colors and patterns.
Downfalls: It's not as heat resistant as natural stone.

6. Quartz

What is it? A combination of natural quartz stone and manmade resins.
Why we like it: It's extremely durable, non-porous and it resists heat. It also needs very little maintenance.
Downfalls: This one is pretty expensive and you will see some seams.

7. Marble

What is it? An elegant natural stone with notable veining and markings.
Why we like it: It's truly beautiful, and reminds us of French patisseries.
Downfalls: It can stain and etch pretty easily and has a hefty price tag.

Make sure to check out our slideshow of ten home projects you probably shouldn't DIY.

Have something to say? Check out HuffPost Home on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.

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Do you have a home story idea or tip? Email us at homesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

Nicki Minaj definitely didn't get the memo about the Met Gala's punk theme, but she made up for it while striking a pose for Marie Claire's August 2013 issue.

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS

The outspoken rapper channels a polished punk in a tartan Fausto Puglisi dress for the magazine's cover, and then gets more edgy inside the glossy while rocking a faux-hawk and skin tight LaQuan Smith catsuit. These looks are a far cry from the toned down look she debuted on Elle earlier this year, but homegirl still looks good. We're just glad she stepped away from the pasties.

In fact, the 30-year-old star admitted to Marie Claire that her former over-the-top ensembles were the "craziest, weirdest, ugliest stuff" and simply an attempt to "keep up a mystique."

Well, we're glad she cleared that up -- since we shutter to think that Nicki thought this or that looked good.

The issue also boasts Nicki fielding a number of questions ranging from "will you ever do a video with your real, beautiful hair?" to "who is your secret man?" -- all inquires thought up by her nearly 17 million Twitter followers.

To read the full interview head over to Marie Claire and make sure to check out the video above for behind-the-scenes footage of Nicki's shoot.

Hollywood's no place for the faint of heart and neither is marriage. Yet still, Denzel and Pauletta Washington have managed to find success at both, and they're opening up on how they do it in the August issue of Ebony magazine.

"There's no magical mystery to [staying together] ... We go through up and downs like any couple," Denzel told Ebony writer Shirley Henderson.

But Henderson asserts that it's the couple's foundation of faith, legacy and family that's seen them through the last 30 years. (The Washingtons celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on June 25.)

For Pauletta (and by extension, Denzel), maintaining stability is the key to success on the otherwise inconstant Hollywood scene.

“I live with this man. I see the down part. I see the sad part. I see every part. He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife. That’s gives him strength, regardless of if he misuses it. I can’t dwell on that. But I do know that gives him a great platform to go and fly," Paulette says.

It's an approach that she says transcends passion and lust and one that has clearly worked for Denzel.

"We live in a time -- and it's not for me to judge anyone -- when people give up too easy," Denzel says, exhibiting the same persistent spirit that prompted him to ask Pauletta to marry him three times.

Read more about the Washingtons marriage in the August issue of Ebony magazine, on newsstands now.

The guys of 1D are known for being pretty goofy, but recently, two of the five boy band members took a break from showing off their silly side -- and their many upcoming projects -- to talk about a more serious topic.

In a new video, Harry Styles and Liam Payne sat down to explain that 1 in 3 people will develop cancer at some point in their lives, which is why they are coming together with prizeo.com to raise awareness.

"Cancer affects us all in some way, and we all know of someone whose had it, whether it be a parent, a member of our family, a friend or a neighbor," says Harry. Watch Liam and Harry's message in the video above.

According to MTV.com, the bandmates are asking for donations in an effort to educate about lifestyle choices to help prevent cancer among young people. By donating, fans are automatically put in the running for a big (read: amazing) reward.

Partnering with Trekstock -- an organization that supports youth with cancer -- the grand-prize winner will fly out to London with a friend for a night out on the town with the boys. The winner will be selected at random.

What could be better than a free trip to London? Hanging out with two-fifths of 1D, obviously.

What do you think of Liam and Harry's message? What would YOU do if you could hang out with them? Tell us in the comments, or tweet @HuffPostTeen!

[h/t MTV.com]

Octavia Spencer made a big confession at last night's premiere of "Fruitvale Station": "I never saw 'The Wire,'" she told us.

WHAT? Despite the fact that her co-star, Michael B. Jordan, played one of the show's most memorable and tragic characters?

As both the porn and celebrity capitol of the US, Los Angeles is steamy hot. But in 2013, a billboard full of sideboob and sidebutt is just too much.

The billboard (photo below) for season 12 of Heidi Klum's ever-popular "Project Runway" has been banned in LA, Too Fab reports.

The ad for the TV show's "Fashion Reigns" campaign shows Klum and Tim Gunn in royal attire, lording over a group of naked, toned models.

The photo was set to run on billboards, posters, websites, bus shelters and in magazines, but LA has required that a version with underwear run in its place.

LA's east coast counterpart, New York City, on the other hand, is comfortable running the naked pic. Apparently NYC just can't say no!

Klum, now 40, posed nude herself for Allure magazine just last year.

According to Too Fab's poll results, 61 percent of readers thought the banned ad below was "fine," while 39% thought it was "inappropriate".

What do you think?

Despite landing in the middle of a heated debate surrounding a cultural boycott of Israeli institutions, Alicia Keys decided to perform in Israel on July 4th.

Keys sang in front of a sold-out crowd at Nokia Stadium in Tel Aviv to promote peace and unity through music. Popular Israeli musician Idan Raichel also joined Keys on stage for a mash-up of some of the two artists' most popular songs.

The 14-time Grammy Award winning singer's performance was received controversial reactions from various cultural boycott groups such as the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel -- which sent her a petition signed by more than 16,000 people asking her to cancel the show.

Several artists and musicians had also protested Keys' performance. Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker sent an open letter to Keys, in which she asked her to cancel the performance in Tel Aviv. Former Pink Floyd vocalist Roger Waters also sent Keys an open letter agreeing with Walker's request.

Despite facing opposition, several individuals and organizations supported Keys' performance. For example, The Creative Community for Peace, an organization of entertainment industry executives, released an open letter calling Walker's plea to Keys 'misleading.'

Instead of engaging in the tense conversation between these various artists and organizations, Keys went ahead and performed. She felt that the goal of her performance was to promote unity, not disagreement.

“I look forward to my first visit to Israel," Keys told the New York Times in a recent article. "Music is a universal language that is meant to unify audiences in peace and love, and that is the spirit of our show.”

The CCFP thanked Keys for her performance as well as her message of achieving mutual love and friendship through music.

Anyone getting lucky tonight can now channel Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" in more ways than one. The popular song's sexually charged themes only get sexier with the use of the newly released Daft Punk-themed condoms.

The band has partnered with Durex to produce prophylactics that feature the cover of "Random Access Memories" on the front of the packet. The company has been sending out samples to DJs across the world, and Diplo responded by posting a photo to Instagram with the caption, "Thank god I had those daft punk condoms last night."

Daft Punk's efforts are not the first that have found musicians serving as the faces of condom brands. Ludacris teamed up with Magnum in 2011, offering fans the opportunity to appear alongside the rapper onstage, and Ke$ha later blasted throngs of condoms from her glitter cannon in conjunction with her LifeStyles partnership.

If rubbers aren't enough for Daft Punk diehards, just wait until December, when action figures of the band will be available.

Check out Diplo's photo of his opened Daft Punk condom package:

Because not an hour can go by without more Jay-Z news, the rapper/Samsung pitchman has taken to the Pace Gallery in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood to film a video for "Picasso Baby," the second track on his new "Magna Carta Holy Grail" album. Celebrities in attendance for the shoot included Judd Apatow, rapper Wale, Marina Abramovic and "Girls" star Adam Driver.

HuffPost Entertainment editor Kia Makarechi is on the scene at the moment, relaying some of Jay's moves back to the home office. Check out the clips below (warning: some of the lyrics in "Picasso Baby" are wildly NSFW).

Stay tuned for more from the "Picasso Baby" video shoot.

More reports from the scene: Performance artist extraordinaire Marina Abramovic appeared during at least one take of the video:

... as was rapper Wale:

These days, our knowledge of celebrities too often originates with paparazzi images and snarky quotes by anonymous "insiders." After a while, it's easy to forget that stars are real people. That's why HuffPost Celebrity decided to launch its all-new #nofilter quick-fire question and answer series. Because how well do you know someone until they've shared their guiltiest pleasures?

Michael Cera is an actor, writer, director, bass-player and 25-year-old. He's now having a bit of a moment and seems to be up to cool thing after cool thing.

He stopped by HuffPost Live on July 10 with filmmaker Sebastian Silva to promote his new film, "Crystal Fairy," and talked to HuffPost Celebrity about threesomes and Paul Rudd.

A few years ago, pictures of you having fake neck tattoos circulated. Have you ever gotten any real tattoos?
No. No. Easy answer.

A couple weeks ago Martha Stewart admitted to having a threesome on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live," so we figured we'd ask you the same question. Have you ever had a threesome?
A threesome with Martha Stewart, no. No, no, no, I would never bring a third person into that. I don't want to degrade it. I don't want to talk about my threesomes with Martha Stewart.

What do you think of Paul Rudd?
I would have a threesome with him. Me and him and Martha I think would ... I think we could actually have a marriage, the three of us.

To answer that question seriously, I think Paul Rudd is one of the funniest, most talented actors working. I think he's amazing.

If you were given a reality show, what would it be called?
Hmm. "Michael, Martha, and Paul." "Peter, Paul, and Martha and Michael." A reality show of my life? Um, it would be called, "I Accidentally Told The Truth." That's my autobiography.

Angelina Jolie is stepping behind the camera for her next movie, directing the upcoming film "Unbroken." It was announced Wednesday that "Unbroken" will hit theaters on Dec. 25, 2014.

Jolie, who made her directorial debut with 2011's "In The Land Of Blood And Honey," will lead the adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's non-fiction book of the same name. "Unbroken" tells the story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who spent years as a POW during World War II.

“I’ve had the privilege of spending a great deal of time with Louie Zamperini, who is a hero of mine, and now—I am proud to say—a dear friend,” Jolie said in a statement, Deadline.com reports. “I am deeply honored to be telling his extraordinary story, and I will do my absolute best to give him the film he deserve.”

The story was originally intended to be adapted by Francis Lawrence ("The Hunger Games: Catching Fire") in 2011, but the plans for the film never came to fruition.

In addition to the release date, Jolie announced that newcomer Jack O'Connell will play Zamperini in the film.

The Christmas 2014 release date will pit "Unbroken" against some heavy hitters. Films already scheduled for a Dec. 25, 2014 release include the "Annie" reboot starring Quvenzhané Wallis and the star-studded "Into the Woods" adaptation.

It’s no secret that, apart from her talent, Salma Hayek has a curvaceous figure many in Hollywood envy. Still, the Mexican beauty confessed that she, like Angelina Jolie, would also decide on a double mastectomy if faced with cancer.

During the promotional tour for her upcoming comedy “Grown Ups 2,” the Mexican actress stopped by Univision’s studios in Miami. On Monday, Hayek first appeared on “Despierta América” to give her co-stars a hilarious Spanish lesson but later the star discussed her thoughts on Jolie’s decision in an interview with "El Gordo y la Flaca."

In the interview, the 46-year-old star spoke about working with David Spade, Kevin James, and Adam Sandler and the things that make her happiest. When asked whether she would be willing to sacrifice her breasts if faced with Jolie’s decision, the Mexican beauty was quick to assert she would.

“To save myself, of course!” Hayek told journalist Oscar Petit during the exclusive interview. “I don’t know if I would have done the same [as Jolie] so quickly, perhaps I would have had more faith, thought more positively that nothing was going to happen to me. But you know, I don’t know, it’s not fair to put yourself in that situation when you haven’t been in it. I respect her decision a lot, of course. Plus, she looks great.”

(Check Out The Interview Above In Spanish)

In May, actress Angelina Jolie published an opinion piece in The New York Times, titled “My Medical Choice.” In the piece the star revealed she had undergone a preventive double mastectomy after doctors told her she “had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer” due to a mutated BRCA1 gene.

Jolie opened the piece recounting losing her own mother to cancer and wanting to prevent her children from experiencing that same loss. Recently, singer Melissa Etheridge called the actress’ decision to get a preventive double mastectomy a “fearful” one.

"I wouldn’t call it the brave choice. I actually think it’s the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer,” Etheridge, who is a breast cancer survivor, told the Washington Blade. “My belief is that cancer comes from inside you and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body. It’s the stress that will turn that gene on or not...”

Jolie made her first public appearance since the surgery on June 2, during the London premiere of her husband’s latest film “World War Z.”

Queen Elizabeth II is keeping busy while she waits for the royal baby to arrive. Instead of camping outside the duchess' anticipated hospital as some well-wishers have done, Elizabeth pow-wowed with international royals on Wednesday.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima had tea with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle, the couple's first official visit since ascending the Dutch throne. According to sources, the meeting was a joyous one -- kisses were involved.

Maxima wore a red sleeveless dress and practical nude pumps (sadly, no bicycle riding this time), while Elizabeth picked a festive long-sleeved number adorned with blue and green hydrangea. King Willem-Alexander modeled a sensible blue tie to round out the stylish trio.

Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship, or what?

PHOTOS:

We've got our eyes on Maxima:

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.

Fresh off the record-breaking debut of her music video for "We Can't Stop," pop princess Miley Cyrus now has 766 more reasons to rejoice.

That's number of people who have so far signed a petition asking that her song "Party in the U.S.A." become the new national anthem.

Posted to the White House's "We the People" site two days before Independence Day, the petition reads, "Obama please make Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" our national anthem. It is what is best for this country."

To paraphrase a succinct summary from Mashable's Brian Anthony Hernandez, "Party In The U.S.A.," which has been watched over 342 million times on YouTube, is the energetic tale of a young Jay-Z and Britney Spears fan who moves to Los Angeles. It's the American Dream, wrapped in bedazzled, American flag Daisy Duke shorts.

Despite the song's undeniable commercial success, it's probably not time for Francis Scott Key fans to worry just yet. In order for this pipe dream to become reality -- or even simply elicit a response from President Barack Obama -- 99,234 more party people will have to sign the online petition before Aug. 1.

A similar petition posted in March requesting R. Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" be named the new national anthem did not elicit an official response from White House officials.

The ever-colorful Snoop Lion previously told The Huffington Post that if he had to pick one song to become the new national anthem, it would be "Young, Wild and Free." He then proceeded to sing some of the lyrics, which celebrate getting drunk and using drugs.

Listen to Miley Cyrus' "Party In The U.S.A." in the video below:

Ricky Gervais may be best known for starring on The Office and hosting the Golden Globes, and while I love him for those two things, my absolute favourite thing to watch Gervais do is torment his so-called pal, Karl Pilkington. He did it in the first two seasons of An Idiot Abroad, which involved dispatching Pilkington into the world, something he's not particularly interested in, and does it once again in this three-episode special, An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Round.

In the first season, Gervais and his writing partner-in-crime, Stephen Merchant, sent Pilkington to the seven wonders of the world (the New7Wonders of the World), and in Season 2, Pilkington went to various destinations and crossed things off his bucket list. If you're familiar with the likes of Karl Pilkington, then you know he's a miserable, stodgy oaf who would rather be home in front of the telly rather than the far-off places around the globe Gervais and Merchant send him.

But while Gervais and Merchant make Pilkington do ridiculous things for a laugh, I tend to sympathize with Pilkington and, more often than not, identiy with him. Gah! I don't think I'm a whiny curmudgeon but I am a homebody so I, like Pilkington, would probably rather be home than be strapped to the wing of an airplane as it flies upside down, get into a diaper and enter a sumo wrestling ring, or attend a cuddle party (yes, it's exactly how it sounds ... absolutely awful). Sure, it's hilarious to hear what Gervais and Merchant would have planned for poor Pilkington, but it was his flabbergasted response that would have me in tears. I love how he doesn't pretend to be gung-ho about whatever he's about to do and is brutally honest about his apprehension.

Which is why The Short Way Round might be a perfect combination, just shorter (no pun intended) and sweeter. Instead of focusing on just Pilkington, Gervais thought it would be a better idea to have his pal, Warwick Davis, tag along. And if you thought Pilkington venturing out on his own was funny, wait until you see him with the dwarf actor. The oddest couple ever were originally supposed to bike around England together, but Gervais thought it would be funnier to keep it global. Their travels are based on the journey of Marco Polo, as the pair make their way to China from Venice (which Pilkington once described as "London, flooded," ha!), Eastern Europe and India.

Curiously, Merchant isn't involved in this miniseries and is busy with other projects, but his absence isn't missed with Davis taking part. Unlike grumbly Pilkington, Davis is happy-go-lucky and takes everything that's thrown at him with a grin, and instead of getting angry and frustrated, he just takes Pilkington's abuse. And I really believe he's that good-natured and isn't trying to enrage Pilkington. Gervais tries to stir stuff up by putting Davis in nicer hotel rooms and tries to stop Pilkington from fighting with his travelling companion, but Pilkington just can't help himself.

Pilkington simply doesn't understand Davis' easy-breezy ways. Some might think this is more about a little person being bullied, but it's Pilkington who is consistently mocked here -- and deservedly. Even when Pilkington reacts to learning that Gervais has included Davis in his travelling plans (complaining right in front of Davis that he would slow him down and hang on to him "like a leech, sucking my blood, taking everything from me"), Pilkington's the one that looks bad, but funnily enough, not in a bad way. More like how you would pity an old uncle or grandpa who is too set in his own ways to change. To be honest, I actually find Pilkington rather endearing because of those reasons, but I get how he could be seen as irksome.

Some may also find it uncomfortable to watch, but I found the entire premise absolutely hilarious. It only emphasized just how unhappy Pilkington is, which is really the whole point of the series. If only it was longer than three episodes -- but it's better than nothing, right?

An Idiot Abroad: The Short Way Around airs back-to-back on Sunday, July 14 beginning at 7 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on Discovery Channel.

Genre goddess Summer Glau will join "Arrow" Season 2 in the recurring role of Isabel Rochev, The Huffington Post has learned.

Isabel is described as the enigmatically beautiful and professionally dangerous Vice President of Aquisitions of Stellmoor International, a company looking to take over Queen Consolidated. Eagle-eyed "Arrow" viewers will note that last season, Isabel's name appeared on Robert Queen's list of corrupt individuals who have failed Starling City.

In comics canon, Isabel fell in love with Robert Queen (Jamey Sheridan) after he came to her village in Siberia, and later became the CEO of Queen Industries under the pretense of restoring the disgraced company to its former glory. Naturally, in typically villainous fashion, she also wanted to kill Robert's true heir, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), in the process.

Since this is "Arrow," expect the writers to surprise us with a suitably original take on the established character. Whatever they come up with, we're betting that Oliver and his vigilante alter-ego won't be too pleased about Isabel's takeover plan.

Glau earned the loyalty of geeks everywhere through roles on "Firefly," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Dollhouse" and "Alphas," to name a few, and has previous experience with the DC Comics universe after voicing Supergirl in the animated movie "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse."

In other "Arrow" Season 2 news, recurring guest stars Manu Bennett (Slade Wilson) and Colton Haynes (Roy Harper) were promoted to series regulars, along with fan-favorite Emily Bett Rickards (Felicity Smoak).

"Arrow" Season 2 will premiere Wednesday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.

What do you think of Summer Glau's casting? Are you looking forward to Season 2? Weigh in below!

Introducing a character with Asperger's or autism on a TV show is hardly a new phenomenon, but it does seem to be more prevalent in pop culture lately. Is this trend on TV just the new, popular character quirk, or is it a sign of society's efforts to embrace and personify a disorder that has become more and more prevalent?

FX's "The Bridge" (premieres Wednesday, July 10 at 10 p.m. ET) is the latest TV show to feature a main character that has Asperger's -- in this case, Diane Kruger's leading lady Det. Sonya Cross -- and while it's unclear if it's necessary to the storytelling in the first few episodes, especially considering that it's never actually stated, it's the reason Kruger signed on for the series, the first TV starring role of her career.

"As soon as I started reading up on it, I realized that this was a really daunting undertaking because it's not something you can just put on," Kruger told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's a mind frame that I have to put myself into every day."

On the other end of the spectrum discussion is NBC's "Hannibal" -- in the pilot episode, it only took a few minutes for Laurence Fishburne's Jack Crawford to ask FBI analyst-turned-professor Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) where exactly he fell "on the spectrum." Will's particular brand of autism or Asperger's is never explicitly stated, but his laser-like focus, refusal to make eye contact, sympathizing with animals and solitary lifestyle are just a few of the indicators.

Is the use of that term "on the spectrum" in mainstream media surprising? "I hear it all the time in my work," says Dr. Mark McDonald, who has a specialty in child and adolescent psychiatry. "I do think that the expression has become more commonplace now. It's less of a technical term -- sort of how you would hear people say 'anal-retentive.' It's a very specific psychological term, but it's very commonly used, and has been for a long time, just to describe people who are very controlling.

"I don't know if ['the spectrum'] will become as common as that, or as OCD, but it's certainly come out of technical jargon into a much more common street use than it used to be. I certainly hear it a lot more than I ever did seven years ago when I first started studying it."

One show that not only mentions Asperger's and the autism "spectrum," but tackles it head-on is NBC's "Parenthood." Max Braverman (Max Burkholder) has been given several pivotal episodes and scenes since his character's Asperger's diagnosis, giving viewers a new take on family dynamics, but also something to talk about.

"Parenthood" showrunner Jason Katims has spoken at length about his decision to include a character with Asperger's, fully acknowledging that it would be an added effort to make the stories and portrayal authentic and to tell such personal stories since his own son has Asperger's. But in the end, these were stories worth telling, and the reaction to the character of Max has been an extremely positive one.

Burkholder previously spoke with The Huffington Post about the amount of research that goes into Max's storylines. "Every couple of episodes I have a meeting with the executive producer, and the director of the episodes, and sometimes some of the writers, and a doctor specializing in Asperger's and we just talk about what Max would be doing in certain situations, like how he would react to certain things and if everyone was over here doing this, what would Max be doing?" he said.

Dr. McDonald notes that a difficulty with social interaction is the most common trait of someone with Asperger's, noting that "their language development is normal, their IQs are high, they're very project-oriented, they complete concrete, repetitive or technical tasks very quickly and very well ... as long as they don't have to work with other people and manage the intricacies of social relationships."

Several other shows have touched on these indicators with their characters on the autism spectrum, to various degrees of success, including: "Grey's Anatomy's" Dr. Virginia Dixon (Mary McDonnell) in Season 5; "Fringe's" alternate-universe Astrid Farnsworth (Jasika Nicole); Jake Bohm (David Mazouz) on Kiefer Sutherland's "Touch"; Gary Bell (Ryan Cartwright) on "Alphas"; JJ (Ollie Barbieri) on the U.K.'s "Skins"; and Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson) from "Boston Legal," whose considerable physical quirks and awkward gestures earned him the nickname "Hands."

But not all TV characters are ready -- or willing -- to be diagnosed. "The Big Bang Theory's" Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) is probably one of the most obvious examples of a TV character who appears to have Asperger's, but co-creator Bill Prady has said that they've never written him with that specific intention, and they will never say that he does, indeed, have Asperger's.

Same goes for "Community's" Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), who most fans assume has Asperger's. He was even "diagnosed" on the show by Joel McHale's character Jeff Winger, but he'll probably never be truly diagnosed onscreen since talking about a person's medical conditions could easily take a show from being a comedy to being a "very special episode" of an '80s drama. However, Abed's particular character quirks famously prompted creator Dan Harmon to research Asperger's and, in turn, discover that he himself falls somewhere on the spectrum.

As a TV journalist, I'm of the mindset that any thoughtful portrayal is a good thing -- for starting a dialogue, for helping someone look into getting a diagnosis, for recognizing that people aren't cookie cutter characters, and TV characters shouldn't be either. But I also acknowledge that this isn't something I live with in my everyday life.

So I'm curious: Have you noticed the recent influx of TV characters with Asperger's? Do you think the condition is being thoughtfully explored on TV, or exploited? Who's getting it right?

Justin Timberlake is edging his way toward unveiling the second round of his "20/20 Experience," this time teasing the launch with a new video promo.

The short clip sees Timerlake emerge from a convertible holding a stack of poster boards, each of which contains the date of one of his recent releases: "Suit & Tie," "Mirrors," "The 20/20 Experience" and, finally, a new single called "Take Back the Night," a track that does not appear on the "Experience" that was released in March.

The card that should contain the date of the "Take Back the Night" debut is blurred out, however, leaving us to continue to wonder when Timberlake will usher in this new iteration of the album, which is slated for a Sept. 30 release. The singer then enters a nightclub as a sample of "Night" begins to blare.

In the meantime, we can continue to enjoy JT's ever-growing accolade as having the best-selling album of the year -- one that will surely escalate with Part 2 of "The 20/20 Experience."