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Tori Kelly On Hitting The SXSW Stage With Justin Bieber

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When Tori Kelly hopped on stage to do a show at SXSW on March 9, she had no idea Justin Bieber would be performing with her.

Kelly joined HuffPost Live from Austin to chat about the SXSW scene, and during the interview she gave the scoop on Bieber's surprise performance for an intimate audience at Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden. Kelly said she planned a group jam session but had no idea there would be such a special guest star.

"Literally like five minutes before I was about to go on, I was like, 'We should all do a song together,'" Kelly said. "So I was talking with the guys from Rixton and Cody Simpson and Dan + Shay, and I was like, 'Let's just all jam, we don't need to rehearse it.'"

After about 20 minutes, Kelly was ready to wrap things up, but she got word that she had to keep going.

"They're like, 'No, you got to keep playing, you got to keep playing, Justin's about to come up,'" she said.

Finally, Bieber made his appearance to deafening excitment from the audience: "The crowd went crazy. They went insane."

See the full HuffPost Live interview with Tori Kelly from SXSW in the video below.


'Wild Canaries' Is The Screwball Indie Murder Mystery You Always Wanted

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"Wild Canaries" is maybe the first of its kind: a screwball indie comedy that owes just as much to "The Thin Man" series and "Manhattan Murder Mystery" as it does to any mumblecore favorite made in the last decade.

"We have the classic, three-hour films that we get on Netflix DVD, and the discs sit on our counter for a month or whatever. Meanwhile, we're watching 'Columbo,'" Sophia Takal, star and producer of "Wild Canaries," told HuffPost Entertainment after the film's world premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival. "We thought, 'Why not make a movie that we'd actually want to watch?'"

The "we" in that equation is Takal and her husband, writer-director Lawrence Michael Levine. The real-life partners, who have often appeared together in films before (most notably in 2010's "Gabi on the Roof in July," which Levine also wrote and directed), play Barri and Noah in "Wild Canaries," an engaged couple living in Brooklyn whose life is thrown asunder when their downstairs neighbor dies. Barri suspects foul play, first focusing on the neighbor's son (Kevin Corrigan) until other suspects -- another neighbor, played by Jason Ritter, his estranged wife, played by Lindsay Burdge, and even Noah himself -- begin to materialize. Or maybe nothing untoward happened at all. Maybe Barri is just channeling her commitment fears into the mystery, while Noah uses interactions with an ex-girlfriend to deal with his own pre-marriage panic.

"I'm not sure why more people don't make movies like this," Takal said, before acknowledging that raising money for "Wild Canaries" was particularly challenging.

"We were really picky about who we took it to," Takal said. "A big conversation we had was whether or not Larry and I should be in the movie. Some people felt that we weren't famous, so they would only give us money if we weren't in it. Larry felt really strongly that what would set this movie apart, in a way, was to have a real couple at the center. It just felt like such an extension of our relationship and our working relationship.

"There's a question of integrity in a way," Takal continued. "We're making a bigger movie, but what parts of ourselves are we going to sell out? We always made movies with each other in them, so we want to keep doing that. That became the non-negotiable."

As Takal noted, it helped that actors such as Ritter, Corrigan and Alia Shawkat, who plays Barri's best friend, were onboard as participants. "We were lucky they are real artists. If they respond to material, it seems like it doesn't matter [who's the star]," Takal said. "We were nervous [about drawing that line], but it was a chance we took and it ended up working really well."

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Shawkat and Takal star in "Wild Canaries."

None of that would matter, of course, if "Wild Canaries" didn't deliver on its high-concept premise. The film's central mystery is strong enough to keep audiences guessing until the third-act reveal, an impressive feat considering the small cast limits the amount of possible outcomes.

"Larry was reading a lot of screenwriting books about how to write mysteries, and they say to start on the mystery within the movie first, and then that will inform all your other scenes. You have to become a foolproof, no-holes mystery," Takal said. "I don't think we were worried about fooling people. There's something playful about the movie. We were like, 'Let's come up with a murder mystery and explain it at the end.'"

In that way, "Wild Canaries" serves almost as a campfire story for urbanites who like to spend their Friday evenings around a bottle of wine and cheese plate, discussing neighbor horror stories.

"When I used to live in New York, I lived in a shoebox apartment in the West Village, and this woman below me used to pound on her ceiling, even if I had one person in my apartment and we were being quiet. It would drive me crazy," Shawkat told HuffPost Entertainment about her most memorable building interaction. "Finally, I went down there once [to stand up for myself], and when she opened her door, she was this crazy robe lady with insane hair. She had posters of Marilyn Monroe literally covering her walls. Like a psycho killer. I was like, 'Um, I'll try to keep it down.' I was terrified of her. She was probably harmless."

"Wild Canaries" was in competition as a narrative feature at the SXSW Film Festival. It does not yet have distribution.

Rosie Perez Opens Up About Traumatic Childhood In Memoir

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Rosie Perez has never been known to keep quiet, but the Puerto Rican actress was never truly outspoken about her traumatic past -- until now.

Known for her spitfire personality and for breaking barriers for Latinas in the entertainment industry during the 1980s, Perez, 49, said in a recent interview with Fox News Latino that she is now ready to share her story in her new memoir, Handbook for an Unpredictable Life.

While recent headlines have focused on what the Oscar-nominated star wrote concerning her infamous feud with Jennifer Lopez during their work together on "In Living Color," the Brooklyn-born actress says the book is truly about how she dealt with her difficult early years.

"The bigger issue of the book is surviving childhood," Perez told Fox. "The moral is really, how do you not allow your past to completely define you as an adult? And how do you not allow the emotional responses that served to protect you as a child [to] dictate your emotional responses today?"

In her book, released in late February, Perez vividly describes the psychological and physical abuse she endured at the hands of her schizophrenic mother, as well as some of the nuns at the orphanage where her mother eventually left her. In time, Perez found success as a choreographer and actress, starring in such hits as "White Men Can't Jump" and "Do The Right Thing."

Today, the Nuyorican actress is also focused on her activism. She was chosen as part of President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in 2010. She also heads the community organization Urban Arts Partnership, which promotes the arts in New York City classrooms.

"We're always encouraging the kids to open up and tell us their stories, so they can get through the difficulties they face on a daily basis," Perez said about the moment she realized she needed to open up about her past. "One day one of the kids said, 'Well Ms. Perez, what's your story?' and I froze. I felt like such a hypocrite because I kept it a secret for so long. That's when my heart started opening up and I felt a little bit lighter. Then I started telling it bit by bit to other people, and when the book offer came my way, I was ready."

Last month, Perez also spoke to Belinda Luscombe, Time magazine's editor-at-large, about Handbook and about how she felt when she was diagnosed as an adult with post-traumatic stress disorder caused by her experiences as a child.

"First of all, being diagnosed sucked," Perez told Luscombe. "Initially it wasn't a relief. I wanted to believe that I was above all that had happened, all that had gone down. And when a licensed professional doctor said 'No, you have PTSD,' it was kind of like 'Oh my goodness, I'm human.' I didn't have that much control over my emotional response, the way I thought I did. And then there was this big sigh and it was like a weight was lifted off of me."

'Divergent' Star Shailene Woodley Disses 'Twilight'

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Shailene Woodley hasn't fully entered the crazy world of teen movie franchises yet, but she knows what lies ahead. The 22–year–old stars in the upcoming "Divergent" series, which is predicted to follow the box office trajectories of "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games."

Woodley has had time to reflect on the madness surrounding these young adult-novels–turned–movies, and even consulted "Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence before accepting the role. However, it was the action and message in "Divergent" that hooked Woodley.

For the young actress, the franchises don't all hold equal value.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Woodley explained, "'Twilight,' I'm sorry, is about a very unhealthy, toxic relationship. She falls in love with this guy and the second he leaves her, her life is over and she's going to kill herself! What message are we sending to young people? That is not going to help this world evolve."

Ouch.

"Divergent," on the other hand, follows a divided society as citizens fight against genocide and tyranny. Woodley described the story to The Daily Beast as "so metaphorical to today’s society."

Apparently that's what it takes to make young adult books a meatier, more powerful film -- at least for a girl on the edge of cult stardom.

For more from Shailene Woodley's Teen Vogue interview, pick up the April issue, on stands March 25.

Kylie Jenner Wears Cut-Out Bikini At Versace Mansion

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Kylie Jenner is in Miami, and she's rocking a bikini.

The 16-year-old is currently staying at the Versace Mansion with her family as they celebrate the grand opening of their new DASH boutique on Collins Avenue. The reality clan is staying at the famed Ocean Drive estate for the next few days.

Jenner is apparently spending her time by the pool. On Wednesday, she uploaded multiple photos of herself wearing a teeny black bikini while hanging out in the Florida sunshine.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian donned a turtleneck and miniskirt when she stepped outside to wave to the throngs of fans surrounding the estate Wednesday afternoon, March 12.





The 'High School Musical' Song Ranking You've Been Waiting For

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Every fan of the "High School Musical" trilogy clutched their pom poms earlier this week when Zac Efron (aka Troy Bolton, duh) said he would be up for a reunion movie.

So as we anxiously await the inevitable "High School Reunion Musical" movie, we decided to dust off our Wildcats jerseys and grade all of the musical numbers from the first three movies from F to A+ (and we didn't include reprises because there are only so many hours in the school day):

30. "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a" ("HSM 2")
Points for costumes, but all in all forgettable.


29. "What I've Been Looking For" ("HSM 1")
A little too cute.


28. "We're All In This Together (Graduation Remix)" ("HSM 3")
Nice and sentimental, but nowhere near as good as the original.


27. "When There Was Me And You" ("HSM 1")
The least memorable of Gabriella's (Vanessa Hudgens) confessional solo numbers.


26. "The Boys Are Back" ("HSM 3")
Troy and Chad (Corbin Bleu) dancing around a junkyard. That's really all you need to know.


25. "Now or Never" ("HSM 3")
The opening number to third movie is epic, but there are better basketball numbers ahead.


24. "Fabulous" ("HSM 2")
There's a pink piano in a pool. 'Nuff said.


23. "Work It Out" ("HSM 2")
The best you can do with a song about a Summer job.


22. "Scream" ("HSM 3")
Troy is frustrated ... so he angry dances around his high school at night.


21. "Get'cha Head in the Game" ("HSM 1")
The song that introduced us to the Wildcats.


20. "Senior Year Spring Musical" ("HSM 3")
A medley of songs from the movie you're already watching? Okay.


19. "You Are the Music In Me" ("HSM 2")
Just a nice, sweet duet between Troy and Gabriella


18. "All For One" ("HSM 2")
The most epic of epic pool parties.


17. "Start of Something New" ("HSM 1")
Literally just a karaoke duet, but our first introduction to Troy and Gabriella.


16. "Walk Away" ("HSM 3")
Also known as Gabriella's moving away montage song.


15. "Right Here Right Now" ("HSM 3")
Treehouse love duet alert!


14. "Everyday" ("HSM 2")
The "Breaking Free" of "HSM 2." Obviously not as good, but still pretty great.


13. "Can I Have This Dance?" ("HSM 3")
Who doesn't want to be part of a rooftop garden dance sequence?


12. "Bop to the Top" ("HSM 1")
Another Sharpay-Ryan number but this one is catchy as hell.


11. "Stick to the Status Quo" ("HSM 1")
We doubt your school cafeteria was this much fun.


10. "High School Musical" ("HSM 3")
Basically the theme song for the entire series. Ends the trilogy on a high note.


9. "I Want It All" ("HSM 3")
The best of the Sharpay-Ryan numbers. Plus the budget for this sequence alone is more than the entire first movie's.


8. "Just Wanna Be With You (Final Performance)" ("HSM 3")
Troy and Gabriella show their love in the school musical. So. Meta.


7. "Gotta Go My Own Way" ("HSM 2")
The best of the Gabriella confessional numbers.


6. "A Night to Remember" ("HSM 3")
Ranks as one of the best prom musical numbers ever.


5. "Bet On It" ("HSM 2")
A number set on a golf course should not be this good.


4. "I Don't Dance" ("HSM 2")
Dancing and baseball? Home run on this one.


3. "We're All In This Together" ("HSM 1")
The message of all the movies is summed up in this earworm of a song.


2. "What Time Is It?" ("HSM 2")
An over the top and glorious way to convey the feelings of the last day of school before Summer vacation.


1. "Breaking Free" ("HSM 1")
No crazy dance routines or elaborate sets. This rousing number is just Troy and Gabriella, but it perfectly sums up the potential of youth and young love.

Stacy Keibler Shares Photos From Her Wedding

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Stacy Keibler is finally spilling the beans on her secret wedding to tech entrepreneur Jared Pobre.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Crushes Things In A Giant Tank For A Good Cause

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Lo and behold, Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest Reddit-inspired commercial to promote Omaze.com is here.

The Governator invites fans to join him as he uses a tank to crush everything from a taxi cab to a DVD of "Million Dollar Baby" (because it makes Schwarzenegger cry and Schwarzenegger doesn't cry). Sounds like a blast!

Omaze.com is dedicated to supporting social missions by sponsoring competitions for "once-in-a-lifetime experiences," and Schwarzenegger aims to raise funds for After-School All-Stars.

Marc Lamont Hill Responds To Critics Over Lupita 'Fetish' Controversy

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It's official: Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood newcomer Lupita Nyong'o is a fan-favorite -- but whether her popularity is a fetishization is up for heated debate. Is white America tokenizing her, or just in-tune with varied standards of beauty?

What Crosses Shakira's Mind When She Sees Her Boyfriend's Body (VIDEO)

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There was a time when Shakira would shy away from answering questions about her personal life, but it seems the Colombian songstress just can’t keep her love for boyfriend Gerard Piqué all to herself.

In a recent interview with Univision’s “El Gordo y la Flaca,” the star revealed what crosses her mind when she sees the Spanish soccer star walk from their bed to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

“That Avatar! My God! Where did he come from? How did I find him?...it’s just that he has legs that are twice as big as mine!” Shakira told Tanya Charry during a recent interview in a Barcelona hotel.

(Check out the full interview above, in Spanish)

“The Voice” coach is currently promoting her forthcoming self-titled album, set to debut on March 25, with appearances on the cover of Billboard, Latina magazine and press events.

“There were so many experiences and events that shaped this album, which is why it only carries my name,” the 37-year-old star said in the interview with “El Gordo y la Flaca.” I thought it wasn’t truly a thematic or conceptual album but an album that really brought together all my sensibility.”

The first single off the album, “Can’t Remember To Forget You” Ft. Rihanna, and its racy video received mixed reviews. While some praised the two superstars’ duet, others like a Colombian councilman denounced the video for promoting “lesbianism” and immorality.

In response to the criticism, Shakira has repeatedly said she had not choice but to make the video with Rihanna because Piqué is not keen on her doing any more music videos with men.

"It's more than implied in our relationship that I can't do videos like I used to,” the singer told Billboard. “It's out of the question - which I like, by the way. I like that he protects his turf and he values me, in a way that the only person that he would ever let graze my thigh would be Rihanna."

Not only does Shak not mind her beau’s no-men rule, but she’s never been more in love. Four years into their relationship, the singer has not only written the song “23” for Piqué but lights up when she talks about him.

“Gerard is just like me but two meters tall,” the Colombian star said as she laughed. “We’re very alike, it’s not for nothing that we were born on the same day, it’s just that we was born 10 years later... he’s a happy guy, healthy here, in the head.”

Just before the couple met in 2010, Shakira had split from her boyfriend of 11 years, Antonio De La Rúa. The break between the two had not been amicable and the Argentine filed several lawsuits against the star in 2013, all which were eventually dismissed.

“It’s very difficult, to think that you’re with someone that you know and all of a sudden you don’t know them, it turns out that they betray you,” Shakira said in an interview with “Primer Impacto,” another of the shows at the press event in the Barcelona hotel. “It’s painful but it’s best to turn the page.”

Harold Ramis Was 'Buddhish,' Always Had A Pocket-Sized Guide To Buddhism On Him

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While the late Harold Ramis is best known and will be forever remembered for his work on iconic comedies including "Ghostbusters," "Stripes," "Caddyshack" and "Groundhog Day," what many people may not know of is the actor and director's unique relationship to Buddhism.

The "Buddha of Comedy," as the Chicago native was known by many, actually kept a laminated, pocket-sized primer on the eastern religion with him wherever he went, according to a Monday post on Buddhist blog Tricycle. He even would copy the "5 Minute Buddhist" guide and give it to friends, such as director Judd Apatow.

On the heels of Ramis' death late last month at the age of 69, Todd Kuhns of Red40 Entertainment reproduced a downloadable PDF of the primer for anyone who might wish to follow in the comedy legend's footsteps. It is a copy of an online photograph taken of a version of the primer Ramis provided to a Shambhala Sun Foundation auction in 2009.

"The idea was to present a simple Buddhist primer on something the size of a Chinese takeout menu," Ramis explained in an interview with Shambhala Sun.

The primer includes a quote from Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh: “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment, feeling fully alive.”

Ramis, who was raised Jewish, once described Zen Buddhism as "my shield and my armor in the work I do," the Tribune reported. "It's to keep a cheerful, Zenlike detachment from everything.” He said he was introduced to the faith through his wife, Erica Mann Ramis, and mother-in-law, both of whom had experience living in Buddhist meditation centers.

Many of Ramis' films, especially "Groundhog Day," are also said to illustrate Buddhist ideas. Still, as Ramis explained to Robert Loerzel in a 2008 interview published last month by Chicago magazine, he did not actually identify as a Buddhist -- joking that he was "Buddh-ish" instead. Ramis told Loerzel he embraced "the core beliefs" of Buddhism, describing himself as "leaning" toward the faith but not necessarily practicing it:

I read a bit, a basic Buddhist text called What the Buddha Taught, and said, “Oh, yeah, this makes sense.” Memorable, simple, didn’t require articles of faith, but completely humanistic in every way that I valued. So I proselytize it without practicing it. Much easier.

How the Internet Reshaped My Career

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I was on a major label for many years, and I only knew one way to make music: follow the template that has been in place for years, and work within the system the music industry was built upon. But after years of not having any records released, my label and I decided to part ways, which left me in an incredibly unique position. Due to numerous stipulations and overrides, I couldn't just go out and sign another major record deal. I was at a place where the standard music-industry template that the large majority of the music industry had always followed was no longer an option for me. Realizing I couldn't navigate the old system without a traditional label, I was forced to step out of my comfort zone to continue my career. I had to find a way to continue doing what I love without the luxury of a "system" to follow. It was both an exciting and scary place to be.

Over the years I had built up an amazing fan base on my label, but I was not sure how to reach them outside the conventional methods. Slowly I started to realize the power of the Internet. I began posting on social platforms and writing for blogs, and I began to see that the "brand" of Jo Dee Messina was still alive and well online. People recognized the name and found it relatable and real. And then it hit me: I didn't want to just make a record -- I wanted to make a record with the people.

Through posting songs on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social tools, I was able to get direct input from fans, and they would give me a thumbs up or thumbs down on whether or not they thought a song should be on my new album. Putting the album together was a lengthy process, and when I finally compiled enough songs to make an album, I then had to find a way to fund it. Luckily, my 19-year-old cousin Alex Preston was living at my house during this time and suggested doing a Kickstarter campaign. After researching, I was intrigued by the idea of again going directly to my fans and audience to make the record.

Over the first two weeks of the 30-day Kickstarter campaign, my audience was confused, and we weren't raising much money at all. It was new for me, and it was new for them. After a lot of back and forth explaining why and how we were doing this campaign, it finally clicked. Not only did I surpass my goal, but by raising $121,000, I ended up with the largest Kickstarter music project to come out of Nashville.

Things didn't end with the Kickstarter campaign, though: I also used the Internet to allow the public to pick the name of my album, my label logo was created by a girl on Twitter, and through a Facebook poll my fans picked the first single. There was no army of record executives or public-relations managers standing in my way of reaching the public. I simply had to go online, and the people showed up.

I now use the Internet in every aspect of my career. When I am reaching out to specific markets, we run campaigns to sell tickets. When booking shows, we use analytics from YouTube to see where people are watching our videos, and we go to them. We use social media to rally people to thank their radio stations for playing my music. We engage the public and let their voice be heard.

People who were once out of reach are now reachable. I can talk with my fans, learn from them, and create with them, and in return they share with their friends and communities what we are creating. A complete artistic existence is possible by reaching a worldwide audience through social platforms. It's been a fascinating experience. Sometimes people don't understand when I tell them my vision. I think it's because they have the luxury of functioning within the old paradigm that I and many artists like me are no longer a part of.

The Internet allows artists and fans alike to remove intermediaries, who have often hidden or obscured great music, keeping artists from reaching their potential fans. It's a blessing that I can reach out to those who support my music and let them be a part of this wonderful journey.

Tina Fey Shuts Down 'Mean Girls' Sequel Rumors, Hopes And Dreams

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Sorry, mankind "Mean Girls" fans, fetch is not going to happen.

Extra TV caught up with Tina Fey, who wrote the beloved movie and acted as co-star opposite Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, and asked her to set the record straight on the rumors of a possible sequel. "We're coming up next month on the 10-year anniversary of the original movie," Fey said, referring to when the movie's release date of April 30, 2004. "I can't believe it either. We're going to see if there's any way to get everyone together, but not a movie, sadly. We're all past high school age."

Before taking any drastic action, you may console your shattered heart with anticipation for the Broadway musical, the upcoming "Mean Moms" movie or the glorious reunion photos the cast shares every so often.

Would a Kickstarter campaign help?!

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Porsha Williams Walks Away Empty-Handed From Kordell Stewart Divorce Settlement

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Three months after the divorce of Kordell Stewart and Porsha Williams, details about the former couple's settlement have surfaced.

TMZ reports that Williams, star of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," walked away from her annulment empty-handed, with zero assets and zero alimony. Stewart, meanwhile, retained his two properties, two vehicles, retirement benefits and 100 percent interest in his business ventures, according to legal documents obtained by the site.

Stewart, a 41-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers player nicknamed "Slash," met Porsha, the granddaughter of civil rights leader and philanthropist Rev. Hosea Williams, in 2009. The two married in 2011. Williams later joined the "Real Housewives" cast in the show's fifth season, and the show often focused on their marital strife. Castmate NeNe Leakes felt their relationship was questionable because of Kordell's control issues.

"[It] appears that Kordell is talking to his daughter and not his wife. Porsha can't seem to do much without getting permission from Kordell," Leakes wrote on her Bravo blog last year, adding that, in her opinion, marriage should be an equal and supportive partnership.

The couple filed for divorce in March 2013.

Since the pair’s split, Williams has moved on, and recently told OK! magazine that she has a new love interest in her life.

"He's well-known, so I'm being cautious," Williams said. "He's someone very special. He's standing out from the pack right now. We'll see how that turns out."

One Of These 5 Men Could Lead 'Star Wars: Episode VII'

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Just in from Variety comes word of the five actors on J.J. Abrams' apparent short list to lead "Star Wars: Episode VII." The character is likely of the Jedi variety, meaning he'll tangle with "Girls" star Adam Driver, who might play the "Episode VII" villain. Meanwhile, it's still expected that Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher will reprise their roles from the original trilogy of "Star Wars" films. None of this has been confirmed, however, but expect something to happen soon: it's anticipated that Abrams will being filming "Episode VII" in the spring.

[via Variety]


St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an American National Treasure

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis is an American national treasure.

I spoke to the general population of employees there just a few days ago and went for a tour of the facility. I was in tears a number of times, with inspiration, not sadness.

You must know more about this magical and important hospital. (Follow them on Twitter @StJude and on facebook www.facebook.com/stjude)

Back in the 1950s, actor Danny Thomas wasn't making it. He was in Detroit, out of money, out of hope. He went to church and prayed to St. Jude, the Saint of Lost Causes, as his last desperate plea before giving up his dream. The very next day, Hollywood called and he went on to an illustrious career, especially the hit TV show Make Room for Daddy. And Danny Thomas vowed if he ever had the means he would do something for those considered "lost causes." Well, by 1962, he had funded the impressive St. Jude Hospital in Memphis.

The hospital has grown in good works and worldwide reputation now, the key statistic being that they receive 60,000 applications yearly from doctors and research scientists all around the world who want to do their work at St. Jude. Neuro-oncologists such as Dr. Zsila Sadighi, pictured with me here, are the very top of their fields and feel the work they do for the children who enter St. Jude is profound... we agree.

No child is ever turned away from St. Jude on financial considerations. Some are there short-term, about a month. Some medium term, a year or under. Some of these children never leave the hospital. Danny's great vision is carried on now by his daughter, actor Marlo Thomas, who helps the hospital raise on average $2 million a day. But they of course need constant funding to raise the bar of their care and research even higher. Learn more here.

I left Memphis, my heart brimming with admiration for Danny Thomas and the vision he brought to life. You simply must know about St. Jude. As I say, the place is nothing short of one of our national treasures.

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Speaking Out for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation

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It is important for us to set the record straight regarding Born This Way Foundation's mission and how the organization allocates its funds. There is quite a bit of inaccurate information out there right now that misinterprets the essential mission and critical work of a very special organization that was founded several years ago by Stefani Germanotta, whom you all know as Lady Gaga.

First and foremost, we are an organization that conducts our charitable activity directly, and we fund our own work. We are not a grant-maker that funds the work of other charities, and were never intended to be.

Our activity has included The Born Brave Bus Tour, which has travelled to 23 communities, interacting with more than 19,000 young people and raising awareness to the tune of more than 300 million media impressions. The foundation's messages of kindness and bravery have touched more than half a million online users via our website, which includes the Bravest Map Ever and the Play Brave Game, as well as social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook -- which on a peak week can hit 50 million individual users.

Lady Gaga founded Born This Way Foundation to foster a more accepting society for our young people. She covered all of the start-up costs for the organization with her own money and uses her celebrity to constantly advocate on behalf of tolerance, individualism and kindness. Moreover, Born This Way Foundation's work has focused heavily on providing information on empowerment through its website, raising awareness of the importance of being kind to others through public relations and social media, bringing messages about individuality and bravery to communities around the country via the Born Brave Bus Tour and multiple events.

Every dollar spent across these categories, including the legal fees towards the safe and effective implementation of each initiative, directly serves Born This Way Foundation's core mission of empowering youth.

And we are having a profound impact in just a very short period of time.

Each of these initiatives was funded via monies detailed on the 2012 Form 990. And a true examination of this form, not to mention a clear understanding of the differences between a grant-making organization and one that carries out its work directly would have made this a non-story.

Kim Kardashian Steals Kylie Jenner's Bikini, Poses For Sexy Selfies

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There's probably nothing that makes a new mom feel better than to fit into her 16-year-old sister's teeny bikini ...

Yup, Kim Kardashian, who welcomed her daughter North last June, posted some sexy bikini selfies on her Instagram account Wednesday, March 12, revealing that she borrowed her little sister Kylie's black two-piece.

"Quick swim before the Dash party!" the 33-year-old wrote along with the first photo, sharing another snapshot shortly after with the caption, "Yep stole Kylie's bikini...she's not getting it back."





Kylie rocked the cut-out bikini earlier in the day, posting photos of herself at the Versace Mansion, where her family is staying in Miami. The Kardashian clan is celebrating the grand opening of their new DASH boutique on Collins Avenue.



Obviously, the family that shares swimsuits, stays together.

Why This Season Of 'The Bachelor' Was Basically 'The Hunger Games'

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The protagonist of a televised competition series dissents against his authorities, threatening to break all of the rules. His rebellion enrages the show's big bad executives, who scheme to dispose of the contestant in an effort to quiet his supporters -- and save their livelihoods.

One question: Is this "The Bachelor" or "The Hunger Games" we're talking about?

hunger games

It's not as far-fetched an analogy as one might think. In fact, throughout this season of "The Bachelor," similarities abound between the beloved ABC reality show and the blockbuster movie trilogy about a kind of reality show. What are "reapings" if not a form of casting call? The female contestants of "The Bachelor" make their entrances by shimmying out of limousines, sporting evening gowns and gags such as pregnant bellies and stethoscopes. In "The Hunger Games," tributes come in boy-girl pairs, and are introduced to the public through their heavily-styled getups ("girl on fire!") and deadly talent (archery). Both competitions feature contestants who are no more than show ponies, first admired for their beauty, then systematically destroyed.

Why? Because it makes for great entertainment. But also because the competitions provide hope. Just consider how President Snow, the villainous ruler of Panem, explains the need for a winner of the Hunger Games: "[Hope] is the only thing stronger than fear." And what could be more hopeful than love? ABC executives have peddled "The Bachelor" and its spin-off series, "The Bachelorette," for a whopping total of 27 seasons by promising such hope: of marriage, of true love, of more awkward televised wedding ceremonies. Their manipulative fantasy yields lucrative results, with 10.1 million viewers tuning in to this season's finale. It's a big business. Only now someone's come along to call bullshit on it all.

His name is Juan Pablo Galavis, of course, the 32-year-old former soccer player touted as the show's first "foreign" Bachelor. The Venezuelan star's previous anti-gay remarks and limited "ess okay" vocabulary had branded him all-around jerk well before Monday night's contentious final rose ceremony. He also neglected to propose to the "Bachelor" finalist, Nikki Ferrell, used as evidence of JP's insincerity about finding love, even though he was hardly the first contestant to do so. But it was his refusal to utter an I-love-you to Nikki that riled host Chris Harrison the most during the live "After the Final Rose" special. The resulting dialogue can only be described as a power struggle between Juan Pablo and the ever-intermeddling host:

[abbreviated]
chrisHarrison: How do you feel about this woman?
JP: I feel fantastic about this woman...
Harrison: How do you feel about her?
JP: Chris! I feel great! I'm very honest to her.
Harrison: So you love her?
JP: I'm not going to answer that question to you.
Harrison: What do you mean you don't say that?
JP: We're done with the show. We're so done.


Had Harrison donned gaudy eyeliner and blue hair, he could almost be mistaken for Caesar Flickerman, the love-happy master of ceremonies so excellently portrayed by Stanley Tucci in the "Hunger Games" films. In reality, Harrison is both host and executive producer of the show, which means he's not above bullying tactics similar to Panem's evil President Snow. What Juan Pablo delivered wasn't the season finale Harrison wanted or the "big surprise" ABC execs had been promised. Just as Katniss Everdeen threatened the Capitol, Juan Pablo disrespected the administration by calling out the hypocrisy of the show's entire premise: that falling in love in seven weeks is preposterous. JP's resistance to profess love for Nikki was a crack in the entire "Bachelor" institution: even the Bachelor himself was refusing to play the game laid out for him.

sharleen andi

Juan Pablo wasn't the only one to buck tradition in this version of "The Bachelor Games." Contestants Sharleen Joynt and Andi Dorfman walked away from the show before formal elimination, citing their inability to see a future with Juan Pablo as the reason for their departure. "I knew he wasn't the one for me ultimately … we just didn't get each other completely," Joynt admitted during the "Women Tell All" special. Their rejection of the game is akin to tributes who refuse to fight. Juan Pablo finds his Peeta instead in Nikki, a child nurse whose loyalty to Juan Pablo far exceeds her loyalty to the show. They win; "The Bachelor" loses.

On the opposite end of the battle, Season 17's Sean Lowe could be seen as a career tribute, in both build and belief. A Stepford bachelor if there ever was one, he appears to have been perfectly bred for the role. Lowe, who is now married to "The Bachelor" contestant Catherine Giudici, showed just how seriously he takes "The Bachelor" business when he slammed JP on Twitter: "You owe it to the fans and network to open up. That's the job."

Considering that Suzanne Collins, the author of "The Hunger Games" books, modeled her dystopian future after one that mimicked the gladiatorial games of the past and our reality show-crazed culture of the present, it's unsurprising there should exist so many parallels. But in a classic case of life imitating art imitating life, "The Bachelor" closed the circle with Monday night's finale by producing its own uprising.

ABC executives have been trying to convince us for years that their show is a legitimate platform for finding true love -- despite the fact that only five couples (not including JP and Nikki) in "Bachelor" history are still together. But that isn't real life. By subverting the system, Juan Pablo Galavis is the hero reality TV has been dreading.

Follow Youyoung Lee on Twitter: @youyoung_lee.

Naya Rivera Shares Sexy Throwback Selfie

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Naya Rivera is celebrating throwback Thursday by reminding us how beautiful she was all the way back in, er, last year.

Regardless, a throwback is still a throwback.



In the photo, Rivera poses in a leather bra and a gold and diamond chain necklace before heading to the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. The "Glee" star shined at the event in a revealing, full–leather outfit.

naya rivera teen choice awards

Thanks for the reminder, Miss Rivera.
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