There's nothing better than staring at pictures of celebrities in Halloween costumes. Good thing, too, since the stars went all out this year, dressing as everything from a giant Cheeto (hey, Katy Perry!) to Grumpy Cat (kudos, Chris Colfer!):
As Usual, Celebrities Went All Out For Halloween
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Miley Cyrus' Risque Dress Stood Out, But Her $500,000 Donation To Fight AIDS Stole The Show
It wasn't just Miley Cyrus' daring dress that turned heads on Wednesday -- the 21-year-old's massive donation toward the fight against AIDS also got people talking.
The singer appeared at the amfAR LA Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles to raise funds for AIDS research and bring attention to the virus. Cyrus bought a photograph for $300,000 at the event's auction and donated an additional $200,000 toward the American Foundation for AIDS Research, New York Daily News reported.
"It’s so important for me of all people to represent because I have a voice and I want to start an open dialogue about prevention," Cyrus said at the event, according to Variety. "Obviously I’m not too embarrassed to talk about these things, especially with young people."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 1.1 million people aged 13 years and older are living with HIV in the U.S., and 15.8 percent of those individuals are unaware of their infection. The organization has found that certain demographics are disproportionately affected by the virus, including black Americans and men who have sex with men.
The fifth annual event, which was also attended by Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Justin Timberlake and other celebrities, raised about $3 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, according to Variety.
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The singer appeared at the amfAR LA Inspiration Gala in Los Angeles to raise funds for AIDS research and bring attention to the virus. Cyrus bought a photograph for $300,000 at the event's auction and donated an additional $200,000 toward the American Foundation for AIDS Research, New York Daily News reported.
"It’s so important for me of all people to represent because I have a voice and I want to start an open dialogue about prevention," Cyrus said at the event, according to Variety. "Obviously I’m not too embarrassed to talk about these things, especially with young people."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about 1.1 million people aged 13 years and older are living with HIV in the U.S., and 15.8 percent of those individuals are unaware of their infection. The organization has found that certain demographics are disproportionately affected by the virus, including black Americans and men who have sex with men.
The fifth annual event, which was also attended by Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Justin Timberlake and other celebrities, raised about $3 million for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, according to Variety.
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North West Isn't The Only Celebrity Kid To Bring The Cuteness To Halloween
Forget pumpkins. Forget witches. Forget Elsas.
Leave it to celebrities to dress their kids up in the most original (and adorable) Halloween costumes. Our hearts just melted into a pile of goo.
Leave it to celebrities to dress their kids up in the most original (and adorable) Halloween costumes. Our hearts just melted into a pile of goo.
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'How To Get Away With Murder' Lays Bare Why Cheating Doesn't Always Mean The End
ALERT: The following piece and video contain spoilers for Thursday's episode of "How to Get Away with Murder."
From its inception, "How To Get Away With Murder" set itself up against the morally black-and-white legal tales of standard network procedurals: "The question I'm asked most often as a defense attorney is whether I can tell if my clients are innocent or guilty," Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) tells her new students. "And my answer is always the same: I don't care." On Thursday night, the show applied that same resistance to easy moralizing to the realm of interpersonal relationships.
Toward the end of the hour, Annalise's husband, Sam, discovers that his wife planted evidence to help bring Rebecca home, ensuring Wes wouldn't release information about Sam's affair with Lila Stangard to the police.
"Why are you doing all this for me?" he asks Annalise. "I need you," she says, breaking into tears. "Don't you get that? After everything you've done to me -- lying to me, screwing that girl, I need you."
So often, television shows use infidelity as an easy conflict to break couples apart, without going into the actual nuanced emotions that can surround a betrayal. The shows seem to suggest: the cheater is bad, the cheated upon should leave, and if he or she doesn't, it's okay to judge them. Instead, "How To Get Away With Murder" presents Annalise's response without judgement, as a truthful reaction to a situation that -- like many similar scenarios real life -- is more complex, confusing, and morally gray than it can appear to those on the outside.
Check out the full scene in the clip below.
From its inception, "How To Get Away With Murder" set itself up against the morally black-and-white legal tales of standard network procedurals: "The question I'm asked most often as a defense attorney is whether I can tell if my clients are innocent or guilty," Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) tells her new students. "And my answer is always the same: I don't care." On Thursday night, the show applied that same resistance to easy moralizing to the realm of interpersonal relationships.
Toward the end of the hour, Annalise's husband, Sam, discovers that his wife planted evidence to help bring Rebecca home, ensuring Wes wouldn't release information about Sam's affair with Lila Stangard to the police.
"Why are you doing all this for me?" he asks Annalise. "I need you," she says, breaking into tears. "Don't you get that? After everything you've done to me -- lying to me, screwing that girl, I need you."
So often, television shows use infidelity as an easy conflict to break couples apart, without going into the actual nuanced emotions that can surround a betrayal. The shows seem to suggest: the cheater is bad, the cheated upon should leave, and if he or she doesn't, it's okay to judge them. Instead, "How To Get Away With Murder" presents Annalise's response without judgement, as a truthful reaction to a situation that -- like many similar scenarios real life -- is more complex, confusing, and morally gray than it can appear to those on the outside.
Check out the full scene in the clip below.
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These Hilarious Costumes Prove Halloween Is Nothing Without A Great Pun
Whether you're a fan of DumbleDora the Explorer or more of a Bud Light Year kind of person, everyone pretty much agrees there's nothing better than a punny Halloween costume.
Proving this point, Jimmy Fallon asked his fans to submit their own homemade costumes via Instagram, and the results might even inspire some ideas of your own.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.
Proving this point, Jimmy Fallon asked his fans to submit their own homemade costumes via Instagram, and the results might even inspire some ideas of your own.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.
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Taylor Swift Is Still Dancing To That Iggy Azalea Song
Back in August, Taylor Swift -- as is her wont -- danced in her seat while Iggy Azalea performed "Black Widow" at the MTV Video Music Awards.
![SWIFT]()
GIF: Us Weekly
Here in October, Swift is still dancing to that one. The singer made an appearance on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, "On Air with Ryan Seacrest," and danced like no one was watching. Except everyone was.
![SWIFT DANCE]()
GIF: YouTube
This is peak Swift. We approve.
[via Noisey]
GIF: Us Weekly
Here in October, Swift is still dancing to that one. The singer made an appearance on Ryan Seacrest's radio show, "On Air with Ryan Seacrest," and danced like no one was watching. Except everyone was.
GIF: YouTube
This is peak Swift. We approve.
[via Noisey]
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Betsy Beers, 'Grey's Anatomy' Executive Producer, Defends 'Slutty Slutsters' Everywhere
Betsy Beers is the executive producer behind three of 2014's most successful shows: "Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal" and "How To Get Away With Murder." She also happens to be a serious badass, as evidenced by her rousing speech at Marie Claire's Oct. 30 New Guard luncheon -- an event Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Anne Fulenwider called a "room full of women who can get it done."
At the event, Beers spoke to the audience about her start in television, her long-time partnership with powerhouse Shonda Rhimes -- she referred to herself and Rhimes as "two chicks, three time slots" -- and the barriers she faced as a woman trying to do something different on TV.
Beers said that she and Shonda's first pilot, for "Grey's Anatomy," came from their desire to see their own lives (or something emotionally similar) on television.
“We were two strong, competitive women with dark and twisty centers for whom work was a paramount importance, who had complicated love lives and messy relationships with a diverse group of friends who were as screwed up as we were," Beers said. "When we looked at the television landscape around us, we didn’t see us in any network dramas or really, anywhere else.”
She also spoke about the pushback that they got about the premise of "Grey's" -- the main character, Meredith Grey, gets drunk and has a one-night stand with a man who turns out to be her superior and the new job she's about to start -- before the pilot aired. Beers recalled a particularly charged meeting she had, in which she and Rhimes were the only women present:
And lucky for viewers, this sex-positive legacy has trickled into revolutionary moments on "Scandal" and "How To Get Away With Murder" as well. There's a reason that millions of women (and men) tune into ABC's Thursday night lineup every week. It's not a fluke -- it's the type of programming that audiences want to see.
"It feels like we're being treated like a trend or a quota to be filled," said Beers. "Women on television are not a fad. We are not a trend. We are a reality, and we always have been."
More photos from Marie Claire's New Guard event:
At the event, Beers spoke to the audience about her start in television, her long-time partnership with powerhouse Shonda Rhimes -- she referred to herself and Rhimes as "two chicks, three time slots" -- and the barriers she faced as a woman trying to do something different on TV.
Beers said that she and Shonda's first pilot, for "Grey's Anatomy," came from their desire to see their own lives (or something emotionally similar) on television.
“We were two strong, competitive women with dark and twisty centers for whom work was a paramount importance, who had complicated love lives and messy relationships with a diverse group of friends who were as screwed up as we were," Beers said. "When we looked at the television landscape around us, we didn’t see us in any network dramas or really, anywhere else.”
She also spoke about the pushback that they got about the premise of "Grey's" -- the main character, Meredith Grey, gets drunk and has a one-night stand with a man who turns out to be her superior and the new job she's about to start -- before the pilot aired. Beers recalled a particularly charged meeting she had, in which she and Rhimes were the only women present:
It was a room full of men and one older guy high on the food chain decided to share -- “I mean, this pilot! I don’t see how anyone in America can sympathize or identify with this lead character! This woman, she goes out, gets drunk, has a one night stand with a guy the night before she starts a new job as a doctor? What kind of professional woman would do that?"
“Well, me." As I am sure some of you healthy, happy people with vaginas might have done too. And I could no longer be grateful or just say yes, or hold my fucking tongue or act like a geisha at these meetings, so I proceeded to explain to him that indeed, I had actually done exactly that…. I remember Shonda looking at me with pure joy, and the guy, well he couldn’t call me a slutty slutster to my face, so the subject was dropped. At least in front of us. Meredith and Cristina and the other characters continued to have sex in on-call rooms for years to come.
And lucky for viewers, this sex-positive legacy has trickled into revolutionary moments on "Scandal" and "How To Get Away With Murder" as well. There's a reason that millions of women (and men) tune into ABC's Thursday night lineup every week. It's not a fluke -- it's the type of programming that audiences want to see.
"It feels like we're being treated like a trend or a quota to be filled," said Beers. "Women on television are not a fad. We are not a trend. We are a reality, and we always have been."
More photos from Marie Claire's New Guard event:
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Ryan Murphy Confirms All 'American Horror Story' Seasons Are Connected
Following months of speculation, Ryan Murphy has confirmed that all seasons of "American Horror Story" are connected. Murphy revealed the news during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, published on Friday:
Murphy's words are music to the ears of fans who have speculated for months about ties between the show's four seasons. Back in July, it was revealed that Naomi Grossman's Pepper, from Season 2's "Asylum," would return for the current season, "Freak Show." In keeping with the Season 2 theme, Lily Rabe will reappear on the anthology series as her "Asylum" character, Sister Mary Eunice, for an upcoming "Freak Show" episode. Sites such as Vulture found many other connections between the four seasons, as did Reddit users. (One fan theory is that Season 5 could be about Area 51 and aliens, which would tie that forthcoming run to "Asylum" as well.)
"Part of the fun of the show is the Rubik’s cube design of it, but, yes, there are purposeful connections, character connections, and similarities and things that connect that we’ll continue to connect moving forward," Murphy told EW.com.
One of these clues is the scene where the character Maggie (Emma Roberts) is handed a coffee cup and there is a close up on a top hat, which the show creator confirmed is actually a clue for Season 5. Start your guessing now ...
For the full interview with Murphy, head to EW.com.
"AHS: Freak Show" airs Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.
They’re all connected. We’re just beginning to tell you how they’re connected. They’re all very separate but there’s clues every season that we’re now telling you how the different worlds are intertwined.
Murphy's words are music to the ears of fans who have speculated for months about ties between the show's four seasons. Back in July, it was revealed that Naomi Grossman's Pepper, from Season 2's "Asylum," would return for the current season, "Freak Show." In keeping with the Season 2 theme, Lily Rabe will reappear on the anthology series as her "Asylum" character, Sister Mary Eunice, for an upcoming "Freak Show" episode. Sites such as Vulture found many other connections between the four seasons, as did Reddit users. (One fan theory is that Season 5 could be about Area 51 and aliens, which would tie that forthcoming run to "Asylum" as well.)
"Part of the fun of the show is the Rubik’s cube design of it, but, yes, there are purposeful connections, character connections, and similarities and things that connect that we’ll continue to connect moving forward," Murphy told EW.com.
One of these clues is the scene where the character Maggie (Emma Roberts) is handed a coffee cup and there is a close up on a top hat, which the show creator confirmed is actually a clue for Season 5. Start your guessing now ...
For the full interview with Murphy, head to EW.com.
"AHS: Freak Show" airs Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET on FX.
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Black-ish: Reimagining Blackness on Television
Black-ish, the new ABC sitcom created by Kenya Barris, really is one of the funniest shows on TV this season. I laughed my head off watching a marathon run of the first four episodes on demand. Now it's set to record each week on DVR. One of the things I really appreciate about Black-ish is that it takes universal issues and works them out through a genuinely African-American lens.
For example, in the pilot episode the father, Andre "Dre" Johnson, played by Anthony Anderson, is looking forward to a much-deserved promotion to Senior Vice President at a major marketing firm. He is surprised to find out he's been promoted to Senior Vice President of the Urban Division. We can all relate to wanting the promotion, but Anderson's challenge is particularly familiar within the black professional class. How do you jump the dreaded yet anticipated pigeonholing of your value and worth to an organization as a black person? How do you become just Senior VP -- not Senior VP of the Urban Division? How do you become human? The way Anderson works out this challenge is hilarious. I rolled with laughter even after the half-hour sitcom had reached its conclusion.
And then there's last week's episode, when the biracial mother, Rainbow, masterfully played by Tracee Ellis Ross, loses her young son, Jack, while shopping at a department store. It turns out Jack is hiding inside a clothes rack and is eventually found by a sympathetic officer. We can all relate to this situation. Children hide in department stores. I did the exact same thing to my own mother when I was about Jack's age. I hid between the racks at a Marshalls. But Rainbow and Dre's conundrum rears its head when they are confronted with the question: Will they spank their son? It seems simple enough, but it's not. This is a question not only of parenting but of tradition and culture.
In fact, each episode presents a universal situation that pushes a particular issue of culture within the African-American community. Ultimately, the situation presses the question: What does it means to be black?
Black-ish doesn't serve up the images and situations familiar to black poverty -- images that American consumers crave. Rather, Barris uncovers the truth of a class of black families barred from mass media since The Cosby Show. When the The Cosby Show went down, up came the flood of black buffoons -- cartoon caricatures playing stock characters from minstrel shows and "couch" dramas. (By the way, I call them "couch" dramas because the set is always anchored by a beat-up couch facing full-front, center-stage. Think Tyler Perry.)
Then, of course, there is the multibillion-dollar market for images, stories, and music that glorifies the black gangsta. Can I just say it was a very strange day when I realized my white and Asian Christian friends knew the names and music of black rappers way more than I did? That freaked me out. Why? Because I had bought the lie. To be black is to be gangsta -- or at least an expert on the latest gangsta hip-hop album, usually produced by a white company and performed by a black man who owns a few mansions in the "Hills" somewhere.
Black-ish is a departure from buffoonery and gangstas, unless it consciously takes a dig at the stereotypes. It is a much-needed peek at African-American humanity. These are the conversations we have around the dinner table at night. When poverty is removed from the equation, these are the human and cultural concerns that rise to the surface in our families.
People weren't sure Black-ish could reach a wide audience, but the pilot episode won its Wednesday-night time slot with more than 11 million viewers.
They say humor is funny when it strikes the audience as "true." One of the main critiques of The Cosby Show when it first aired was that it wasn't realistic. But my family, with two highly respected professional parents and a gaggle of high-achieving kids, sat down every Thursday night back in the 1980s and laughed ourselves silly because, in many ways, the Cosby family was our family. The Cosby Show became one of the most popular shows of all time. Because it was so specific, it reflected the humanity of us all.
At this moment in our nation's story, when the twisted soul of America is being revealed through the daily deaths of black men at the hands of officers carrying guns and unconscious bias, Black-ish should not be merely consumed: It should be administered by intravenous intervention.
If Trayvon Martin, John Crawford III, Ezell Ford, Eric Garner, Jordan Davis, and Michael Brown tell us nothing else, we could learn from these unarmed middle-class black men that America needs to reimagine blackness -- to reimagine what it means to be human.
Lisa Sharon Harper is Senior Director of Mobilizing for Sojourners and co-author of Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith.
For example, in the pilot episode the father, Andre "Dre" Johnson, played by Anthony Anderson, is looking forward to a much-deserved promotion to Senior Vice President at a major marketing firm. He is surprised to find out he's been promoted to Senior Vice President of the Urban Division. We can all relate to wanting the promotion, but Anderson's challenge is particularly familiar within the black professional class. How do you jump the dreaded yet anticipated pigeonholing of your value and worth to an organization as a black person? How do you become just Senior VP -- not Senior VP of the Urban Division? How do you become human? The way Anderson works out this challenge is hilarious. I rolled with laughter even after the half-hour sitcom had reached its conclusion.
And then there's last week's episode, when the biracial mother, Rainbow, masterfully played by Tracee Ellis Ross, loses her young son, Jack, while shopping at a department store. It turns out Jack is hiding inside a clothes rack and is eventually found by a sympathetic officer. We can all relate to this situation. Children hide in department stores. I did the exact same thing to my own mother when I was about Jack's age. I hid between the racks at a Marshalls. But Rainbow and Dre's conundrum rears its head when they are confronted with the question: Will they spank their son? It seems simple enough, but it's not. This is a question not only of parenting but of tradition and culture.
In fact, each episode presents a universal situation that pushes a particular issue of culture within the African-American community. Ultimately, the situation presses the question: What does it means to be black?
Black-ish doesn't serve up the images and situations familiar to black poverty -- images that American consumers crave. Rather, Barris uncovers the truth of a class of black families barred from mass media since The Cosby Show. When the The Cosby Show went down, up came the flood of black buffoons -- cartoon caricatures playing stock characters from minstrel shows and "couch" dramas. (By the way, I call them "couch" dramas because the set is always anchored by a beat-up couch facing full-front, center-stage. Think Tyler Perry.)
Then, of course, there is the multibillion-dollar market for images, stories, and music that glorifies the black gangsta. Can I just say it was a very strange day when I realized my white and Asian Christian friends knew the names and music of black rappers way more than I did? That freaked me out. Why? Because I had bought the lie. To be black is to be gangsta -- or at least an expert on the latest gangsta hip-hop album, usually produced by a white company and performed by a black man who owns a few mansions in the "Hills" somewhere.
Black-ish is a departure from buffoonery and gangstas, unless it consciously takes a dig at the stereotypes. It is a much-needed peek at African-American humanity. These are the conversations we have around the dinner table at night. When poverty is removed from the equation, these are the human and cultural concerns that rise to the surface in our families.
People weren't sure Black-ish could reach a wide audience, but the pilot episode won its Wednesday-night time slot with more than 11 million viewers.
They say humor is funny when it strikes the audience as "true." One of the main critiques of The Cosby Show when it first aired was that it wasn't realistic. But my family, with two highly respected professional parents and a gaggle of high-achieving kids, sat down every Thursday night back in the 1980s and laughed ourselves silly because, in many ways, the Cosby family was our family. The Cosby Show became one of the most popular shows of all time. Because it was so specific, it reflected the humanity of us all.
At this moment in our nation's story, when the twisted soul of America is being revealed through the daily deaths of black men at the hands of officers carrying guns and unconscious bias, Black-ish should not be merely consumed: It should be administered by intravenous intervention.
If Trayvon Martin, John Crawford III, Ezell Ford, Eric Garner, Jordan Davis, and Michael Brown tell us nothing else, we could learn from these unarmed middle-class black men that America needs to reimagine blackness -- to reimagine what it means to be human.
Lisa Sharon Harper is Senior Director of Mobilizing for Sojourners and co-author of Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith.
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Neil Patrick Harris And Family Dress As Batman Characters For Halloween
Neil Patrick, husband David Burtka and their adorable kids are no strangers to stunning Halloween costumes. Over the years, they've gone all out with their looks -- much to the delight of fans -- and this year was no different.
Harris tweeted a photo of himself with his family as characters from Batman, with Harris as the Riddler, Burtka as the Joker, son Gideon as Batman and daughter Harper as Catwoman.
Last year Harris and the gang went as classic horror movie monsters.
You know what they say -- the family that dresses up together, stays together.
Clarification: An earlier version of this article stated that Harper was wearing "what appeared to be" a Batgirl costume. It is a Catwoman costume.
Harris tweeted a photo of himself with his family as characters from Batman, with Harris as the Riddler, Burtka as the Joker, son Gideon as Batman and daughter Harper as Catwoman.
Happy Halloween from Gotham City!! pic.twitter.com/3gzmG44iEf
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) October 31, 2014Last year Harris and the gang went as classic horror movie monsters.
You know what they say -- the family that dresses up together, stays together.
Clarification: An earlier version of this article stated that Harper was wearing "what appeared to be" a Batgirl costume. It is a Catwoman costume.
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Beyonce And Blue Ivy Dress Up As Janet And Michael Jackson
We thought nothing could be cuter than Blue Ivy's bee costume last Halloween, but we were totally wrong.
Blue Ivy and Beyonce paid tribute to pop royalty when they dressed up as Michael and Janet Jackson for Halloween 2014. Beyonce's daughter looked absolutely precious as she sported Michael Jackson's iconic red and gold military jacket, shades and fedora. The 33-year-old singer went as Janet Jackson in her memorable "Rhythm Nation" music video, rocking an all-black outfit and baseball cap. The mother-daughter duo snapped a precious photo in their costumes backstage at Power 105.1's Powerhouse concert in New York City, where Jay Z performed. Check out the adorable photo Beyonce posted to Instagram Friday:
See more photos of celebrity children dressed up for Halloween here. If you need us, we'll be blasting "Thriller."
Blue Ivy and Beyonce paid tribute to pop royalty when they dressed up as Michael and Janet Jackson for Halloween 2014. Beyonce's daughter looked absolutely precious as she sported Michael Jackson's iconic red and gold military jacket, shades and fedora. The 33-year-old singer went as Janet Jackson in her memorable "Rhythm Nation" music video, rocking an all-black outfit and baseball cap. The mother-daughter duo snapped a precious photo in their costumes backstage at Power 105.1's Powerhouse concert in New York City, where Jay Z performed. Check out the adorable photo Beyonce posted to Instagram Friday:
See more photos of celebrity children dressed up for Halloween here. If you need us, we'll be blasting "Thriller."
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Kevin Spacey's Random Impression Proves Bill Clinton Would Make A Great Ghostbuster
Kevin Spacey ain't afraid of no random impression.
On Friday, Jimmy Fallon got Kevin Spacey to play a special Halloween version of "Wheel of Impressions," and it was awesome. The impressions this time around include Johnny Carson talking about costume parties, Bill Clinton's views on "Ghostbusters" and even Christopher Walken explaining the consequences of not giving him a treat.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.
On Friday, Jimmy Fallon got Kevin Spacey to play a special Halloween version of "Wheel of Impressions," and it was awesome. The impressions this time around include Johnny Carson talking about costume parties, Bill Clinton's views on "Ghostbusters" and even Christopher Walken explaining the consequences of not giving him a treat.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.
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4 Charming 'SNL' Stories From Amy Poehler & Seth Meyers
As part of the promotional push for her new book, "Yes Please," Amy Poehler sat down with Seth Meyers at New York's 92Y on Wednesday to discuss her career, their friendship and "Saturday Night Live." Poehler and Meyers were both hired before the start of the 2001-02 season, and shared the Weekend Update desk from 2006-08. Ahead, four of the best "SNL" anecdotes they shared with the 92Y audience (but not that one about Jon Hamm making Amy Poehler laugh while she was pregnant, because she might have told that one a billion times in the last month).
1. Amy's Sarah Palin rap was one of Seth's favorite "SNL" moments
![sarah palin snl]()
"I was on the show for 12 and a half years, and there were maybe 10 times where you thought you fucking nailed it. That you wished no part of it had gone different," Meyers said. "It's like when baseball players hit the ball and flip the bat because they know it's going out of the park." That's how Meyers felt about Poehler's Sarah Palin rap during Weekend Update, which she performed while being nine months pregnant and in front of Palin herself.
"I was an animal. It's really fun to be that pregnant because you freak everybody out," Poehler said.
2. Amy thought Ashlee Simpson's lip-sync flub wasn't a big deal
![ashlee simpson snl]()
It's a story Poehler recounts in "Yes Please": This is what the reaction was like backstage when Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing during her "SNL" performance.
"We were about to do a Merv the Perv sketch. I was dressed as 'Kill Bill.' Rachel Dratch was Raggedy Ann. And Maya Rudolph was in a pregnant cat suit," Poehler said. "They ran by, and it was one of those things where it was so hectic that we hid under the table." Poehler recalled how Lesley Stahl happened to be backstage as well, as "60 Minutes" was following Lorne Michaels around for a segment on the "SNL" executive producer. Her recollection from under the table: "A thin lady with heels ran by."
For Meyers, things were a little different. "I was getting hair and makeup, so I didn't see it. It was like being in the town next over when Godzilla attacks. People ran by [screaming]," he said.
Despite the chaos, Poehler felt the incident would blow over.
"I remember drunkenly at the party being like it's not a big deal, nobody's going to care," she said before mimicking her drunk voice. "'Who cares? Nobody is going to talk about it tomorrow.'"
3. Johnny Knoxville apparently brought loose pills to "SNL"
![johnny knoxville snl]()
When Johnny Knoxville hosted "SNL," Rachel Dratch threw her back out after sneezing during the read-through couldn't move. Fortunately, Knoxville was there to offer some assistance. "He reached into his pockets and pulled out 12 loose pills," Poehler said. "None of them were downers. All of them only wanted to make you want to party."
As it turned out, Dratch didn't need Knoxville's pharmaceuticals. She received help from the NBC doctor. "She brought the Vicodin, and Rachel didn't want to take one," Poehler said. "Everyone else was like, 'You should take one.'"
4. Amy & Seth's first show was after 9/11, and it started with a "beautiful joke"
![snl rudolph guiliani]()
Poehler and Meyers both started on the show in 2001, and their first read-through was supposed to happen on Sept. 11.
"It was a very strange time to be starting a new job at a weekly comedy variety show," Poehler said. "There was a lot of talk about comedy being over. There was a lot of, 'Will we ever laugh again?' That happened, of course, when JFK died. There were all these proclamations about when will we ever be able to get back. That felt truly ... it really felt like we were never going to get back anywhere close to where we were. The wound felt so psychic. I was living in New York for six or seven years, so it was my hometown at that point."
Poehler recalled how the aftermath of the terrorist attacks mixed with the jitters associated with starting a new job created an odd juxtaposition. "It was just that combination of, 'Where are the bathrooms? And are we gonna die?'" she said. "Also there was anthrax in our building, which was great too."
The season premiere aired on Sept. 29, 2001 with Reese Witherspoon as host. Paul Simon sang "The Boxer" at the beginning of the show as a group of first responders and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appeared on stage. After Simon's song, Lorne Michaels came out.
"It was a beautiful New York moment and there was that great joke where Lorne says to Mayor Giuliani, 'Can we be funny?' And Mayor Giuliani says, 'Why start now?' It's so hard to write a joke like that. What fucking joke do you open with?" Poehler said. "It's so self-effacing and funny. The mayor gets the laugh. It's just a beautiful joke. We wanted the mayor to be in charge."
After the show, Poehler and the cast went to the after-party with some of the first responders. "Those guys were a blast," Poehler said. "They were just full of life, having seen so much sadness. Life and death, sadness and happiness live right next to each other. If you're lucky you get to serve them both. That was an amazing time to be on that show for sure."
1. Amy's Sarah Palin rap was one of Seth's favorite "SNL" moments
"I was on the show for 12 and a half years, and there were maybe 10 times where you thought you fucking nailed it. That you wished no part of it had gone different," Meyers said. "It's like when baseball players hit the ball and flip the bat because they know it's going out of the park." That's how Meyers felt about Poehler's Sarah Palin rap during Weekend Update, which she performed while being nine months pregnant and in front of Palin herself.
"I was an animal. It's really fun to be that pregnant because you freak everybody out," Poehler said.
2. Amy thought Ashlee Simpson's lip-sync flub wasn't a big deal
It's a story Poehler recounts in "Yes Please": This is what the reaction was like backstage when Ashlee Simpson was caught lip-syncing during her "SNL" performance.
"We were about to do a Merv the Perv sketch. I was dressed as 'Kill Bill.' Rachel Dratch was Raggedy Ann. And Maya Rudolph was in a pregnant cat suit," Poehler said. "They ran by, and it was one of those things where it was so hectic that we hid under the table." Poehler recalled how Lesley Stahl happened to be backstage as well, as "60 Minutes" was following Lorne Michaels around for a segment on the "SNL" executive producer. Her recollection from under the table: "A thin lady with heels ran by."
For Meyers, things were a little different. "I was getting hair and makeup, so I didn't see it. It was like being in the town next over when Godzilla attacks. People ran by [screaming]," he said.
Despite the chaos, Poehler felt the incident would blow over.
"I remember drunkenly at the party being like it's not a big deal, nobody's going to care," she said before mimicking her drunk voice. "'Who cares? Nobody is going to talk about it tomorrow.'"
3. Johnny Knoxville apparently brought loose pills to "SNL"
When Johnny Knoxville hosted "SNL," Rachel Dratch threw her back out after sneezing during the read-through couldn't move. Fortunately, Knoxville was there to offer some assistance. "He reached into his pockets and pulled out 12 loose pills," Poehler said. "None of them were downers. All of them only wanted to make you want to party."
As it turned out, Dratch didn't need Knoxville's pharmaceuticals. She received help from the NBC doctor. "She brought the Vicodin, and Rachel didn't want to take one," Poehler said. "Everyone else was like, 'You should take one.'"
4. Amy & Seth's first show was after 9/11, and it started with a "beautiful joke"
Poehler and Meyers both started on the show in 2001, and their first read-through was supposed to happen on Sept. 11.
"It was a very strange time to be starting a new job at a weekly comedy variety show," Poehler said. "There was a lot of talk about comedy being over. There was a lot of, 'Will we ever laugh again?' That happened, of course, when JFK died. There were all these proclamations about when will we ever be able to get back. That felt truly ... it really felt like we were never going to get back anywhere close to where we were. The wound felt so psychic. I was living in New York for six or seven years, so it was my hometown at that point."
Poehler recalled how the aftermath of the terrorist attacks mixed with the jitters associated with starting a new job created an odd juxtaposition. "It was just that combination of, 'Where are the bathrooms? And are we gonna die?'" she said. "Also there was anthrax in our building, which was great too."
The season premiere aired on Sept. 29, 2001 with Reese Witherspoon as host. Paul Simon sang "The Boxer" at the beginning of the show as a group of first responders and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appeared on stage. After Simon's song, Lorne Michaels came out.
"It was a beautiful New York moment and there was that great joke where Lorne says to Mayor Giuliani, 'Can we be funny?' And Mayor Giuliani says, 'Why start now?' It's so hard to write a joke like that. What fucking joke do you open with?" Poehler said. "It's so self-effacing and funny. The mayor gets the laugh. It's just a beautiful joke. We wanted the mayor to be in charge."
After the show, Poehler and the cast went to the after-party with some of the first responders. "Those guys were a blast," Poehler said. "They were just full of life, having seen so much sadness. Life and death, sadness and happiness live right next to each other. If you're lucky you get to serve them both. That was an amazing time to be on that show for sure."
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You'll Be Mesmerized By This Video Of Heidi Klum Getting Into Her Costume
Take notes, people.
"Project Runway" host Heidi Klum is known for having some of the most incredible Halloween costumes, but this year's metamorphosis is second to none. On Friday, Klum took on New York in an intricate butterfly costume complete with wings. She captured her transformation in an Instagram video that is seriously mesmerizing, so make sure to clear your schedule.
Here's the finished product:
And that's how you become a social butterfly, ladies and gentlemen.
"Project Runway" host Heidi Klum is known for having some of the most incredible Halloween costumes, but this year's metamorphosis is second to none. On Friday, Klum took on New York in an intricate butterfly costume complete with wings. She captured her transformation in an Instagram video that is seriously mesmerizing, so make sure to clear your schedule.
Here's the finished product:
And that's how you become a social butterfly, ladies and gentlemen.
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Iggy Azalea Wore A 'White Chicks' Costume Because She Can Clearly Take A Joke
This is what happens when you mess with a "Black Widow," baby.
Iggy Azalea responded to all the haters who said she looks like a character from the movie "White Chicks" ... by actually dressing up like a character from the movie "White Chicks."
For a long time now, the Internet (and even Snoop Dogg) have called out Azalea on her possible resemblance to the Wayans brothers in their comedy about going undercover as white women, and, though she fired back at Snoop over Twitter, it appears Azalea is simply laughing it off.
And laughing ...
And laughing ...
Snoop already issued an Instagram apology for his beef with Azalea, which the "Fancy" singer thanked him for:
But, according to a recent video from TMZ, it appears the feud may still be going on.
What we do know for sure is that, first things first, Azalea's response to all the hate is the realest:
H/T BuzzFeed
Iggy Azalea responded to all the haters who said she looks like a character from the movie "White Chicks" ... by actually dressing up like a character from the movie "White Chicks."
For a long time now, the Internet (and even Snoop Dogg) have called out Azalea on her possible resemblance to the Wayans brothers in their comedy about going undercover as white women, and, though she fired back at Snoop over Twitter, it appears Azalea is simply laughing it off.
And laughing ...
And laughing ...
Snoop already issued an Instagram apology for his beef with Azalea, which the "Fancy" singer thanked him for:
Let that be that people, time to focus on the positive things I've got going on. no time to dwell on the negative.
— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) October 15, 2014But, according to a recent video from TMZ, it appears the feud may still be going on.
What we do know for sure is that, first things first, Azalea's response to all the hate is the realest:
H/T BuzzFeed
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Pregnant Hayden Panettiere Rocks A Leopard Print Bikini For Halloween
This Halloween costume looks purrrfect on Hayden. (Sorry, we had to.)
Hayden Panettiere, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, got into the Halloween spirit and dressed up as a leopard on Friday. In the photo Panettiere posted on her Twitter account, the "Nashville" star rocks elaborate face paint, a tribal necklace and a leopard-print bikini, leaving her pregnant belly uncovered:
Yep, we're retweeting that right about meow.
Hayden Panettiere, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Wladimir Klitschko, got into the Halloween spirit and dressed up as a leopard on Friday. In the photo Panettiere posted on her Twitter account, the "Nashville" star rocks elaborate face paint, a tribal necklace and a leopard-print bikini, leaving her pregnant belly uncovered:
Happy Halloweeeeen!!!! pic.twitter.com/gZpGHl5iPk
— hayden panettiere (@haydenpanettier) October 31, 2014Yep, we're retweeting that right about meow.
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The 'Furious 7' Trailer Is Finally Here
The first trailer for "Furious 7," the seventh entry in the "Fast & Furious" franchise, has finally arrived. Universal released the teaser on Saturday during a live-event after a week of build up on the studio's social media channels. "Furious 7" marks the final time Paul Walker will be seen on screen, following his death in an automobile accident last November.
"I grew up in the bouncer world, and we lost people while we were bouncing. But the brotherhood in Paul Walker was something completely different," franchise star Vin Diesel said back in August. "We grew up in the business together, and we became famous together, and we represented the biggest franchise together. He was my partner, and it’s a strange thing to ... I've been acting all my life and they don't teach you in acting, how to mourn someone and simultaneously pretend they're in a scene with you."
Filmmakers used computer-generated effects and Walker's own brothers to finish the late actor's work on "Furious 7," as the film was in production when Walker died. "Furious 7" is due out in theaters on April 3, 2015. Judging from the ridiculous first trailer, fans will be delighted by the finished product. It includes cars parachuting out of an airplane, Jason Statham doing a bunch of stuff, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson breaking a cast on his arm as he prepares to fight and Diesel saying the following sentence: "I don't have friends. I got family."
Watch the action-packed trailer, perhaps best described by Michelle Rodriguez as a "car-gasm," above.
"I grew up in the bouncer world, and we lost people while we were bouncing. But the brotherhood in Paul Walker was something completely different," franchise star Vin Diesel said back in August. "We grew up in the business together, and we became famous together, and we represented the biggest franchise together. He was my partner, and it’s a strange thing to ... I've been acting all my life and they don't teach you in acting, how to mourn someone and simultaneously pretend they're in a scene with you."
Filmmakers used computer-generated effects and Walker's own brothers to finish the late actor's work on "Furious 7," as the film was in production when Walker died. "Furious 7" is due out in theaters on April 3, 2015. Judging from the ridiculous first trailer, fans will be delighted by the finished product. It includes cars parachuting out of an airplane, Jason Statham doing a bunch of stuff, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson breaking a cast on his arm as he prepares to fight and Diesel saying the following sentence: "I don't have friends. I got family."
Watch the action-packed trailer, perhaps best described by Michelle Rodriguez as a "car-gasm," above.
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'19 Kids And Counting' Star Jessa Duggar Marries Ben Seewald
It's official! "19 Kids And Counting" star Jessa Duggar married Ben Seewald on Saturday, multiple outlets have confirmed.
The couple, who announced their engagement in August, married in Bentonville, Arkansas, in a ceremony with nearly 2,000 guests, according to Us Weekly.
People reports that Duggar thanked her family and friends at the touching wedding rehearsal on Friday night.
"I'm so happy to have so many friends here from so many places," Duggar said. "And I'm so grateful for my parents. Their influence has been so special to me. I look forward to a long, happy marriage."
Jessa, the third daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, began dating Seewald through a courting process featured on the TLC reality show, which portrays the family's conservative religious values.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
The couple, who announced their engagement in August, married in Bentonville, Arkansas, in a ceremony with nearly 2,000 guests, according to Us Weekly.
People reports that Duggar thanked her family and friends at the touching wedding rehearsal on Friday night.
"I'm so happy to have so many friends here from so many places," Duggar said. "And I'm so grateful for my parents. Their influence has been so special to me. I look forward to a long, happy marriage."
Jessa, the third daughter of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, began dating Seewald through a courting process featured on the TLC reality show, which portrays the family's conservative religious values.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
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What I've Learned Since Coming Out
Looking back on my life since coming out a year ago only makes me wish I'd had the strength to come out sooner. It was the final step on the journey to self-acceptance, and I'm glad I can say now that I truly love myself. I've grown so much as a person over the past year, and I hope that sharing my experience will encourage others to follow their own path. I'm the happiest I've ever been, and life has been good to me. I perform for the greatest company in the world, WWE, and I'm happily in love with my partner, Nicki. He makes me smile, supports me in everything I do and keeps me grounded.
People who are struggling with coming out often ask me for advice, and, in my opinion, the best first step you can take is coming out to those who are closest to you. The most painful experience was hiding my true self from those I loved. I can honestly say that coming out to my inner circle was the best thing I've ever done. I was incredibly fortunate and received nothing but support from them, and my mom is my biggest fan. She's always wearing a Yankees hat with a pin that says "I love my gay son." While not everyone had the same reaction, I've come to grips with that reality. It's OK, because I'm living my life, and that is an amazing feeling.
I don't expect everyone to embrace equality overnight, but we are making great progress. Coming out has instilled in me a sense of confidence that I've never felt before, and I'm happy to have full control over my life without fear of disapproval. I don't need people in my life to bring me down. Working with various organizations like the GLAAD, NOH8, and Athlete Ally and being involved with NYC Pride and LA Pride has opened my eyes to just how far we've come. I'm very honored to have met so many influential people, and I'm inspired by the widespread support for the LGBT community
I feared being alienated when deciding to come out, but instead I felt welcomed. The overwhelming support from WWE, my fellow WWE Superstars and Divas, and my fans has been fantastic. I've been lucky enough to travel the world and use WWE's massive social-media reach to tell my story and connect with my fans. This positive outpouring has eclipsed any negativity, and I only wish I had known that earlier.
Two days after my announcement, I was in Los Angeles for SummerSlam, one of our biggest events of the year, and a fan approached me at CVS. He asked if I was Darren Young, and I could tell he was a huge wrestling fan. He told me he had seen the news about me and admired my courage. He said hearing my story helped him come out to his family. He was emotional and started crying. I knew what those tears were about. We connected and got a photo together. It's moments like this that make me realize I can help create a positive change in the world. Since coming out, I've been committed to WWE's anti-bullying campaign, Be a STAR, as a motivational speaker to kids across the nation. Bullying happens on all levels, and it's important to me that we put a stop to this negative trend and reverse its damaging effects. When bullying is given a place in our schools, workplaces, or anywhere else, everyone loses. I always try to make myself available and approachable so kids feel they have someone to turn to in times of need. My message is this: Don't be afraid to be yourself, and don't let fear stand in the way of your true happiness.
Living your life truthfully is such a great feeling, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself this: You have more support than you think you do. Being true to yourself is key to reaching your personal potential.
People who are struggling with coming out often ask me for advice, and, in my opinion, the best first step you can take is coming out to those who are closest to you. The most painful experience was hiding my true self from those I loved. I can honestly say that coming out to my inner circle was the best thing I've ever done. I was incredibly fortunate and received nothing but support from them, and my mom is my biggest fan. She's always wearing a Yankees hat with a pin that says "I love my gay son." While not everyone had the same reaction, I've come to grips with that reality. It's OK, because I'm living my life, and that is an amazing feeling.
I don't expect everyone to embrace equality overnight, but we are making great progress. Coming out has instilled in me a sense of confidence that I've never felt before, and I'm happy to have full control over my life without fear of disapproval. I don't need people in my life to bring me down. Working with various organizations like the GLAAD, NOH8, and Athlete Ally and being involved with NYC Pride and LA Pride has opened my eyes to just how far we've come. I'm very honored to have met so many influential people, and I'm inspired by the widespread support for the LGBT community
I feared being alienated when deciding to come out, but instead I felt welcomed. The overwhelming support from WWE, my fellow WWE Superstars and Divas, and my fans has been fantastic. I've been lucky enough to travel the world and use WWE's massive social-media reach to tell my story and connect with my fans. This positive outpouring has eclipsed any negativity, and I only wish I had known that earlier.
Two days after my announcement, I was in Los Angeles for SummerSlam, one of our biggest events of the year, and a fan approached me at CVS. He asked if I was Darren Young, and I could tell he was a huge wrestling fan. He told me he had seen the news about me and admired my courage. He said hearing my story helped him come out to his family. He was emotional and started crying. I knew what those tears were about. We connected and got a photo together. It's moments like this that make me realize I can help create a positive change in the world. Since coming out, I've been committed to WWE's anti-bullying campaign, Be a STAR, as a motivational speaker to kids across the nation. Bullying happens on all levels, and it's important to me that we put a stop to this negative trend and reverse its damaging effects. When bullying is given a place in our schools, workplaces, or anywhere else, everyone loses. I always try to make myself available and approachable so kids feel they have someone to turn to in times of need. My message is this: Don't be afraid to be yourself, and don't let fear stand in the way of your true happiness.
Living your life truthfully is such a great feeling, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself this: You have more support than you think you do. Being true to yourself is key to reaching your personal potential.
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Is Beyonce Releasing Another Album In Two Weeks?
Beyonce surprised everyone when she dropped her self-titled album last December. Now, the Internet is convinced that she might be up to her old tricks and release yet another album in two weeks.
Here's all the "evidence" (that may or may not be real) that we have thus far:
A "release confirmation" and tracklist for a "Beyonce Volume 2" album has been floating around Twitter. The memo includes 10 new songs -- including new collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Justin TImberlake and Rihanna -- and 11 new videos. Vibe Magazine points out that a Beyonce and Rihanna collaboration has been in the rumor mill for months now. WonderingSound also notes that this could explain why Minaj’s "The Pinkprint," which was originally set for Nov. 24, was pushed back to Dec. 15. The document states that a digital edition of the album would drop on Nov. 14, and that a four-disc physical copy -- including "Beyonce" and a DVD from both her Mrs. Carter World Tour and the On The Run tour -- would get released on Nov. 25.
Would it be hard to doctor something like this document on Microsoft Word, feed it to the Internet and sit back and watch people go wild over it? Nope. But you know you want to believe it anyway:
The Huffington Post contacted Beyonce's rep and will update this post with a comment if one comes through.
Here's all the "evidence" (that may or may not be real) that we have thus far:
A "release confirmation" and tracklist for a "Beyonce Volume 2" album has been floating around Twitter. The memo includes 10 new songs -- including new collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Justin TImberlake and Rihanna -- and 11 new videos. Vibe Magazine points out that a Beyonce and Rihanna collaboration has been in the rumor mill for months now. WonderingSound also notes that this could explain why Minaj’s "The Pinkprint," which was originally set for Nov. 24, was pushed back to Dec. 15. The document states that a digital edition of the album would drop on Nov. 14, and that a four-disc physical copy -- including "Beyonce" and a DVD from both her Mrs. Carter World Tour and the On The Run tour -- would get released on Nov. 25.
Would it be hard to doctor something like this document on Microsoft Word, feed it to the Internet and sit back and watch people go wild over it? Nope. But you know you want to believe it anyway:
What if this is real pic.twitter.com/cPjHixH8vo
— no. (@simonefiasco) November 1, 2014The Huffington Post contacted Beyonce's rep and will update this post with a comment if one comes through.
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