James Bond's UK film studio launches mission to the U.S.

James Bond's UK film studio launches mission to the U.S.

British film studio Pinewood Shepperton, home of the James Bond movies, plans to build its first movie, television and music studio in the United States, part of an international expansion strategy launched in 2009. The owner of Europe's largest film studio, Pinewood said on Monday it would develop 288 acres of land south of Atlanta, Georgia, for a studio facility in a joint venture with River's Rock LLC, an independently managed trust of the Cathy family. The Cathy family owns the Atlanta-based fried chicken chain Chick-fil-A. It is believed to be their first significant media investment, but no one from Chick-fil-A was available for comment. Atlanta-area lawyer Douglas Warner, attorney for River's Rock, declined to comment. Attracting Pinewood is the latest victory for Georgia as it builds itself into a major U.S. production destination. Figures shows that 333 productions were shot in the state last year, boosting public coffers by $3.1 billion, with recent films including "Flight", "X-Men: First Class", and "Fast Five". Filmmaker and television producer Tyler Perry has a studio in Atlanta, and the popular zombie-themed AMC cable network series "The Walking Dead" is filmed in the southern U.S. state. Pinewood already owns studios in Canada and Germany and is building facilities in Malaysia and the Dominican Republic. Earlier this month the studio signed a joint venture with Chinese media group Seven Stars, run by media entrepreneur Bruno Wu, to expand its production services into China. "Georgia has excellent fiscal incentives and a great crew base," Pinewood CEO Ivan Dunleavy said in a statement. "With River's Rock we have a well-resourced partner that is committed to building a first-class studio facility." Producers can qualify for state income tax credits of up to 30 percent for certain production expenses, according to the Georgia film office. Under the deal, the land and studio construction costs will be funded by equity from River's Rock and a debt facility from Synovus Bank, with building to begin immediately. Pinewood will provide the sales and marketing services and own 40 percent of the joint venture that will operate under the Pinewood trademark and be called Pinewood Atlanta. The Pinewood studio, based outside of London, has been dubbed the home of James Bond with most of the 23 films featuring British spy 007 shot there over the past half century, including last year's box office hit "Skyfall". Recent films shot at Pinewood include "Jack Ryan" starring Kevin Costner and Chris Pine, and Angelina Jolie's new film "Maleficent". Whether Pinewood might shoot future James Bond films in Georgia was not known. 

News Source : www.reuters.com

Vince Vaughn & Wife Expecting Second Baby

Vince Vaughn & Wife Expecting Second Baby

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Vince Vaughn will soon be a daddy of two! During an appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (set to air on Monday), the “Internship” actor, 43, revealed he and his wife Kyla are expecting their second child. “This is the first time I’ve said anything,” Vince told Ellen. “We’re very excited.” Vince, who tied the knot with Kyla in January 2010, said his wife is due on August 5. PHOTOS: Celebrity Baby Bumps The couple’s first child, daughter Locklyn Kyla Vaughn, was born in December 2010 and Vince chatted with Access Hollywood about daddy duty shortly after her birth. “It’s been really wonderful,” he told Access in a January 2011 interview. “I feel really grateful and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s very nice.” 

News Source :  www.accesshollywood.com

George Jones 10 Prime Hits

George Jones 10 Prime Hits

George Jones will always be remembered for his magnificent, evocative voice. That golden throat graced dozens of country classics across six decades of recording. Here are 10 prime hits (listed alphabetically) that helped define his incredible career -- and, on occasion, bring devoted listeners to tears. "Choices" Jones deservedly won a 1999 Grammy for this hard country ballad in which he reflects on a life of poor decisions. The steel guitar and fiddle cry along with him as he considers his taste for drinking and the loved ones he's hurt. Still, without those choices, his life wouldn't have been the same. When he was asked to shorten the song for the CMA Awards, he bowed out -- and Alan Jackson earned a standing ovation by tacking on "Choices" at the end of his own slot. "Golden Ring" (With Tammy Wynette) Although their iconic marriage didn't last, the undeniable chemistry of their duets will never tarnish. In a fitting tribute to the song's title, everything comes full circle in this three-minute narrative. Two lovers find a pair of wedding rings in a pawn shop, get married, break up and take the rings back to the shop. Back on display, they attract the eyes of another couple. Wait, do people buy used wedding rings? Well, when George and Tammy sing, you believe every word. "The Grand Tour" Nashville tourists probably would not enjoy the sort of home tour that Jones describes here in miserable, meticulous detail. With echoes of piano, he points out the empty chair and the empty bed in the empty house. About the only thing he's kept is the framed photo of the woman who's gone. "As you leave you'll see the nursery/Oh, she left me without mercy." A tour de force. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" This 1980 Grammy-winning weeper is considered by many to be the greatest country song of all time. As the story unfolds, Jones goes to a funeral visitation for a heartbroken old friend. When the orchestra is diminished, your attention is shifted to a ghostly background vocal and Jones' recitation about the woman who came to see his friend one last time. It almost feels like you're in the room when he has the epiphany. And that's the magic of Jones' vulnerable voice. "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" Sure, the song is a novelty, but that didn't keep longtime admirers like Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Pam Tillis from chiming in their support, along with short phrases sprinkled in here and there. The boisterous track won a 1993 CMA Award for vocal event of the year. Jones later repeated in the category by harmonizing with Patty Loveless on the marvelous "You Don't Seem to Miss Me" and teaming with Brad Paisley, Buck Owens and Bill Anderson on "Too Country." "She Thinks I Still Care" Hey, he's only casually mentioning her, asking friends about her, accidentally calling her and retracing her footsteps. It doesn't mean anything, right? Where would she get such an idea? A No. 1 smash in 1962, "She Thinks I Still Care" tells its story with teardrops -- and a sly wink. "Tender Years" Instead of a honky-tonk direction, Jones took a smooth approach to "Tender Years" in 1961, surrounded by lush orchestration and elegant harmonies. Don't be misled, though. In the lyrics, he's torn up about his woman forsaking him for another man. The only solace Jones can find is the knowledge that she'll look back fondly ... someday. And in the meantime, he'll wait. (By the way, I don't think women want to hear that you'll still be there when their new relationship fails.) "White Lightning" "Sheeeew ... White lightning!" Written by J.P. Richardson (a.k.a "The Big Bopper"), this 1959 romp set the stage for a lifetime of drinking songs. With a hidden North Carolina moonshine still, the singer's dad likes to fill up a jug and pass it around. No revenuers allowed. And of course, the tough city slickers can't handle it: "I heard him a-moanin' as he hit the ground." As for Jones, he hit the ground running as "White Lightning" became his first No. 1 hit. "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" The demise of classic country music has been on listeners' minds for decades now. In 1985, Jones wondered aloud if anybody would come along to carry the traditionalist torch. Then he lists some of the men and women who altered the course of country music -- even contemporaries like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Elvis Presley. It's an honorable tribute to country music's heritage and will be remembered as one of Jones' most poignant recordings. "Why Baby Why" This catchy tune brought Jones a national audience in 1955 after years of paying his dues.

News Source :  www.cmt.com

Dancing With the Stars Victor Ortiz Voted Off

 Victor Ortiz

 Victor Ortiz

Boxer Victor Ortiz has been on the ropes for many weeks on “Dancing with the Stars.” After multiple trips to the bottom two, he and Lindsay Arnold finally were knocked out Tuesday, becoming the latest couple eliminated from the 16th season of the show. Victor’s lackluster rumba and powerless contribution to Team Paso on Monday sealed his fate. He had the lowest score in the individual round and was on the losing team in the group-dance section. It also seemed as the season progressed that Lindsay, a new pro, didn’t always know how best to coach Victor. She would look exasperated and unsure of how to handle his mounting frustration or lack of awareness of a particular concept. He didn’t seem too sad to be leaving, smiling and inviting everyone to watch him fight. Joining Victor in the bottom two were Sean Lowe and Peta Murgatroyd. Andy Dick and Sharna Burgess were in jeopardy, and when they were declared safe, a lovefest broke out. The other couples raced to hug them, Andy trembled, Sharna shrieked with joy, and audience members jumped to their feet. By the way, Team Paso had the Twitter-chosen encore, even though the judges scored its routine three points lower than Team Samba. In case you didn’t already think the season’s Prom Queen and King, Zendaya and Jacoby Jones, were drawing the most Twitter traffic, this confirms it. On the second try of the “Higher Ground” paso, Ingo Rademacher nearly flung partner Kym Johnson into the audience. In the end group formation, the men looked exhausted moving the capes around. Host Tom Bergeron opened the show by throwing straight to Olly Murs, a British singer-songwriter who was on the U.K. version of “The X-Factor.” He performed his hit “Troublemaker;” Emma Slater from the Troupe choreographed. Will.i.am joined the fun later with his new single, “Willpower,” which had video clips of Justin Bieber (“Obi Wan Bieber, appearing in the mist,” as Tom described him) and a fusion of electronica, tech and pop. The dancers looked like robots with sunglasses and baggy jeans. The Macy’s Stars of Dance sequence emphasized “precision choreography,” as dancers in mint pants and black blazers with red squares marched in tight formations to “We Came to Smash.” It wasn’t another will.i.a, production, but it might as well have been. Stevie Wonder was the true star of Monday’s show, and he reflected afterward. It seems he and the show have been in talks for years to have him as a contestant, and he said he wants to make that come to fruition. However, after hearing the “DWTS” couples and Bruno butcher “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” Tom said, “Stevie Wonder on the line. He’s decided he’d rather do ‘Splash.’” The dancing snippets going to and coming from commercial breaks have been a nice touch this season. Often they feature the Troupe or eliminated pros, but this week showcased Derek Hough before one break and Mark Ballas and Lindsay coming back from another. This results show had more dancing than usual, including a fire-dominated number with Sharna and Peta in what appeared to be cavewomen bikinis. This was supposed to be a preview of next Monday’s Latin Week. When did tiki torches equal Latin night? Best filler of the night – the antics from the surprise star of the season, the winner of the Coco Arquette Cute Kid Award, 3-year-old Peanut Rademacher. The stars give him high-fives as they head to the skybox, and he yells to them that he’ll see them at the after party. Next week, expect the tears to flow as “DWTS” features the story of Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a ballroom dancer who lost one of her feet in the Boston Marathon bombings. Tom said he hopes the show can be part of her recovery.


News Source : blogs.wsj.com

Allan Arbus Psychiatrist With Zingers on ‘M*A*S*H’, Dies at 95

Allan Arbus

Allan Arbus

 
Allan Arbus, who left the successful fashion  photography  business he and his wife, Diane, built to become an actor, most memorably playing the caustic psychiatrist Maj. Sidney Freedman on the hit television series “M*A*S*H,” died on Friday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 95. Enlarge This Image CBS Allan Arbus in a scene from “M*A*S*H." Arts Twitter Logo. Connect With Us on Twitter Follow @nytimesarts for arts and entertainment news. Arts Twitter List: Critics, Reporters and Editors Arts & Entertainment Guide A sortable calendar of noteworthy cultural events in the New York region, selected by Times critics. Go to Event Listings » Amy Arbus, his daughter, confirmed his death. Mr. Arbus appeared in films like “Coffy” and “Crossroads” and was a TV regular during the 1970s and ’80s, appearing on “Taxi,” “Starsky & Hutch,” “Matlock” and other shows. But his best-known role was Major Freedman, the liberal psychiatrist who appeared in a dozen episodes of “M*A*S*H.” He treated wounds of the psyche much as Capt. Hawkeye Pierce treated surgery patients: with a never-ending string of zingers. Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, recalled Mr. Arbus as a very believable therapist. “I was so convinced that he was a psychiatrist I used to sit and talk with him between scenes,” Mr. Alda said in an interview with the Archive of American Television. “After a couple months of that I noticed he was giving me these strange looks, like ‘How would I know the answer to that?’ ” Allan Franklin Arbus was born in New York City on Feb. 15, 1918. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School and entered City College at 15. He left college a year and a half later for a job at Russek’s Department Store, where he met Diane Nemerov, the daughter of the store’s owners. They married in 1941 and became passionate about photography. They shot fashion photographs for Russek’s before Mr. Arbus left to serve as a photographer in the Army Signal Corps in Burma during World War II. When he was discharged in 1946 the Arbuses established a studio on West 54th Street for fashion photography and soon won a contract from Condé Nast to supply photos for magazines like Glamour and Vogue. In 1956, Ms. Arbus dissolved their business partnership to work full time on her haunting shots of marginalized people. Mr. Arbus continued to work in fashion photography but also took up acting. The Arbuses separated in 1959 and divorced in 1969, when Mr. Arbus moved to Los Angeles. Ms. Arbus committed suicide in 1971. In 1976, Mr. Arbus married Mariclare Costello. She survives him, as do his two daughters from his first marriage, Amy and Doon; and a daughter from his second marriage, Arin Arbus. Mr. Arbus’s last television role was on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2000. A version of this article appeared in print on April 24, 2013, on page A17 of the New York edition with the headline: Allan Arbus, 95, Psychiatrist With Zingers on ‘M*A*S*H’.

News Source : www.nytimes.com

GLAAD awards honor Bill Clinton, 'The New Normal'

Actress Drew Barrymore

NBC's sitcom "The New Normal," FX's thriller "American Horror Story: Asylum" and NBC's daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" took home top TV honors at the 24th annual GLAAD Media Awards held Saturday night in Los Angeles. The GLAAD awards pay tribute to "inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives." The event, hosted by actress-producer-director Drew Barrymore, boasted such Hollywood heavyweights as presenters Jennifer Morrison, Charlize Theron, Betty White and Leonardo DiCaprio. Other winners included "Perks of Being a Wallflower," which was named outstanding film: wide release, and former President Bill Clinton was given the first advocate for change award. On the arrivals line, longtime Clinton friend, Oscar-winner Mary Steenburgen, defended the former president's controversial honor. Under Clinton's administration came the Defense of Marriage Act, which bars federal recognition of same-sex marriage, as well as the "don't ask, don't tell" military policy. "Actually, ("don't ask, don't tell") was a sorrow for him," Steenburgen said. "So, I think he's spent a large part of his life making up for that. But I tell you this: He's never not had his heart in the right place, in terms of the gay community." Many who walked the press gauntlet shared personal stories. Actor Justin Bartha said a brother's coming out moved him both personally and professionally. "It was an inspiring moment -- I'm sure for him and definitely me and my whole family," Bartha noted. "So, it was at the forefront of my mind when looking at (the role of half of a gay couple in "The New Normal")." "Kyle XY" actor Matt Dallas discussed his decision to come out publicly earlier this year. MSNBC news anchor Thomas Roberts talked about the recent marriage to his male partner of 12 years. Entertainment blogger Perez Hilton detailed the challenges of being the single gay parent of newly adopted child. And transgendered Chaz Bono expressed hopes for the gay lesbian bisexual transgender community's future. "I mean, I think the goal always has to be equality in all aspects under the law," he said. "You're never going to eradicate discrimination. We see that with other minorities. Racism is still, unfortunately, alive and well. But equal protection under the law makes a huge difference. So, I think, for me, that is the goal, that is the thing to strive for." Additional 2013 GLAAD Media Awards were presented in New York on March 16. The final awards will be presented in San Francisco May 11. 

News Source :  www.newsday.com

Nicole Eggert rushed to hospital after being injured in 'Splash' dive

Nicole Eggert

Nicole Eggert has become the latest celebrity to suffer an injury while participating in ABC's Splash celebrity diving competition. ADVERTISEMENT The 41-year-old former Baywatch star was rushed to the hospital after she "bungl[ed] a high-dive and brutally back-flopp[ed] into the pool" while taping an upcoming episode of Splash on Thursday, TMZ reported. Eggert's dive reportedly included "multiple backflips," but a rotation error resulted in her entering the water back-first and EMTs having to rush in and pull her from the pool. RELATED LINKS Reality TV World: Splash More Splash News "[She had] a bad landing," a Splash representative subsequently confirmed to E! News. Eggert reportedly didn't suffer any fractured bones and was released from the hospital after several hours, however her Splash status remains unclear. "She is currently consulting with a doctor," the show representative said. Eggert is the fourth celebrity injured while competing on Splash. E! personality Chuy Bravo was forced to quit the competition just before his first dive when he suffered a "freak accident" and broke his heel bone while watching other Splash contestants dive. This week, model and reigning Miss Alabama USA Katherine Webb quit Splash after she suffered a "pretty hard" landing and injured her back while diving on last week's show. Extreme skier Rory Bushfield also ruptured an eardrum during a dive but has chosen to remain in the competition. In addition, reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson decided to quit Splash when a fear of heights kept her from being able to complete a dive.

News Source: www.realitytvworld.com

Wiz Khalifa Calls Twitter's New Music Service 'Insane'

Wiz Khalifa

Rapper Wiz Khalifa has given rave reviews to Twitter's new music app, Twitter #music, which was released Thursday and aims to change the way people find music. "Man this new Twitter music app is insane!" Khalifa tweeted on April 12, after certain artists were given a sneak peek of the program. The service uses activity on the social networking site to determin the most popular track and emerging artists based on user profiles and who they follow. Naturally, the service's most popular chart consists of the top 140 songs, all of which can be sampled for 30 seconds and then bought on iTunes via a link. Users who subscribe to Spotify or Rdio can log in with their accounts and listen to full songs if they're available from either of the two outlets. #music includes new ways to discover artists: "Popular" which highlights new music that's trending; "Emerging," which exposes hidden talent based on tweets; "#NowPlaying," which relates music based on people a user follows; "Me," based on which artists you follow; and "Suggested" based on what you follow. "Twitter and music go great together," said We Are Hunted founder Stephen Philips via a post on the social network. "People share and discover new songs and albums every day. Many of the most-followed accounts on Twitter are musicians, and half of all users follow at least one musician." We Are Hunted is a service that tracks the 99 most popular songs from emerging artists.

News Source: www.starpulse.com

Computer glitch: AA grounds all flights through 5 p.m. ET

Computer glitch: AA grounds all flights through 5 p.m. ET

American Airlines has grounded all of its flights through 5 p.m. ET because of a computer glitch. American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely e-mailed Today in the Sky that the airline's system was "now back up and running" as of 4:10 p.m. ET and that "we'll begin flying again in 50 minutes." More than 730 flights on American and regional affiliate American Eagle had been canceled as of 4:15 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. An additional 738 American flights were delayed today because of the glitch. "This is a major outage for American and is the longest flight disruption as a result of a failure of an airline's back-end technology in recent history," FlightAware CEO Daniel Baker says to Today in the Sky. "It is likely to affect over 125,000 travelers today and tomorrow. United had a few similar outages last year, some as a result of the Continental/United merger and related technology fallout, but none were nearly as long as this" problem, which lasted more than 5 hours. FlightAware says most of the AA's delays and cancellations have come on flights to or from AA's main hub at Dallas/Fort Worth, though Chicago O'Hare, Miami and New York LaGuardia had also seen significant problems. Even once flights resume, Baker estimated that about 800 additional American and American Eagle flights "will be indirectly impacted by planes and crews out of place." At American, the airline encouraged fliers with flexible schedules to put off travel. "If your travel plans are flexible, there will be no charge if you would like to change your reservation and we will provide full refunds if your travel plans are not flexible," Huguely said in the statement to Today in the Sky. "However, we are unable to make changes to current travel plans until we have resolved this issue," she added. In the meantime, reports and photos of long lines at American's check-in counters were streaming in from across the country via both social media and traditional news outlets. At American's hub in Miami, The Miami Herald reports that landing AA flights have run out of available gates since none of the airline's departures are taking off. A passenger on one of those flights -- 66-year-old Richard Bell -- tells the Herald he had been stuck on an AA flight arriving from Baltimore. He told the newspaper that the aircraft's engines were running and that the air conditioning was working. But he also said the flight's pilots come over the public address system to warn fliers that some other systems were not functioning. THE MIAMI HERALD: Flights grounded following reservations system failure at AA "He mentioned the toilet specifically as a problem,'' Bell tells the Herald. NBC 4 of Los Angeles showed a filled-to-the-brim seating area at one of American's gates at Los Angeles International, while the Los Angeles Times shows a number of Tweets from passengers affected by the disruption. American had been having "intermittent " problems throughout the day, but announced at 2:38 p.m. ET that it was grounding all flights in an effort to resolve the problem. American initially appeared to blame its the crash on a crash of the Sabre reservations system. However, AA eventually backtracked, saying via Twitter that "the issue is (with) our ability to access our res system" and not with Sabre itself. The carrier, the USA's third-biggest, first warned customers of the problems via Twitter at 12:30 p.m. ET. "American's reservation system is experiencing intermittent outages," AA spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said in a 1:50 p.m. ET e-mail to Today in the Sky. "We're working to resolve the issue as quickly as we can. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience."

News Source: www.usatoday.com

Immigration bill is personal for many at Capitol rally

WASHINGTON -- It's been a long and arduous journey from Guatemala to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, but Mayra Ragon says the trip was well worth taking. Ragon is among thousands of immigrants and their supporters who gathered under a hot sun Wednesday to show support for proposals that would grant a pathway to citizenship for the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants. Ragon, 30, and her husband Saul Lopez, 35, live and work in Maryland. Both are in the country illegally. Their daughter Camila, 3, sitting in a stroller in the shade, was born in the U.S. She is legal. "We came 11 years ago because in Guatemala there is no opportunity to even have a house," Ragon says. "We came here to find opportunity and to give our daughter a better future." Ragon says she and Lopez want to "get papers to be legal, but nobody is helping." Organizers of the Rally for Citizenship hope they can press Congress to help. The rally features speeches from immigration rights advocates, labor leaders, faith organizations and members of Congress working on immigration legislation. NAACP President Benjamin Jealous will deliver the keynote address. Events are being held across the nation. Among them: -- In Atlanta, more than 1,000 people gathered at the Georgia Capitol, calling for an end to deportation. -- In San Francisco, demonstrators plan to build an altar with 1,000 paper flowers, symbolizing the number of people deported daily for immigration violations. Immigration bills have been filed and killed repeatedly since the last major bill, allowing up to 3 million illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens, became law in 1986. But organizers of Wednesday's rally here say the political stars are finally aligned for another one. STORY: No immigration deal "Every time you turn around, there's growing momentum for making this happen," said Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, one of the groups that organzied the Washington rally. "They're voting, they're marching, they're dealing with their legislators … to get their government to fix their broken immigration system." None People with the Voces de la Frontera group board a bus at the Racine Labor Center in Racine, Wis., on April 9, headed for the immigration rally in Washington, D.C.(Photo: Scott Anderson, The Journal Times, via AP) Local bartender Juan Quintanila, 23, rode his bike down to the rally. "I'm seeing Mexicans, Peruvians, Panamanians here," says Quintanila, whose parents are from El Salvador. "I see a lot of different Latin Americans working in a restaurant. You see them focused on making money. But a lot of them took off work to come here." Quintanila mother, who came to the U.S. through a church, is a permanent resident now, but his dad still struggles with legal documents. "He came through the underground, through the border of Mexico." he said. The 2012 elections spurred the most recent drive for change. Republicans struggled to garner Hispanic votes, leading longtime supporters of an immigration deal, such as Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and newcomers to the national stage, such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to call on the GOP to better serve the fast-growing electorate by exploring a broad immigration deal. Now, bipartisan groups in the House and Senate are putting the finishing touches on their versions of immigration bills that would grant a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, tighten border security, require U.S. business owners to check the immigration status of new employees, and significantly alter the way the country distributes visas. While sharp disagreements remain over the details of the proposals, President Obama has also supported a sweeping bill and has told Congress he would file his own bill if lawmakers don't act soon. Not everyone in Washington sees the need for haste. Some Republican senators, including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have called for a slow legislative process so members of the Senate get ample time to weigh the multiple, complicated components of the bill. Roy Beck, president of the anti-amnesty group NumbersUSA, said a bipartisan task force of senators known as the Gang of Eight should be in no hurry to put forward an immigration proposal that could result in millions of foreign workers looking for work in the U.S. "There ought to be a rally for the 20 million Americans who can't find a full-time job," Beck said. "If the Gang of Eight could look out on the (Washington) Mall and see all those Americans shut out of the job market, would they really make their highest priority a bill to immediately give work permits to 7 million illegal-alien workers while increasing visas for new foreign labor?" 

News Source:  www.usatoday.com

Background checks deal boosts odds for gun-control bill

Background checks deal boosts odds for gun-control bill

Two key senators announced a breakthrough deal on Wednesday to expand background checks for gun buyers, boosting prospects that the Senate will approve at least some of President Barack Obama's proposed gun restrictions. The agreement by Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania sets the stage for a Senate debate on a gun-control package starting on Thursday, when the Democrat-led chamber is expected to defeat conservative Republican efforts to block the bill from even reaching a vote. The proposal for expanded background checks appears to be Obama's best hope for meaningful gun-control legislation in the aftermath of the December massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Manchin and Toomey, both ardent defenders of gun rights, said their measure would expand criminal background checks for prospective gun buyers to include sales made at gun shows and online, closing a major loophole in a system that analysts say allows as many as 40 percent of gun buyers to avoid checks. But the agreement, designed to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals and the mentally ill, left significant exemptions for "temporary transfers" of weapons or private sales among friends and family members. No background checks would be required in such transactions. More controversial parts of Obama's plan - such as a ban on rapid-firing "assault" weapons like the one used in Connecticut and limits on the capacity of ammunition magazines - appear to have a slim chance of clearing the Senate. The bipartisan deal on background checks does not guarantee that it will clear the Senate, where Obama's Democrats control 55 of the 100 seats but many Democrats, like Manchin, are strong supporters of gun rights. Toomey acknowledged as much during the news conference he and Manchin held on Wednesday, saying that if amendments are added to the bill that he believes infringe on gun owners' rights, he would not support the bill even if it still included the background checks compromise. If the legislation does clear the Senate, it would still face a tough road to approval in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. "Today is just the start of a healthy debate that must end with the Senate and House hopefully passing these common sense measures and the president signing them into law," Manchin told reporters. He said Democratic leaders have promised the background checks agreement will be the first amendment offered to the Senate's gun-control bill. The deal also created a commission that would study the causes of mass violence in the United States, examining images of violence in media and video games as well as issues such as school safety, guns and mental health. Six members would be appointed by the Senate majority leader, currently Nevada Democrat Harry Reid, and six by the House speaker, currently Republican John Boehner. Obama, who has been pushing hard for Congress to produce the first major gun-control legislation in nearly two decades, had called negotiators from both parties on Tuesday, the White House said. Manchin said the senators also had been in touch with key stakeholders such as the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby. INTENSE LOBBYING The president's plan has been the focus of intense lobbying by gun-rights supporters such as the NRA, and by gun-control advocates such as Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group backed by Michael Bloomberg, the media magnate and New York City mayor. The NRA called the agreement's rejection of the broader "universal" background checks pushed by Obama "a positive development," but also said a "meaningful and serious" solution to gun violence was needed that addresses crime and mental health issues. The deal also won cautious support from some gun-control advocates, including Bloomberg and the group formed by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded in a 2011 mass shooting in Arizona. "Our bipartisan coalition of more than 900 mayors strongly supports this bill," Bloomberg said in a statement. Obama, who has described the day of the December 14 Newtown shooting as the worst of his presidency, has used a campaign-style approach to his gun-control efforts. Several family members of victims from the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown flew to Washington on Air Force One on Monday to urge lawmakers to take action, and First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to give a speech on guns on Wednesday. Manchin's participation in the deal on background checks could bolster the prospects for the legislation. The freshman senator from West Virginia represents a state where gun ownership has long been passionately protected and where attempts to regulate guns have been strongly opposed. Toomey, a conservative Republican from Pennsylvania, said he did not believe expanding background checks amounted to gun control. "It's common sense," he said. "What matters to me is doing the right thing, and this is the right thing." Senators Mark Kirk of Illinois, a Republican, and Chuck Schumer of New York, a Democrat, also participated in the negotiations. On Thursday, the Senate is scheduled to hold its first vote on whether to take up a gun-control bill. More than a dozen conservative Republican senators have threatened a filibuster aimed at preventing consideration of any gun restrictions. But with public opinion polls showing up to 90 percent of Americans favor expanded background checks, other Republicans have said Obama's proposals should get a Senate vote. The measure likely to pass the Senate could also include funding for school security and tighter restrictions on gun trafficking. That package would fall short of what Obama had pressed for, but would be far more extensive than the NRA would like. 

News Source: www.reuters.com

Annette Funicello, beloved Mouseketeer, dies at 70

Annette Funicello, beloved Mouseketeer, dies at 70

Actress, singer and former Mouseketeer Annette Funicello has died at age 70, The Walt Disney Company confirmed in a statement Monday. Funicello "died peacefully from complications due to multiple sclerosis, a disease she battled for over 25 years," the company said. Funicello died at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, Calif. Slideshow: Annette Funicello: 1942-2013 Getty Images Launch slideshow "Annette was and always will be a cherished member of the Disney family, synonymous with the word Mouseketeer, and a true Disney legend," said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Iger in a statement. "She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent. Follow @ TODAY_ent "Annette was well known for being as beautiful inside as she was on the outside, and she faced her physical challenges with dignity, bravery and grace," Iger went on to say. "All of us at Disney join with family, friends and fans around the world in celebrating her extraordinary life." 

News Source: todayentertainment.today.com

Beyonce, Jay-Z Cuba trip was OK'd by U.S. Treasury Dept

Beyonce, Jay-Z Cuba trip was OK'd by U.S. Treasury Dept

MIAMI - A visit by American pop star Beyonce and rapper husband Jay-Z to Havana last week was a cultural trip that was fully licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department, a source familiar with the trip said on Monday. The longstanding U.S. trade embargo against Cuba prevents most Americans from traveling to the communist-led island without a license granted by the U.S. government. Two Cuban American members of Congress, both Republicans representing south Florida and supporters of a firm stance on Cuba, had asked the Treasury Department for information on what type of license the couple obtained for their trip. Beyonce and Jay-Z celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in Havana and were greeted by big crowds as they strolled through the Cuban capital. Cubans recognized the music industry power couple as celebrities despite the past half-century of ideological conflict that separates the two countries. The source told Reuters that the trip included visits with Cuban artists and musicians, as well as several night clubs where live music was performed, and some of the city's best privately-run restaurants, known as paladares. The visit involved no meetings with Cuban officials, the source said. Publicists for the couple did not return emails or phone calls seeking comment. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which handles licenses for travel to Cuba, said it does not comment on individual cases. Beyonce and Jay-Z were the latest and perhaps greatest big-name American stars - actors Bill Murray, Sean Penn and James Caan among them - to visit the Caribbean island in the past few years, but the first to cause such a stir everywhere they went. The authorization for their trip was questioned by U.S. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart. While it has kept the embargo in place, President Barack Obama's administration has eased restrictions on travel to Cuba for academic, religious or cultural programs. 

News Source: www.reuters.com

Lilly Pulitzer: Purveyor of Palm Beach dreams

Lilly Pulitzer: Purveyor of Palm Beach dreams

The fashion designer was as much a lifestyle maven as quirk queen. pulitzer with dress (Photo: Robert H. Houston AP) Lilly Pulitzer didn't just sell day-glo clothes in punchy prints. In a feat of fashion business acumen that would have no doubt impressed her famous grandfather-in-law, newspaper magnate Joseph Pulitzer, she sold a lifestyle — a posh, fern-festooned Palm Beach fantasy that the masses eagerly scooped up. "Style isn't just about what you wear, it's about how you live," the designer said in 2004. Pulitzer, who died Sunday at 81 in — where else? — Florida, was more figurehead than fashion fixture. Her fans probably couldn't conjure Lilly herself, but they craved "Lillys": '60s shifts in shades that veered from sherbet to seafoam, scattered with seashells, seahorses, starfish and sundry other symbols of sunny optimism. No wonder the Kennedys, that other family of summer house dreams, were reportedly devotees. Pulitzer the quirk queen was a savvy socialite. Her patterned, pink-and-green paean to prep was always trotted out with a gin-and-tonic-fueled wink. The fun fizzled during the '80s, when edgy, unironic neon blared brightly and ladylike silhouettes were shoved into the back of the closet. But the brand revived about a decade ago, discovered by the daughters and granddaughters of Pulitzer's original preppy posse, who were no doubt looking to live like they, too, were on permanent vacation. Suddenly, again, the jangly, almost juvenile aesthetic seemed fresh and fun. After all, as Pulitzer once said, "being happy never goes out of style." 

News Source: www.usatoday.com

 

Snoop Lion Frank Ocean coming out doesn’t change rap music homophobia

Snoop Lion: Frank Ocean coming out doesn’t change rap music homophobia

'Frank Ocean ain't no rapper,' says Snoop, suggesting Ocean wouldn't be accepted by the rap community for speaking openly about his relationship with a man. Snoop Lion made bold comments about gay marriage and rap music, even addressing singer Frank Ocean's coming out. Snoop, 41, who has spoken in favor of marriage equality before, was asked by The Guardian if he believed the R&B singer's declaration of having loved a man meant gay relationships would soon be accepted in the rap community. "Frank Ocean ain't no rapper," Snoop is quoted as saying. "He's a singer. It's acceptable in the singing world, but in the rap world I don't know if it will ever be acceptable because rap is so masculine." In the genre largely dominated by men, several artists have made anti-gay remarks or slurs in their music - including Lil Wayne, Kenya West, and even Jay-Z, whose current affirming stance on gay equality contradicts some of his lyrics from years past. "It's like a football team," Snoop continued. "You can't be in a locker room full of mother----g tough-ass dudes, then all of a sudden say, 'Hey, man, I like you.' You know, that's going to be tough." Though he feels that way about the industry, Snoop Lion made clear he doesn't personally have an issue with same-sex couples. "I don't have a problem with gay people," he added. "I got some gay homies."

News Source: www.nydailynews.com

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig to star in Pinter play on Broadway

Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig to star in Pinter play on Broadway

The husband-and-wife duo will appear together in Harold Pinter's Betrayal, a play about an adulterous couple Share 16 inShare0 Email Associated Press in New York guardian.co.uk, Friday 5 April 2013 19.29 BST Jump to comments (1) Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz Craig and Weisz previously worked together in the horror film 'Dream House,' in 2011. Photograph: JordanStrauss/Jordan Strauss / Invision /AP Real-life husband and wife Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz are to play an adulterous stage couple in a Broadway production of Harold Pinter's Betrayal. Weisz will make her Broadway debut in Pinter's 1978 study in deception, which charts an extramarital affair in reverse. Her character, Emma, is married to Craig's Robert, but is having an affair with Jerry, played by rising star Rafe Spall. James Bond star Craig last appeared on Broadway in 2009 in A Steady Rain, where he received positive notices opposite Hugh Jackman even though the play itself did not. Craig has reportedly signed on for at least two more Bond films following Skyfall, which was the first Bond film to rake in more than $1bn in revenue. It also won two Oscars, including one for Adele's theme song. Broadway veteran Mike Nichols will direct Betrayal, which previews from 1 October and opens on 3 November at New York's Barrymore Theatre. The announcement was made on Friday. Craig and Weisz, who stars in Oz: The Great and Powerful, worked together before in the horror film Dream House, which came out in 2011

News Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tell WashPipelineington to Approve the Keystone XL

Tell WashPipelineington to Approve the Keystone XL

Please approve the Keystone XL pipeline as quickly as possible. Every day we continue to delay this important piece of U.S. energy infrastructure inhibits our economic growth and weakens American security. As a military veteran and a well-known supporter of military personnel, veterans and their families, you understand the importance of protecting our national security. Approving the Keystone XL pipeline would directly enhance America's security, diminishing our dependence on unfriendly foreign oil states and strengthening our relationship with our next-door neighbor and longtime ally, Canada. The full Keystone XL pipeline would bring in an additional 830,000 barrels of North American oil per day, reducing our need to import oil from places like the Middle East. With Keystone XL, our crude imports from Canada could reach 4 million barrels per day by 2020, twice the amount we now import from the Persian Gulf. Canada will develop and market their oil reserves regardless of what we do about Keystone XL. It just makes sense to approve this pipeline and bring that fuel to the U.S., to grow our economy, provide jobs for our workers and power our businesses and homes. Americans have waited nearly five years for this pipeline to be approved and for America's government to increase our energy security. After all the delays, it is time to act. For almost three decades you exhibited strong leadership in the U.S. Senate. Bring that same leadership to the Department of State and approve the Keystone XL pipeline without delay.

News Source: townhall.com

Comedy Central They're all fighting for 3rd place now

Comedy Central They're all fighting for 3rd place now

As the media obsesses over NBC’s late-night transition plan, The Colbert Report is taking a victory lap. By one ratings measurement technique that’s contested by the broadcast networks, Stephen Colbert’s late-night show has beaten The Tonight Show among the valuable adults 18-49 demographic for a full quarter. The Daily Show has averaged 2.5 million viewers and a 1.3 adult demo rating for the first three months of the year among first-run episodes. Colbert Report has averaged 1.9 million viewers and a 1.0 rating. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno has averaged 3.6 million viewers and a 0.8 rating. Leno’s show is the top-rated late-night program on the broadcast networks. “They’re all fighting for third place now,” declares Comedy Central’s ratings release. GET EW ON YOUR TABLET: Subscribe today and get instant access! Comedy Central only counts original first-run episodes in its ratings measurement and considers the broadcast system of including repeats when tallying late-night ratings to be an antiqued way of keeping score. One broadcaster countered that Comedy Central’s system is simply “making up your own rules.” Either way, Colbert and Stewart’s strength in the young-adult ratings has put the hosts in the middle of media speculation as to whether either of them (or both) could take over a hosting slot on one of the major broadcast networks. Though given cable’s overall ratings rise compared to broadcast, and the fact they’re already winning, you have to wonder whether making a change would be worth it. Cable used to be considered TV’s minor league, but that’s really no longer the case. 

News Source: insidetv.ew.com

Paramore Will Get 'Live From MTV' This Monday! Paramore will take over MTV.com this Monday at 5 p.m. for an exclusive performance and interview!

Paramore Will Get 'Live From MTV' This Monday! Paramore will take over MTV.com this Monday at 5 p.m. for an exclusive performance and interview!

Paramore have been counting down the days until the release of their self-titled album for months now ... so you can't blame them for wanting to celebrate a little early. On Monday (April 8) — one day before their album hits stores in the U.S. — Paramore will take over the MTV Newsroom for an exclusive live performance in front of an audience of their most fervent fans, plus a 30-minute interview interview with MTV News' James Montgomery and a Twitter Q&A session. Paramore Reveal 'Still Into You' Inspiration We're calling it "Paramore: Live From MTV," and it begins on Monday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. You can submit your questions for the band by tweeting @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskParamore, and MTV Buzzworthy blog managing editor Tamar Anitai will select the best to use during the show! Paramore's self-titled fourth album is set to be released on April 9, and back in February, they premiered the video for riotous first single "Now" during an "MTV First." They've also just shot a clip for the album's second single, "Still Into You," and invited MTV News' cameras down to the set in Austin, Texas to give us an exclusive sneak peek. And now, they're bringing their new album to the MTV Newsroom, for a performance and an in-depth interview their fans won't soon forget. It's been nearly four years since we've had a new Paramore album to obsess over, and, just like the band, we're ready to celebrate. Get ready, this is going to be one show you don't want to miss! "Paramore: Live From MTV" will stream live on MTV.com this Monday, April 8 at 5 p.m. ET

News Source: www.mtv.com

Video: Beyonce Previews New Song 'Grown Woman' in Pepsi 'Mirror' Ad

The Queen Bey sees her evolution and most signature dance routines throughout her career in the industry before introducing a fresh, never-before-seen dance routine as she Lives For Now. Another new Beyonce Knowles single is on the way, following her previous track "Bow Down/I Been On". Called "Grown Woman", the first official offering off her next studio installment is teased in a new commercial for Pepsi, the soft drink the Queen Bey is currently endorsing, before it's unveiled in its entirety next Monday, April 8. It's produced by Timbaland. True to the title of the fresh tune, the Pepsi ad features the Destiny's Child member facing the mirror and seeing her transform into the woman she is today. Not only does it see her during her 10-year solo career in the industry which includes her "Crazy In Love" era with Jay-Z and her Sasha Fierce but also from her DC days. She sings, "They like the way I walk cause I walk with a vengeance/ And you listen to me when I talk cause I ain’t pretendin'/ Took awhile now I understand just where I’m going/ I know the world and I know who I am 'bout time I show it/ And I'm moving down like that when I do it/ I could be bad if I want / I can go slow all night long / I’m a grown woman." "Embrace your past, but live for now," so she says. 

News Source: www.aceshowbiz.com

Bon Jovi guitarist Sambora leavesissues tour due to personal

Bon Jovi guitarist Sambora leavesissues tour due to personal

 Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, who has done stints in rehab for problems with alcohol, has dropped out of the current leg of the band's tour for "personal issues," the band said on its website on Wednesday. "Due to personal issues, Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg. All shows will go on as scheduled," the posting said, offering no other details or when Sambora might resume performing. Sambora, 53, spent time in rehab in 2007 and 2011, and the band did its 2011 North American and European tour without him. Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform this week in Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, and St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday. The "Because We Can" tour's April dates include Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas and other cities before international appearances kick off on May 7 in Capetown, South Africa. The band is set to play in Sweden, Germany, Britain, Spain, Poland and Italy among others before returning to the United States in July. 

News Source: www.reuters.com

U.S. film critic Roger Ebert says cancer has returned

U.S. film critic Roger Ebert says cancer has returned

(Reuters) - Pulitzer Prize-winning U.S. film critic Roger Ebert says he is battling cancer again and that he will scale back his writing by taking a "leave of presence" from his more than four-decade career. Ebert, 70, known for his rhetorical power and prolific output, said he will undergo radiation treatment that will force him to take time away from his job. "I must slow down now, which is why I'm taking what I like to call 'a leave of presence,'" Ebert said in a blog entry posted late on Tuesday, adding that he would scale back his workload. Ebert, who had lost his ability to speak and eat after surgeries for thyroid and salivary gland cancer in 2002 and 2003, said the cancer was discovered by doctors after he fractured his hip in December. "The 'painful fracture' that made it difficult for me to walk has recently been revealed to be a cancer," Ebert said, giving no further details about the type of cancer or diagnosis. "I am not going away," Ebert said. "My intent is to continue to write selected reviews ... What's more, I'll be able at last to do what I've always fantasized about doing: reviewing only the movies I want to review." The Chicago resident said he also would take time to write about his illness. Ebert, whose reviews are syndicated to more than 200 newspapers, has been reviewing films for the Chicago Sun-Times since 1967. He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1975. He gained national prominence with the late Gene Siskel on the television show "At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert," coining the phrase "Two Thumbs Up," until Siskel's death in 1999. He later teamed with critic Richard Roeper but quit for health reasons. Forbes dubbed Ebert the most powerful pundit in America in 2007.

News Source: www.reuters.com

Finding Nemo film sequel ''Finding Dory'' gets 2015 release

Finding Nemo film sequel ''Finding Dory'' gets 2015 release

(Reuters) - Following years of speculation about whether it would be produced, the sequel to the Oscar-winning animated film "Finding Nemo" will be released in 2015, studio Disney-Pixar said on Tuesday. "Finding Dory" will focus on the absent-minded and chatty blue tang fish voiced by comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, who was a big hit with audiences. "I'm excited that it's finally happening," DeGeneres said on her daytime talk show, "Ellen." "I read the script and it's fantastic, it's hilarious, it's warm, it's everything that you want it to be," she added. Andrew Stanton, who co-directed 2003's "Finding Nemo" with Lee Unkrich, said the film will center on Dory reuniting with her "loved ones," much like the family-focused plot of "Nemo." "There is no Dory without Ellen," Stanton said in a statement. "She won the hearts of moviegoers all over the world - not to mention our team here at Pixar." Stanton said the movie will be set in part along the California coast and take place about a year after "Nemo." It will include characters such as clown fish Nemo, his father Marlin and the Tank Gang. The film is set for a November 25, 2015, release, the day before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday that coincides with the start of the holiday film season. Speculation about a "Finding Nemo" sequel has floated ever since it became a top-grossing animated film. It took in some $922 million at worldwide box offices, ranking fourth among animated films, according to box office tracker website BoxOfficeMojo.com. "Finding Nemo" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2004, and was also nominated for three other Oscars. Disney-Pixar is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Co..

News Source: www.reuters.com

Busy Lopez

 Busy Lopez

 

(Jafar Ayub, by email) / 3 April 2013 Hollywood beauty Jennifer Lopez is a renowned star. It’s rather unfortunate that her performance that would have surely been electrifying has been axed from the Indian Premier League cricket tournament (IPL). Officials wanted to book her for the opening ceremony of the IPL, but were unhappy when she acted like a diva and made unnecessary demands and instead they booked rapper Pitbull. However Lopez’s spokesperson said that Jenny from the Block turned down the request to perform because she was busy on recording an album.

News Source: www.khaleejtimes.com

Shain Gandee, Star Of MTV's 'Buckwild,' Dead At 21 Gandee's body was discovered inside a vehicle in Sissonville, West Virginia, Monday morning.

Shain Gandee

Kanawha County Sheriff's Department Corporal Brian Humphreys confirmed to MTV News that the bodies of Shain Gandee, 21 and his uncle, David Gandee, 48, were discovered on Monday (April 1) morning, along with that of a third, as yet unidentified person. At press time, Humphreys said that there is "no reason" to believe that foul play was a factor in their deaths. He could not confirm reports that the vehicle was found submerged in water or overturned. Corporal Humphreys described the scene as being very remote and inaccessible by police vehicles, with investigators forced to use ATV's to gain access to the site. "The medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death and they will release that information," he added. Humphreys also noted that there did not appear to be signs of any other vehicles in the area. A spokesperson for the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner could not be reached for comment at press time. Shain Gandee, one of the stars of MTV's "Buckwild," has died. He was 21 years old. The Kanawha County commissioner confirmed to MTV News that Gandee's body was discovered in a vehicle along with two others in Sissonville, West Virginia, on Monday (April 1) morning. Gandee had been reported missing this weekend, having last been seen with his uncle David Gandee around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, when they told patrons at a bar that they were going off-roading in Shain's Ford Bronco. Police have identified a second body inside the vehicle as David Gandee's, while a third victim remains unidentified. According to local reports, officers with the sheriff's department were using all-terrain vehicles to access the area where the vehicle was discovered, roughly a mile up a dirt road near Wolf Pen Drive in Sissonville. Details of the cause of death were not known at press time, though authorities say foul play was not suspected. Photos: Shain Gandee remembered. Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper confirmed to MTV News that Shain's body was found Monday morning after three "code blacks" were called in; code black refers to fatalities. "It's a very sad day for this county," Carper said. "This is a small place and just about everyone in this community knows everybody." A spokesperson for MTV said in a statement, "We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident. We are waiting for more information but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly." Shain Gandee was one of the most popular cast members on "Buckwild," earning the nickname "Gandee Candy" for his wild stunts and sunny disposition. A second season of the show had recently been given the green light. More on this story as it develops.

New Source: www.mtv.com