Entertainment •

Toys ‘R’ Us under Fire for Breaking Bad Action Figures

October 21, 2014 By Sandy Morton Leave a Comment

Every year, millions of parents flock to Toys ‘R’ Us to buy the latest and greatest toys on the market. However, the company is now coming under fire after introducing Breaking Bad action figures.

Thanks to one Florida mother who started a petition on Change.org, the number of consumers disgusted by the retailer’s decision to sell these action figures is growing. As part of the petition, she is asking the Wayne-based retailer to stop selling the dolls because they depict characters of a crime drama series that went off the air in 2013 whereby a high school teacher who becomes a meth dealer. To date, more than 6,900 signatures have been collected.

The main character is Walter White, who along with the action figure comes with a sack of money and a bag of meth. Another character, Jesse Pinkman, is sold with a gas mask. There was even an article written on Time.com, blasting the Toys ‘R’ Us organization for using extreme bad taste in their decision to sell the Breaking Bad action figures.

In a statement released from a Toys ‘R’ Us spokesperson, the action figures are intended for older children, those age 15 and up. However, most parents agree even at that, the product should be pulled. After all, there are many 15-year-olds who do not fully understand the dangers of drugs or current events such as the Ebola virus outbreak and as such, selling these action figures creates unnecessary chaos and potential panic.

One of the concerns as reported by NBC is that the controversial Breaking Bad action figures are placed on shelves direction next to toys designed for much younger children. Obviously, this prompts questions and creates potential problems. In other words, the decision of Toys ‘R’ Us to sell the figures is bad enough but now the company’s marketing strategy comes into question.

Susan Schrivjer, the Florida mother who started the petition, is amazed that how many people were unaware the Breaking Bad action figures were even being sold. She hopes to reach a broad audience and that her message will be clear – there is no place for these figures in Toys ‘R’ Us stores.

Bob Seger Launches New “Ride Out” Album and Tour

October 20, 2014 By Sandy Morton Leave a Comment

Bob Seger confirms that he is preparing for a new tour by cutting back on bicycling 10 miles a day and the amount of cigarettes he smokes. In a recent interview, Segar said he was in good shape but in order to promote the “Ride Out” album released last week, he underwent a complete physical checkup.

This is the first album release since 2006, something diehard fans are excited about but even more thrilling is the upcoming 25 citywide tour that starts on November 19. The tour will begin in Saginaw, Michigan at the Dow Event Center and then proceed to other cities well into 2015.

Additional stops for Seger’s new tour are Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Dallas, Toronto, Houston, Phoenix, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, Buffalo, Atlanta, and Cleveland. After the first leg ends on December 19 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, he and his band will enjoy the holidays off before resuming on January 22 in Pittsburgh.

People have asked if he will tour again after this to which he replied that he takes just one tour at a time. While Seger believes the new album will do well, he admits that getting radio time for his music is much more challenging than it was before. He believes that the industry is about 50% smaller than it was 10 years ago because of the digital transformation.

Seger, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, expects to play a number of songs from his new album, as well as several of the old songs that fans want to hear such as “Turn the Page”, “Mainstreet”, and “Night Moves”. According to Segar, there are roughly eight songs that fans insist on although his Silver Bullet Band has tried to drop a few from the play list over the years.

His new album, “Ride Out”, features a unique mix of rock and roll, ballads, and cover songs. Seger was asked why at his age he wants to tour to which he responded that it is all about his kids. He realizes he is getting older and as such, wants to secure their future.

Bethenny Frankel Returning to “The Real Housewives of New York”

October 20, 2014 By Sandy Morton Leave a Comment

After a long hiatus, it is official – Bethenny Frankel will rejoin the cast of the reality television show, The Real Housewives of New York.

Since her departure from The Real Housewives franchise in 2010, 43-year-old Frankel has built a mega empire, gone through a very nasty and public divorce and child custody case over her four-year-old daughter Bryn, and endured an array of legal issues pertaining to her Skinny Girl brand. Although some people were happy to see her go, her loyal fan base is excited to have her return.

In an official statement, Frankel states that she and Bravo had maintained a strong partnership and relationship over the years, something of which she is very proud. She adds that The Real Housewives of New York is where things began for her and that it is important to never forget your roots.

Frankel believes this is the perfect time for her comeback, especially since her short-lived talk show was cancelled back in February. She admits to having doubts about ever being on television again after the show was taken off the air, citing concerns of exposing herself to public scrutiny. However, being fortunate enough to connect with the audience and inspire them to fulfill their dreams, she is ready to try again.

She continued by saying that she missed being on this incredible journey with fans and after hesitating for several years, decided to go back to her roots. To Frankel, her return to The Real Housewives of New York feels like going home.

Frankel claims to be a very different person than who she was toward the end of her housewives’ reign, saying she is both excited and anxious. She strongly believes the upcoming season will be an entirely new experience than the first go-around. During the last season of being on the show, there was a lot of bad energy and too much muck.

When she first joined The Real Housewives of New York, Frankel was younger, unmarried, had no children, and did not own her own successful business. Now, she has a positive vibe about returning. In her closing comment, Frankel jokes that ironically, she is never a “housewife” when she’s a housewife.

While Frankel’s return has been confirmed by Bravo, the status of other cast mates to include Ramona Singer and LuAnn de Lesseps has not been revealed. Ramona has faced some difficult personal problems this year stemming from her husband’s affair so some people believe she should bow out but as for LuAnn who has not been on the show for years, fans love her and want her back full-time.

Halo Soars with 60 Million Copies Sold Worldwide

October 19, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

Halo: Combat Evolved was first introduced in 2001, followed by a slew of additional games such as Halo 2, Halo 3, Halo Wars, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo Reach, among others. When the first game in the Halo franchise was launched, no one had a clue just how huge it would become but now 13 years later, more than 60 million copies of the whole series has been sold throughout the world.

In an official announcement from Microsoft, the Halo franchise has surpassed 60 million copies in sales since first launching in 2001. Of all Microsoft franchises for the Xbox brand, Halo is by far the most sought after. The Xbox console hit huge popularity after the release of the first two Halo games but that popularity was quickly solidified for users around the globe thanks to subsequent games.

According to statistics, players have logged in more than six billion hours on Xbox live, just for the Halo franchise! Although exact numbers for the sales of the franchise were not broken down by Microsoft, it appears that the best-selling game of the series is Halo 3, which in 2012, sold more than 14.5 million copies.

On November 11, Halo: The Master Chief Collection will debut on the Xbox One, followed by Halo 5: Guardians to be released on an unspecified date in 2015. However, for players interested in buying the current Halo release, preorders are currently being accepted and if preferred, the game can be pre-downloaded.

When it was indicated that Master Chief would not be a primary character in Halo 5: Guardians, players were none too happy. After all, with it being the first title launched in the next generation Xbox One console, they expected the game would be far more superior.

Now with Microsoft confirming Master Chief will in fact be a significant character, opposed to Agent Locke, sells of the upcoming Halo 5 should skyrocket as well.

Pilot for “Marley & Me” Sequel Ordered by NBC

October 18, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

NBC has ordered a pilot for a new television series based on the popular movie, Marley & Me. The film, which was released on Christmas Day in 2008, was created from a book of the same title written by John Grogan.

Directed by David Frankel, produced by Gil Netter and Karen Rosenfelt, and screen written by Don Roos and Scott Frank, the Marley & Me movie starred Jennifer Aniston, Owen Wilson, Alan Arkin, and Eric Dane, earning $14.75 million on opening day, as well as more than $240 million at the box office and an additional $71 million in DVD sales.

The film’s story revolves around John and Jenny Grogan who soon after getting married leave the cold winters of Michigan for South Florida. Although, they are both hired as reporters, they end up working for competing newspapers. Jenny lands front-page assignments while John is left with mundane work such as writing obituaries.

At one point, Jenny begins to think about becoming a mother, to which the couple’s friend and coworker, Sebastian, recommends they adopt a dog to see if they are ready for a family. Jenny and John choose an adorable yellow Labrador who they name Marley, after Bob Marley, the late reggae singer.

However, Marley is a handful, creating one challenge after another. Even after being enrolled in obedience school, he gets expelled. John quickly realizes the misadventures of Marley provide excellent material for his newspaper column. This warm and fuzzy family film was a huge success and because of that, NBC feels the time is right for a television sequel.

For the upcoming series, Jenny Bicks, known for her work on Sex and the City, will write and executive produce. As in the movie, the new show will feature John and Jenny but added to the cast will be two boys, aged 14 and 11. In the television series, the family moves back to Florida after having moved away so he can restart his newspaper column.

Although the original Marley has since passed away, another yellow puppy shows up on the couple’s doorstep and to simplify things he too is named Marley. Just like in the first go-around, Marley number two has some behavioral issues. However, the dog plays a critical role in the everyday fun and challenges of family life.

At this time, no official date for the pilot has been provided but if the Marley & Me television series follows in the footsteps of the book and movie, it will quickly gain a loyal following.

Misty Upham’s Death Somewhat of a Mystery

October 18, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

Misty Upham, a 32-year-old actress who starred in “August: Osage County” and “Django Unchained” disappeared October 6. Although an extensive search was conducted, it was not until this past Thursday that her body turned up at the bottom of a 150-foot embankment in Auburn, Washington.

Law enforcement officials claim Misty died as the result of suicide but her father, as well as many Hollywood friends strongly disagree. While Misty did suffer from mental health issues, she was doing extremely well. Her father, Charles, released a statement saying his daughter had been treated unjustly by the local police department and that in his opinion she died trying to flee them, not by taking her own life.

The family believes Misty had run into the wooded area behind her apartment complex in an effort to get away from police but being dark outside, she slipped, fell off the steep embankment, and then lay where no one from the road could see her. He refutes the claim that she took her own life by jumping.

Misty was afraid of the Auburn police and for good reason. Prior to her disappearance, Misty was picked up by officials, handcuffed, placed in the back of a police car, and taken to the emergency room on an involuntary transport. Standing outside, the family personally witnessed officers teasing and taunting her.

According to Charles, officers tapped on the car window and made faces at Misty while she cried. Misty was heard telling them not treat her like that and that as a movie actress, she would use her connections to expose their behavior. At that point, one officer approached Misty saying if she was a movie star then perhaps she could complain to George Clooney.

Initially, Commander Steve Stocker with the Auburn Police Department stated that the detective was doing everything possible based on information and tips received. He added that based on the circumstances, the department had done everything they could and felt horrible about the outcome. However, when approached about the family’s accusations, Stocker refused to comment, saying he had never met or talked to Misty.

After conducting an autopsy, the King’s County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Misty had actually died on October 5 although as to the manner and cause of death, an investigation is pending.

Misty grew up on the Blackfoot Indian reservation in Montana and was very vulnerable. Her father pointed out that she was a grown woman with a mental illness, no medication, and away from everyone she knew and trusted for 11 days. He thanked the Muckleshoot Tribe, as well as other Tribal volunteers for their assistance in trying find his daughter.

On Twitter, numerous celebrity friends to include Juliette Lewis, posted that Misty was not suicidal and that in fact, some type of crime had been committed causing her death. Reportedly, Lewis spoke to the Auburn police, stressing that her friend’s death needed to be investigated and that the department should not simply conclude she killed herself because of mental illness. Until all the facts are revealed, the truth will remain a mystery.

MMA War Machine Attempts Suicide in Jail

October 17, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

While sitting in a Las Vegas jail on charges of beating and almost killing his ex-girlfriend, Christy Mack, Jonathan Koppenhaver, aka War Machine, reportedly tried to commit suicide last night. He was arrested August 13 and although there were originally nine felony counts, prosecutors added 24 new charges dating back to May 2013, including first-degree kidnapping, burglary, sexual assault, and coercion.

Standing before a judge, Koppenhaver pled not guilty to all 32 felony charges but if found guilty by a jury, the 32-year-old could face life in prison. Since that time, he has remained in jail on a no bail order.

According to officials, Koppenhaver attempted suicide by hanging. The official report stated an officer was passing by his cell around 9:30 pm at the Clark County jail. He looked in to find Koppenhaver sitting on the floor with his feet up on his bunk bed. The officer called out several times but without receiving a response, he entered the cell.

The officer noted that Koppenhaver’s face was purple, followed by taking quick action to cut the strip of bed sheet tied around his neck and then to the leg of the bed. At that time, Koppenhaver’s breathing became less strained and he tried to speak. Additional officers rushed in to help and continued to try to get a normal response.

Around 9:45 pm, medical personnel arrived and began to assess Koppenhaver’s condition. It was determined that his vital signs were stabilized and that he was no longer in any kind of danger. He was then taken to a medical isolation cell and placed on suicide watch.

Koppenhaver’s attornery confirmed that in conducting a search of the cell, officers found an apparent suicide note although details as to what it contained have not been revealed. Because of the attempted suicide, his next court date will be postponed.

In the attack on Mack, the beating was so bad that she suffered 10 broken bones, a broken nose, had several teeth broken or knocked out, a fractured rib, and a ruptured liver. Even worse, Koppenhaver had a knife in his hand but went to the kitchen to get something sharper to “finish the job”. While doing that, Mack was able to get free and escape out a back door.

After the attack, Koppenhaver went on the run, avoiding authorities for a week before finally being spotted and captured in California but during that time, he used his Twitter account to joke about raping and killing Mack in the past.

Koppenhaver has a long list of other assault accusations, such as one from September 2007 when he pled guilty to hitting a man in the face and choking him so hard he became unconscious. In 2009, porn star Alanah Rae accused him of hitting her in a jealous rage but he also assaulted several people who came to her aid. Then in 2010, he was arrested after punching a bouncer during a brawl.

Actress Elizabeth Pena Dies at Age 55

October 16, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

Although she was not a mega star, there is no question that actress Elizabeth Pena left her mark on the entertainment industry playing comedic roles in television, dramatic parts in films, and doing voiceovers. In an official statement released by her mother, Gina Rugolo, the Cuban American actress passed away from natural causes after being ill for a short period.

Pena was born in New Jersey to Cuban immigrants parents. She had a genuine love for acting and enjoyed a more than 40-year career in television and on the big screen. One of her most notable roles was in the film “Lone Star”. She played a history teacher who rekindled a romance with an old flame, played by Chris Cooper.

She also received rave reviews for her comedic role on the television series “Modern Family”, playing the mother of Sofia Vergara’s character, Gloria. However, Pena was involved in many other television projects to include “L.A. Law,” ”Dream On,” ‘and ‘Resurrection Blvd”, as well as film projects like “La Bamba”, “Jacob’s Ladder”, “Rush Hour”, and “Down and Out in Beverly Hills”.

Earlier on in her career, Pena starred in the 1980s sitcom, “I Married Dora”. For this role, she portrayed an El Salvadorian housekeeper who ultimately marries her employer as a way to avoid being deported.

More recently, she appeared on the El Rey Network drama “Matador” and provided her voice to Seth MacFarlane’s “American Dad”, along with the cartoon series “Justice League” and Disney-Pixar’s “The Incredibles”.

According to family members and close friends, Pena was an amazing role model. She was also an amazing performer and inspiration to everyone who had the honor of meeting her. In her passing, Pena is survived by her mother, sister, husband, and two children. She was just 55 years old.

Many celebrities have reached out to the family via phone calls, cards, and social media, offering their condolences in Pena’s untimely death.

Jay Leno Returning in 2015 with New Car Show

October 15, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

Although in a somewhat different capacity, Jay Leno is returning to nightly television. The 64-year-old former host of the Tonight Show is heading out on a new prime time venture, one that allows him to share his favorite hobby of cars with the world.

As Leno puts it, the new show will be about anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. He has always said that the Tonight Show was a job but his cars are a passion. With the new show, he has the opportunity to enjoy the best of both worlds.

This past August, Leno hosted a one-hour special called Jay Leno’s Garage: The Ultimate Car Week, his first hosting gig since leaving the Tonight Show. The hour special received rave reviews, leading both the network and Leno to believe this new show will be a huge success.

Today, CNBC announced that Leno’s new car show will debut in 2015 although no specific airing time was provided. The show will be one-hour in duration and provide Leno with a forum pertaining to all things automotive. Along with sharing his passion, Leno will offer tips for best investments, inner workings of a car collector’s market, and much more.

Leno has been a huge car buff for years and currently has a hangar next to the airport where his massive collection resides. Included are 130 cars, 93 motorcycles, numerous engines, spare parts, and automobile memorabilia. Rather than purchase vehicles for the sake of investment, he does it because he loves buying and owning them.

Although many of the cars in Leno’s collection are extremely expensive and rare such as the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400, a McLaren F1, 1936 Cord 810/812, 1917 Fiat Botafogo Special, 1915 Hispano-Suiza, 1909 Baker Electric, and 1913 Mercer Raceabout, he owns more affordable vehicles as well to include a couple of Chevy Corvairs and a 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

Leno hopes the new show will not only highlight his passion but also serve as a platform on which stories about the men and women who designed and built cars are told. For CNBC, Leno’s show comes at the perfect time.

In addition to having incredible star power coupled with unrivaled humor, Leno brings exceptional content to the table. Mark Hoffman, President of CNBC shared that the network is excited to work with Leno as he continues his career in television.

HBO – Standalone Streaming Service Set for 2015

October 15, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

A new standalone online service offered by HBO is being launched in 2015. As such, consumers will no longer need a subscription for cable or satellite, this according to Richard Plepler, chief executive of HBO.

The goal is to create a major shift within the television industry. For a long time, this industry has reaped tremendous benefits by forcing ever-growing bundles on consumers when in fact, just a small fraction of the offered programs are even viewed.

Specific to cable and satellite packages, HBO is ranked as one of the most valuable channels. However, company executives believe that distributing partners of cable and satellite have not provided a large enough cut of the industry’s high profit stemming from paid television subscriptions.

Although the cable model has experienced pressure from new competition to include Netflix, among other digital entertainment platforms, consumers have stayed with cable subscriptions in order to watch live sports on ESPN and high-quality content on HBO.

In a statement at HBO’s at Investor Day, hosted by the parent company Time Warner, Plepler made it clear that next year the company wants to reach far by launching a standalone and over-the-top service that has potential to produce revenue of hundreds of millions of dollars. He added that there is also opportunity internationally, which could be much bigger.

Although no details pertaining to the digital plans were revealed, the company will reportedly begin selling the new standalone service in the US, as well as two additional countries prior to making it available to other countries served.

Having made $4.9 billion in revenues for 2013, HBO is among the fastest growing Time Warner units. HBO, along with ESPN, is currently seen more as a requirement to the cable model and while over two million subscribers added HBO since January 2014, there are definite growth limitations using cable subscriptions.

Within the United States there are roughly 10 million broadband-only homes, which are expected to increase. Plepler stated that the opportunity is not only large but growing and because of this, now is the time to break barriers for consumers who want HBO.

The latest statistics show that some 80 million homes in the US are still without HBO, which is now the new target for growth. To bring the standalone online service to fruition, HBO will continue to work with current partners but add new partners as well.

The plans for HBO’s standalone service marks a dramatic turn for Time Warner. While many consumers like the idea of paying separately for HBO without a cable subscription, others are concerned that if the price exceeds $20, it may be difficult to justify due to piecing together a number of online subscriptions.

Even after the HBO standalone online service launches next year, the cable bundle will probably stick around. After all, there is still a commitment between cable news and live sports with cable television that will linger for years.

Amanda Bynes’ Psychiatric Hold Extended

October 14, 2014 By William Bland Leave a Comment

For a short time after being released from a psychiatric hospital this past summer, Amanda Bynes appeared to be doing better. Under guidance from her parents, the former Nickelodeon star enrolled in fashion design school but for the past week, her antics have made it obvious that she is again suffering the effects of schizophrenia.

In a well-orchestrated ruse by the parents and with the aid of Sam Lufti who once helped Brittany Spears during her difficult time, Amanda believed she was flying to Los Angeles to meet with an attorney in regards to filing a lawsuit against her mom and dad. However, upon arrival, she was admitted into a Pasadena mental hospital and placed on an involuntary hold.

According to an insider, waiting for her at the hospital were her parents, the family attorney, and Sam’s attorney. Although Sam played a big role in getting Amanda to California, he has been shrouded by controversy ever since wanting conservatorship over Brittany Spears, making many people question his motivation regarding Amanda’s case.

Despite his tract record, Amanda’s dad believes Sam has some credibility and in fact, may be trying to redeem himself after the earlier debacle with Brittany. However, Brittany’s parents are not so forgiving and Amanda herself cannot stand him. Much of the skepticism comes from Sam trying over the years to build friendships with people like Paris Jackson, Lindsay Lohan, and Courtney Cox, and for what.

No matter his intentions, the most important thing is that Amanda is where she needs to be right now. The initial 72-hour involuntary psychiatric hold expired yesterday and after an emergency hearing, a judge determined that she needed to stay put for a few weeks. During this time, doctors will work closely with the star in getting her medication straightened out and providing ongoing mental health counseling.

According to a source close to the family, Amanda’s mom and dad are worried sick for their daughter and genuinely believe if not properly treated, she would continue to pose significant risk not only to herself but others.

Also troubling is that Amanda reportedly is so angry that her parents deceived her in getting her to the California mental hospital that she never wants to speak with them again. Everyone hopes that she will see it is her parents who love and care about her most and are willing to do everything it takes to help her get well.

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