12 Aug 2014

British Airways launches pet-centric in-flight entertainment to calm passengers down

Ever wish flying could be a bit more cuddly?

The in-flight entertainment team at British Airways is banking on the popularity of cute and fuzzy animals constantly trending with a new channel called “Paws and Relax.”

Kittens? Check. Puppies? Definitely.

The adorable programming isn’t just about making passengers say “aw.” BA is hoping it will actually calm you down.

In the classic sitcom Terry and June she portrayed one half of television’s quintessential middle class couple. Now June Whitfield has hit out at the BBC managers who declared that too much of the corporation’s comedy is “middle class”.

The comedy actress, 88, returns to the screen in Boomers, a new BBC1 sitcom about three retired couples, who live inescapably middle class lives in a Norfolk resort, and are rediscovering the joys of free time.

The series, which stars Alison Steadman and Russ Abbot, may incur the wrath of the BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, which recently warned that the BBC screened too many comedies which could feel “middle class in focus and target audience”, with Miranda cited as an example.

The entertainment world is paying tribute to Robin Williams, who has died at the age of 63.

As well as being one of the finest comedy actors of his generation, Williams was, of course, an incomparable stand-up comedian. After graduating from Julliard in 1976, he intended to be a serious actor - but as he said in 2006: "I left school and couldn't find acting work, so I started going to clubs where you could do stand-up. I've always improvised, and stand-up was this great release. All of a sudden, it was just me and the audience."

Winning best newcomer at the fringe can turn the heads of comedy's kingmakers. Here are five faces in the frame

The Edinburgh fringe still has the ability to make a career. Any comedian performing their debut show knows that getting a nod in the best newcomer award will turn the head of the industry kingmakers, and it is often a stepping stone to being nominated for the main award.

Last year's was a vintage, with John Kearns edging out charismatic Irish storyteller Aisling Bea and gloomy wordsmith Liam Williams; and you'll be hearing plenty more of them in the years to come.

“@midnght,” host Chris Hardwick’s popular weeknight panel show that famously mixes the best of what both social media and improv comedy have to offer, has been given a second season order at Comedy Central.

The show became a ratings hit — especially with younger viewers — by maintaining high social engagements through crowdsourcing campaigns like the Twitter-focused #HashtagWars and including edgier comedic guest panelists like Ron Funches and Natasha Leggero.

Robin Williams was one of many comedians who made people laugh while simultaneously struggling with a personal darkness. Are comics more prone to depression - and if so, why?

"It doesn't take a genius to work out that comedians are a little bit nuts." Those were the words of comedian Susan Murray earlier this year, responding to an academic study that suggested comedians had unusual psychological traits linked with psychosis.
It takes a certain type of person to stand up and make a fool of themselves in public. But there is a difference between being a bit zany and suffering mental health problems.

Channel 5 has unveiled a trailer for the new series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The promo - a montage of previous famous housemates - does not state who will take part this month but confirms that the 14th run will begin on Monday, August 18 at 9pm.

17 rumoured housemates for Celebrity Big Brother's 2014 summer series

Ben Affleck, Nathan Lane Pay Tribute to Robin Williams

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Relatives, friends and celebrities ignited social media with reactions to the death of beloved actor Robin Williams, who died Monday at 63 years old.

Most recently, Williams' co-star Ben Affleck from "Good Will Hunting" opened up about his "friend."

"Heartbroken. Thanks chief -- for your friendship and for what you gave the world. Robin had a ton of love in him. He personally did so much for so many people. He made Matt and my dreams come true," he wrote on Facebook, referring to his "Good Will Hunting" co-star Matt Damon.

A new Celebrity Cruises program promises passengers VIP access to top international events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Chinese New Year in Hong Kong and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

The so-called "Signature Event Sailings" carry an extra fee for the on-shore experience, but all passengers can attend onboard shows, lectures and activities themed to the special event.

The apparent suicide of Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams has shocked the world, but sadly, he is one of many celebrities to have gone too soon.

Heath LedgerThe Australian-born star of blockbuster hits A Knight's Tale, Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight died in 2008 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. He was 28 years old. He left behind a daughter, Matilda, whom he had with actress Michelle Williams. He was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

When you think of Microsoft's mobile apps, you probably think of productivity apps such as Office, Outlook, OneNote or maybe even Bing — but the company's latest standalone app for iOS has nothing to do with productivity.

Snipp3t is a celebrity-tracking app that enables users to "subscribe" to news and updates about the stars they care about.

Magician Paul Daniels and his lovely assistant stroke wife Debbie McGee, are set to add some magic to the upcoming latest series of Celebrity Big Brother.

The Channel 5 reality TV series returns to screens next Monday with NHS boob job glamour model Josie Cunningham and TOWIE star Lauren Goodger both rumoured to appear.

‘Paul and Debbie are perfect for Big Brother. They’re great fun, big personalities and don’t take themselves too seriously,’ a source reportedly told The Sun.

Sarah Michelle Gellar played Robin Williams' daughter in the TV series, The Crazy Ones. This morning the 37-year-old actress tweeted a picture montage, but didn't add a caption. But now, she has released a statement about her former co-star.

She said: "My life is a better place because I knew Robin Williams.

"To my children he was Uncle Robin, to everyone he worked with, he was the best boss anyone had ever known, and to me he was not just an inspiration but he was the Father I had always dreamed of having.
"There are not enough adjectives to describe the light he was, to anyone that ever had the pleasure to meet him.

Newly released video shows baby stroller blown onto train tracks in London

WDRB 41 Louisville News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- British officials release dramatic video showing a child in a stroller being blown onto electrified train tracks at a subway station.

A sudden gust of wind blew the stroller onto the tracks just seconds after a train had left the station in London in late July.

You can see a woman leaping onto the tracks to rescue the child.

A preliminary investigation has determined the cause of death of actor-comedian Robin Williams was suicide due to asphyxia, according to the sheriff's office in Marin County, California.

Williams, the Academy Award winner and comic supernova whose explosions of pop culture riffs and impressions dazzled audiences for decades and made him a gleamy-eyed laureate for the Information Age, died today at the age of 63.

He was pronounced dead at his home in California, according to the sheriff's office in Marin County, north of San Francisco.

Here's a little roundup of fringe theatre highlights that should hit the spot. Tell us about the one show that has made your Edinburgh worthwhile

We are almost halfway through the fringe and as usual I've barely managed to scratch the surface. And now the international festival has kicked in too. I urge you to see Ganesh Versus the Third Reich at the Royal Lyceum before it finishes tomorrow, and make sure you've got tickets for the deeply disturbing Exhibit B too.

A Review Roundup of Fringe Festival Shows

It says a lot about New York that a man dressed as a penguin attracted so little attention. The man was Xavier Toby, an Australian comic and coal miner, and the occasion was the 18th annual New York International Fringe Festival, which features Mr. Toby’s high-concept, low-comedy walking tour, “2014:

When We Were Idiots.”

The Kings of Leon will be off the road for two weeks while drummer Nathan Followill recovers from broken ribs.

The family band from Nashville, Tennessee, will be off the road for two weeks while Followill recovers, a statement from the band says. But Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson is coming to the rescue for Tuesday night’s appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

Robin Williams, the Oscar-winning actor and comedian who died Monday at age 63 of an apparent suicide, was a prolific and dynamic screen presence who left his mark on a diverse assortment of films. His performances were often marked by dynamic physicality, fast-talking wordplay and chameleonic voices, but he also proved capable of many dramatic shadings as well.

Here are but seven of Williams' numerous memorable movie roles:

With the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles flick tearing up the box office (not to mention our countdown of the best episodes of the original cartoon series), we figured we might as well keep the mean green hype machine running full steam ahead.

The TMNT have been fortunate enough to get many different incarnations on screen, but as we know some are better than others.

So which silver screen adaptation of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s famous creations takes the
~~cake~~

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