Eddie Murphy got lots of laughs when he took the stage at the Kennedy Center Sunday night. He was being honored with theMark Twain Prize for humor when he decided to crack a few jokes at expense of another man who once received the award -- Bill Cosby.
Murphy dusted off his Cosby impression after wondering aloud whether the disgraced comedian -- a previous Twain Prize recipient -- had been asked to give his award back. He played the role of an angry Cosby who wants to have a word with the people who think he should give back his trophies. He pushed the bit even further when he joked, as Cosby, that he had plans to kill Hannibal Buress if they ever met in person.
Though the impression was once a staple in Eddie’s comedic bag of tricks, earlier this year, Norm Macdonald claimed that Eddie was unwilling to satirize Cosby as part of a sketch at the SNL 40th anniversary broadcast. At the time, Cosby said that he “[applauds] him for his actions.”
Comics who showed up to honor Eddie included Jay Pharaoh, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, JB Smoove, Kathy Griffinand Trevor Noah. In an emotional tribute, Tracy Morgan called Murphy his “comedic hero” and said the SNL alum was the reason he has a career.
Murphy dusted off his Cosby impression after wondering aloud whether the disgraced comedian -- a previous Twain Prize recipient -- had been asked to give his award back. He played the role of an angry Cosby who wants to have a word with the people who think he should give back his trophies. He pushed the bit even further when he joked, as Cosby, that he had plans to kill Hannibal Buress if they ever met in person.
Though the impression was once a staple in Eddie’s comedic bag of tricks, earlier this year, Norm Macdonald claimed that Eddie was unwilling to satirize Cosby as part of a sketch at the SNL 40th anniversary broadcast. At the time, Cosby said that he “[applauds] him for his actions.”
Comics who showed up to honor Eddie included Jay Pharaoh, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Arsenio Hall, JB Smoove, Kathy Griffinand Trevor Noah. In an emotional tribute, Tracy Morgan called Murphy his “comedic hero” and said the SNL alum was the reason he has a career.
She's not just a customer, she's a stockholder -- Oprah Winfrey has just bought a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers, and the company's stock has shot through the roof.
Oprah decided to make the purchase because she had success shedding some pounds with the Weight Watchers plan. And after her announcement, the stock price shot up 85 percent. Investors believe her media presence will boost the company's visibility -- and revenue. Shares had been slumping in 2015, down 72 percent in January -- so Oprah got a bargain.
She says, "Weight Watchers has given me the tools to begin to make the lasting shift that I and so many of us who are struggling with weight have longed for. I believe in the program so much I decided to invest in the company and partner in its evolution."
Oprah also has an option to purchase another five percent of the company.
Oprah decided to make the purchase because she had success shedding some pounds with the Weight Watchers plan. And after her announcement, the stock price shot up 85 percent. Investors believe her media presence will boost the company's visibility -- and revenue. Shares had been slumping in 2015, down 72 percent in January -- so Oprah got a bargain.
She says, "Weight Watchers has given me the tools to begin to make the lasting shift that I and so many of us who are struggling with weight have longed for. I believe in the program so much I decided to invest in the company and partner in its evolution."
Oprah also has an option to purchase another five percent of the company.
Lamar Odom may be awake and his condition improving, but he won't be out of the woods for a very long time.
Doctors have informed his family that the former basketball star is facing many months of rehabilitation and believe he's suffered some permanent damage after nearly dying at a Nevada brothel. Odom is expected to need physical and speech therapy as well as other services. There's no word yet on how long he will remain in the hospital. TMZ reports that Khloe Kardashian, who has been at his bed side everyday, plans to stay with him during his recovery.
Doctors have informed his family that the former basketball star is facing many months of rehabilitation and believe he's suffered some permanent damage after nearly dying at a Nevada brothel. Odom is expected to need physical and speech therapy as well as other services. There's no word yet on how long he will remain in the hospital. TMZ reports that Khloe Kardashian, who has been at his bed side everyday, plans to stay with him during his recovery.
Amazon has started legal action against more than 1,000 unidentified people it claims provide fake reviews on the US version of its website.
The online retailer said in the lawsuit, filed in the US on Friday, that its brand reputation was being tarnished by “false, misleading and inauthentic” reviews.
Amazon claims the 1,114 defendants it is suing touted their false review service for as little as $5 on the website Fiverr, an online platform for buying and selling minor tasks.
Amazon said it had found many of the fake reviewers, all termed “John Does” as the company said it was unaware of their real names, had requested review wordings from sellers and had used multiple accounts and IP addresses – numeric codes that identify a device in a network – to avoid being caught.
The e-commerce company started its campaign against the alleged fake reviewers by hiring some of the Fiverr members, according to the court report.
Amazon said there had been misleading five-star reviews and comments about products, such as: “This has lit up my life” about a USB cable. A bogus comment said: “Definitely buying more … I was impressed with how bright the lights on the cable are,” while another reviewer gave a product top marks and added the comment: “Cool charger.”
The online retailer said in the lawsuit, filed in the US on Friday, that its brand reputation was being tarnished by “false, misleading and inauthentic” reviews.
Amazon claims the 1,114 defendants it is suing touted their false review service for as little as $5 on the website Fiverr, an online platform for buying and selling minor tasks.
Amazon said it had found many of the fake reviewers, all termed “John Does” as the company said it was unaware of their real names, had requested review wordings from sellers and had used multiple accounts and IP addresses – numeric codes that identify a device in a network – to avoid being caught.
The e-commerce company started its campaign against the alleged fake reviewers by hiring some of the Fiverr members, according to the court report.
Amazon said there had been misleading five-star reviews and comments about products, such as: “This has lit up my life” about a USB cable. A bogus comment said: “Definitely buying more … I was impressed with how bright the lights on the cable are,” while another reviewer gave a product top marks and added the comment: “Cool charger.”
Jennifer Lawrence took on Hollywood's gender pay gap in an essay in Lena Dunham’s e-newsletter, Lenny, titled "Why Do I Make Less than My Male Co-Stars?" Lawrence partially blamed herself for the disparity, but now Deadline offers some insight into why she made less than her American Hustle co-stars, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper.
Industry analyst Mike Fleming Jr. wrote, "Everybody on that particular film worked for heavy discount to make the numbers work. By the time Lawrence was brought in by her Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell to round out that stellar cast, deals were done with other cast members."
Fleming also claims that both Cooper, Russell and Bale each gave up a piece of their personal share of movie's profits -- known as "points" -- to Lawrence, to bring up her compensation, even though she worked fewer days than anyone in the cast.
Overall, Fleming reports that he was told that Lawrence worked 19 days and was paid $1.25 million, with an additional $250,000 in deferred compensation, and seven points. Bale, Fleming was told, worked 45 days, and was paid $2.5 million and got nine points. Cooper was paid $2.5 million for 46 days of work, and received nine points. But Fleming says the person in the cast who got the worst deal was Amy Adams, who received $1.25 million for 45 days, plus seven points.
Fleming adds that Lawrence also made tons of cash after the hit film was released thanks to its 10 Oscar nominations.
J. Law wrote in Lenny that she was "mad" at herself because she "failed as a negotiator." She added that she didn't fight hard enough because she didn’t want to come across as "difficult" or "spoiled."
Industry analyst Mike Fleming Jr. wrote, "Everybody on that particular film worked for heavy discount to make the numbers work. By the time Lawrence was brought in by her Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell to round out that stellar cast, deals were done with other cast members."
Fleming also claims that both Cooper, Russell and Bale each gave up a piece of their personal share of movie's profits -- known as "points" -- to Lawrence, to bring up her compensation, even though she worked fewer days than anyone in the cast.
Overall, Fleming reports that he was told that Lawrence worked 19 days and was paid $1.25 million, with an additional $250,000 in deferred compensation, and seven points. Bale, Fleming was told, worked 45 days, and was paid $2.5 million and got nine points. Cooper was paid $2.5 million for 46 days of work, and received nine points. But Fleming says the person in the cast who got the worst deal was Amy Adams, who received $1.25 million for 45 days, plus seven points.
Fleming adds that Lawrence also made tons of cash after the hit film was released thanks to its 10 Oscar nominations.
J. Law wrote in Lenny that she was "mad" at herself because she "failed as a negotiator." She added that she didn't fight hard enough because she didn’t want to come across as "difficult" or "spoiled."