Congratulations to Alicia Keys and husband Swizz “Kaseem Dean” Beatz on the birth of their first child, Egypt Daoud Dean! Egypt was born on Thursday, October 14 in New York City, according to sources close to the singer and her family confirming to People Magazine. Beatz does have 3 other children, but Egypt is the couple’s first child together and has been welcomed with open arms by the rest of the family. After a private, intimate wedding ceremony in the Mediterranean in July, the couple will now just settle as newlyweds and new parents. The Yak would like to wish Alicia and Swizz the best with their new family together! Post your congratulations below and join our FORUMS to discuss this and more!
Funny or Die Video Going to TV?
Funny or Die, the comedy video website, announced today that their “Undercover Karaoke” video has sparked interest from the cable network TBS, who wish to see a pilot. Funny or Die will be producing the series, and founders Will Ferrell and Adam McKay will make contributions to it.
The show will be based on the same plot as in their web famous Jewel video, where she dressed up in disguise, went to a karoake bar, and wowed the crowd, only to reveal her true identity to the patrons later. The video at Funny or Die has been watched over 3 million times. Watch the video below and let us know what you think! Will you watch?
Banksy and The Simpsons: Wow. [VIDEO]
Whoever claims ‘The Simpsons’ is just not as edgy as it used to be, well, must have not had them tuned in last night when the opening sequence smacked it’s Corporate owner, HARD.
Banksy, a popular British Graffiti Artist was tapped to create the opening sequence, like many celebs have done before. The opening sequence, which is known for it’s variety, started out pretty much the same, but you can already see a few sinister signs from the beginning. A black crow looking ominous flies by with a dead rat in it’s beak; Banksy’s name grafitti’d across the Krusty sign and at the school when Bart leaves. Otherwise, it proceeds as usual, with Bart and his standards, Homer causing yet another accident at the plant, the cars pulling in the drive. It’s once the characters reach the sofa that it truly begins.
We are taken from a still shot of the family to the TV, ominous music begins to play, and we are transported to a sweatshop, somewhere in Asia apparently, (No doubt South Korea, where Fox has recently outsourced most of the show’s production) where starving kids are drawing the cells for the cartoon amid toxic sludge and rats. Human bones scatter the floor. We proceed down in the basement of the building to find kittens being shredded alive to procure the stuffing for the Bart dolls, pulled away by a giant panda, to a worker sealing the boxes for shipment using a dead dolphin’s head to “lick” the boxes shut. We then move into yet another room where a chained up and dying unicorn punches the holes in ‘The Simpsons’ DVDs. We then are zoomed out onto the building, 20th Century Fox with barbed wire all around.
We assume Fox themselves weren’t given a copy of this intro before it hit air. As of this writing, it had already been banned on YouTube, however is still available at various websites.
Executive Producer Al Jean, stated that of course they don’t exploit children in sweatshops, and that she did have to think about it a bit before allowing Banksy’s piece to air. Even the animators who worked on the piece threatened to walk. (They didn’t.) I myself am happy to see ‘The Simpsons” return to the edgy. It was what made this show great.
So, watch while you can folks! This probably will not be up much longer!
‘LOST’ Encyclopedia Now Available!
Just months after TV lost it’s big island mystery, the first and fully licensed comprehensive reference for ALL things LOST is being released. With more than 400 pages and over 1500 images, the LOST Encyclopedia is sure to be a must-have for all huge fans. The encyclopedia will serve as a guide to the characters, locations, island history, relationships, plots, and mythologies from the show’s six seasons. The encyclopedia also contains a special Foreward from producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. You can order the LOST Encyclopedia straight from the Yak’s forum front page (HERE, on the left hand sidebar) from Amazon. The encyclopedia available for purchase now in the United States and will be available on Oct 21 in the UK and on October 12 in Canada.
So LOST fans? Is this a must have or are you done with all things LOST? Let us know what you think below or comment in our FORUMS!
Harry Potter Loses his 3D
Harry Potter has lost it’s 3D, and no amount of magic is going to get it back, at least, according to his movie Headmaster Warner Bros.
Today, WB announced that it is scrapping it’s plan to release ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ Part one 3D, and will only be releasing it in regular 2D and IMAX formats. WB said they weren’t able to convert the film in the “highest standards of quality” in time for the release, which is coming up next month, November 19, 2010.
Warner Bros. did say however that the second half of the finale of the films, ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ Part 2, will indeed open in 3D, 2D and IMAX formats, and is schedules to hit theaters on July 15, 2011.
Gonna watch? Looking forward to the movie? Let us know!
Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters ‘Sues’ Scissor Sisters [Explicit]
Yeah, it’s a joke, and a funny one! Dave Grohl, the frontman for the Foo Fighters is “suing” the band Scissor Sisters after SS frontman Jake Shears exposed himself at a concert.
In this ‘must watch’ video, Grohl explains the torment he endures nightly after witnessing the incident. Grohl in tears says he felt “dizzy and sick” following the exposure at the concert, and cannot get the visions of said exposure out of his head since that night. He is suing for $75 million, but admits that the money is not going to erase what he saw from his life.
You gotta love Dave Grohl. A great musician, and comedian.
Warning: The following video is explicit. Do not watch if easily offended.
Justin Timberlake Loves Vinyl – He’s One Smart Cookie!
Justin Timberlake, speaking to German Newspaper ‘Frankfurter Rundscau’ says that he prefers vinyl, that it sounds better then it’s digital counterpart.
He told the newspaper that he likes to put on “oldies” records, from the Beach Boys to the early Beatles. Justin claims they “sound warmer and more vintage” than digital tunes. He does state that MP3s are handy for selling his songs online however.
Timberlake can be seen in the widely popular movie “The Social Network” starring, as of all things, the Napster founder Sean Parker.
This writer would like to say THANK YOU JUSTIN! I absolutely cannot live without my vinyl, and hope that vinyl makes a comeback for the current and upcoming generation to enjoy as well. There is something about vinyl… I don’t know exactly what it is, but it just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, like sitting next to a crackling fire. Vinyl and it’s artwork is an experience that this digital age is missing out on.
Do you love your vinyl or are you a digital junkie? Let us know!
Jon Stewart, Colbert – Rallies, Apologies and Donations
With the rallies coming up, the insult heard ’round the world, subsequent firing of CNN Host Rick Sanchez, the rousing of said “insultee,” apologies, and donations being sought to restore the National Mall in Washington, Jon Stewart has held his share of the News Media lately.
If you are somehow behind the times on the whole insult thing, apparently CNN Host Rick Sanchez, on a radio show, called Jon Stewart a bigot, and said that Hollywood, including the network he once worked for, are all “run by Jews.” CNN did not take very well to that comment, and within mere hours, Rick Sanchez was fired from his position at CNN (and a replacement show was immediately put in his show’s place, that we at the Yak have heard isn’t doing real well.)
It’s a dangerous game, insulting Stewart. By doing so, you MUST know what’s coming, and of course, it didn’t take long. Stewart, commenting on the whole fiasco, asks for a “cleaner” Sanchez, rather than a “dirty” one. (I must admit, I do get a kick out of anyone that tried to ruffle Jon Stewart’s feathers… it certainly makes for some interesting TV.)
Since, Sanchez has apologized to Stewart, and anyone else he offended, in what he calls “inartful comments” he had made during that radio show. His apology came 5 days after he was fired from CNN, stating that he had spoken with Stewart on Monday, and they had a “very good conversation.” Comedy Central would not confirm whether or not that conversation took place. My guess is Rick Sanchez will most likely be a guest soon on the Daily Show.
On a more serious note, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are asking donors to help restore the National Mall in Washington. On the “Rally to Restore Sanity” website, Stewart asks attendees to “pick up after themselves in the name of sanity and reasonableness” and that “We feel it’s important to preserve this historic site for future rallies and for future Americans to rally on! But just in case you accidentally, like, put a beverage down on the Mall’s coffee table without using a coaster, we figure that giving a little something back to the National Mall might, at least, soften the blow.”
Stephen Colbert is asking his attendees on his “Keep Fear Alive” website to donate to ‘Donors Choose’ which raises money for school supplies.
The National Mall in Washington has more visitor each year than Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite Parks combined, and has thousands of events held there every year. These events have impacted the area greatly. Sidewalks are crumbling, grass can no longer grow, and it’s reflecting pools are filled with stagnant water. Stewart selected ‘Trust for the National Mall’ as his charity of choice.
To donate, click on the website links above. Both are excellent causes. Big thanks go out to Stewart and Colbert for throwing in the funny and the charity. Now, when is the bus coming to the Yak to pick us up for the rallies? Jon? Stephen? Arianna? Anyone?
Say What?! Dora Sues Nickelodeon
Ok, well maybe not Dora herself. Caitlin Sanchez, the voice of Nickelodeon’s Dora on Dora The Explorer, has filed a lawsuit against the network with the support of her parents. Sanchez, 14, has voiced Dora since the show hit the airways in 2007. According to a report from the New York Daily News, Sanchez and her parents claim that she was pressured by Nickelodeon into signing a complicated contract that has ripped her off millions of dollars. The suit claims that they were rushed into signing the contract without consultation of a lawyer. Sanchez’s agent, Jason Burcy, allegedly gave the family 22 minutes to look over the contract mentioning that if they didn’t sign quickly Nickelodeon would pass on the offer for Caitlin to voice the cartoon character. The contract would allow Nickelodeon to exploit her as her alter-ego, Dora. The suit claims that Sanchez was not compensated for hundreds of hours of recording sessions and was compensated only $40 a day for travelling around the country promoting Dora The Explorer. She was also promised $5,115 per episode and compensation in residuals and merchandise. Nickelodeon, MTV Networks, and Viacom International are named as defendants in the suit who “”used Caitlin, unjustly enriching themselves of millions of dollars in profits from the series and branded products, which Caitlin performed and promoted.”
Nickelodeon has released the following statement in response: “The claims being made are baseless. Unfortunately, Caitlin’s voice changed and she was no longer able to portray the Dora character, as happened with the actress who originated the role. Caitlin’s contract was extensively negotiated through her agent and in compliance with her union. She was well-compensated for her work and for personal appearances. We have enjoyed working with Caitlin on Dora the Explorer these past three years, and we did in fact offer her a contract for other work with us.”
So what do you think? Are you heartbroken to hear this beloved cartoon character is turning on Nick? Let us know in our FORUMS or just comment below!
Jack’s Dad Said What??
REALLY??? Is this thinking outside the ‘box?’
See for yourself: