Timberlake and Kunis Talk 'Friends With Benefits,' Embracing Marine Balls (VIDEO)

Filed under: TV Replay

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake are co-starring in the new film 'Friends With Benefits,' and have recently made headlines by accepting invitations to be guests at Marine Balls. As you might imagine, there was no way to avoid double entendre when both of those stories came up during their interview Monday on 'Today' (weekdays, 7AM on NBC).

'Today' anchor Lester Holt, a self-identified married and out-of-touch man, started the interview by asking the pair to explain the meaning of the phrase "friends with benefits." Timberlake joked that he thought it was about borrowing money or sugar. "I'm thinking it's about two people who want to have a regular friendship but to get together for sex," Holt said. Ding ding!

Holt also asked about the invitations extended to both Kunis and Timberlake to attend a Marine Ball. Kunis explained they'd actually be attending two separate balls. "Marines have a lot of balls," she said. Holt suggested the traditional Marine battle cry "Semper Fi" could be replaced by "Marines got balls."

 

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Harry Potter's Greatest Hits: The 10 Best Scenes

The end of an era is here with today's release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." To mark the occasion, MTV News presents our list of the ten best scenes in the entire film franchise, with the exception of scenes from the most recent installment of "Deathly Hallows" -- we're keeping things [...]

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather: Why We'd Rather Watch Money May's Upcoming

 

Floyd Mayweather hasn’t fought since defeating Shane Mosley by unanimous decision in May 2010. In June, he announced through his twitter account that he would be returning to the ring against the up and coming Victor Ortiz.

The fight will be for the WBC world championship on September 17 and is a fight certain to entertain boxing fans. The fight everyone is waiting to see is Floyd vs. Manny Pacquiao, but Mayweather/Ortiz  is actually the fight you want to watch.

You should be anticipating this fight because for one, it’s actually set in stone to happen. People can predict wins for both Mayweather and Pacquiao in their upcoming fights so that the two could square off against each other, but that’s way down the road from now.

IF all goes well for both fighters in their matches later this year, the earliest they could possibly meet is spring 2012. That’s a lot of “ifs” and too far down the road to overlook boxing until that fight happens.

The second reason is because Mayweather hasn’t been in the ring since May 2010 and has only fought twice in the last two years. In 2009, he beat Juan Manuel Marquez and then, of course, last year’s fight with Mosley.

Some are starting to whisper about an aging Mayweather and how the young Ortiz has a good chance of beating him. If Mayweather comes out even a little rusty against Ortiz he not only may lose the first couple of rounds, he may even get knocked down because Ortiz has one-punch knockout power.

The third reason to be excited for the Mayweather vs. Ortiz showdown is simply due to the difference in fight styles.

Victor Ortiz is a southpaw, like Pacquiao, which makes people believe Mayweather chose him as a warm up for Pacquiao. Additionally, similar to Pacquiao, Ortiz is a straight forward volume puncher. He throws a lot of punches, chases opponents around the ring relentlessly, and can absorb punches as well.

Mayweather is a counter-puncher who likes to pick his opponents apart as they throw punches at him. He is great at defense, and prefers to punch only when an opportunity presents itself.

Because of Ortiz’ uncanny similarities to Pacquiao, the Mayweather/Ortiz bout will be the closest thing to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, for now. In the meantime, the Mayweather/Ortiz pay-per-view bout will do more than suffice.

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Even More GD 'Hobbit' Dwarves, and More...

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Ricky Gervais Heads to 'Afterlife' For New Show

Filed under: TV News

Ricky Gervais is teaming with former 'Dexter' showrunner Clyde Phillips for a trip to the 'Afterlife.'

According to Entertainment Weekly, the new series follows an atheist who dies and goes to heaven.

The duo are working on writing the pilot episode now with plans to film it in early 2012. Gervais is set to make a cameo in the pilot.

Gervais' new comedy, 'Life's Too Short,' starring Warwick Davis, is heading to HBO. The comedy is starting on BBC Two later in 2011 and will make its HBO debut in 2012.

 

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Vanessa Leaves Grayson at the Altar on 'Drop Dead Diva' (VIDEO)

Filed under: TV Replay

Imagine you're at the wedding of a guy you used to date before you died and came back in another body. You still have feelings for him, even as he marries a woman you and he once defended in court. It wasn't exactly your age-old story for Jane on 'Drop Dead Diva' (Sundays, 9PM on Lifetime), but there was a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. Vanessa, the bride to be, decided to leave Grayson, the former boyfriend from another life/groom, at the altar on Sunday's episode.

Vanessa sent Jane a text message to meet her on a nearby bridge, where she told Jane what she was doing. And that it had something to do with her. "It's just that you two were so effortless and natural, and it's never been like that for me with him," said Vanessa. Jane told Vanessa she should tell Grayson herself, but she declined and drove off.

 

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Snowball and Pepper Take-on the Treadmill and Hearts Everywhere Smile

Filed under: Videos, Animals

Cats don't need exercise. They're perfect just the way they are. But for some reason these little guys can't help but be totally enthralled with the treadmill. And it makes sense if you think about it. While we might be all motivated, going for the run of our life, getting healthy, getting in shape and buff, to a cat the treadmill is a totally foreign contraption. Humans, on a moving walkway inside the house, huffing and puffing and fighting to walk in place.

So seeing it from Snowball and Pepper's perspectives, it makes complete sense that they would stare and poke and prod with their little furry mittenesque hands. They're simply looking out for our well being.

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'Hugo' Trailer: Martin Scorsese Has Sacha Baron Cohen Comically Chase Kids

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Last Shot - Warm Trooper

Filed under: Photos, Last Shot

Thanks for the caption, Derek!

• photo via:// JD Hancock

Big news, Urlbots! We've officially handed all our Last Shot headline duties off to you. Every afternoon M-F, we'll post the Last Shot on our Facebook page and from there it's up to you guys to come up with the best headlines you can think of. We'll feature our favorite on the homepage every day at 6pm ET.

 

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Shiba Inu Puppy Cam Puts The D'aww In Monday

Filed under: Videos, Animals

Okay, guys, brace yourselves: it's Monday. That means we drag ourselves from the cozy warmth of our cocoon-like beds and proceed through the special torture that is putting on pants, drinking disgusting coffee and sitting in traffic for hours just to be confronted with days worth of "urgent" emails.

But there is one thing to be happy about this Monday and that's Shiba Inu puppy cam. After all, who cares about all those emails, the impending meetings, or the four (four!) days left of this agony as long as there is a squirming pile of adorable one-week-old wrinkly puppies to stare at in real time. Go ahead, pretend you're studying that expense report and take a peek. The cuteness is almost too good to be true.

Video streaming by Ustream>

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Pia Toscano Talks Life After 'American Idol,' Unveils New Song

Filed under: American Idol, Features

Interscope

Growing up in Queens, New York, Pia Toscano always wanted to be a singer, and after auditioning for 'American Idol' five times she was finally granted a pass to the top tier of the 10th season of the Fox juggernaut TV show.

Toscano was a true contender on 'Idol,' hitting the highest notes with ease. But rather than fulfilling what many felt to be her destiny, the singer shocked the nation and judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, and Steven Tyler when she was unexpectedly given the boot halfway through the season. However, all is not lost for this makeup-artist-turned-singing-sensation, as she recently signed with Jimmy Iovine's Interscope records. And with the recent release of single 'This Time,' we're sure Pia is well on her way to becoming a pop music mainstay. AOL Music spoke to the singer about her current tour, upcoming album and the current state of her love life.

 

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'Rango' Exclusive Clip: Somebody's Poisoned The Watering Hole

So, I just saw "Rango" for the first time this week, and I have to say ?�favorite Johnny Depp performance ever? Maybe not quite that far, but pretty darn close. Depp provides the voice (and got physically in character) for the central chameleon in Gore Verbinski's animated debut, and it ruins nothing to say that [...]

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WWE Money in the Bank 2011 Reults: Live Coverage of CM Punk's Last WWE PPV

The time has come, and it's all over but the potential overbooking as the WWE looks to write-off the latest immensely talented star who has decided he wants to move on. 

CM Punk has made no bones about the fact that he is leaving the WWE out of an unfortunate combination of frustration and burnout, and although he has already delivered on his promise of going out with a bang, tonight's WWE Money in the Bank main event will likely contain a finale that will keep the wrestling world abuzz for years. 

The shoddy 2.9 rating for the go-home show of RAW is far from a promising sign for a pay-per-view that has generated as much, and perhaps more, main stream buzz and intrigue as WrestleMania 27.  However, the build-up to Punk-Cena has brought out some of the best mic work from both WWE Superstars. The Chavo Guerreros of the world who fear for a typical Super Cena comeback match shall fear not. The Chicago crowd just will not allow such lazy booking to go down and the WWE knows it. 

Punk and Cena have created an environment where the otherwise scintillating Money in the Bank matches, for which the pay-per-view was named after, take a backseat.  However, while we are on the subject, Alberto Del Rio seems to be all but a lock to win the RAW Money in the Bank, while Wade Barrett has risen to the top of the heap as the sexy pick to win the SmackDown MITB match in a host of preview pieces. 

I'm still sticking with Sheamus. 

Follow Big Nasty on Twitter @ThisIsNasty to see where he and his Bleacher Report Money in the Bank briefcase will go next. 

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Wladimir Klitschko Is WBA 'Super' Champion:How Many Different Titles Are Needed?

Wladimir Klitschko defeats the WBA Heavyweight Champion David Haye and you would be right in thinking that he takes the WBA Heavyweight title strap. But the WBA has other ideas. Wladimir Klitschko is now the WBA 'Super' Champion and there will be a fight for the regular WBA Heavyweight Title belt.

Confused? I don't blame you.

The Klitschko brothers are superb boxers and worthy champions in their division. But one of the biggest problems (which is killing boxing) is the amount of boxing titles available.

The four recognised major bodies are the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF. There are other minor bodies including the IBO and WBF.

Ring Magazine has its own boxing titles but more importantly offers pound-for-pound rankings which are considered by many to be definitive.

The WBA (World Boxing Association) is the oldest organisation, formed in 1963. The WBC (World Boxing Council) formed shortly afterwards in 1963. The IBF (International Boxing Federation) and WBO (World Boxing Organisation) followed in 1983 and 1988, respectively. All four bodies are recognised by the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The problem for years has been which fighter can claim to be the legitimate world champion for their weight class.

For the public, it can be confusing to know who really is the "champ." The general public and boxing fans are turning to MMA because of the simple title structure they hold for each class. For example in UFC, Cain Velasquez is the Heavyweight Champion. Simple and easy.

Ring Magazine tried to help in 2002 by reintroducing a title that can only be won either by defeating the reigning champion or by winning a boxing match between their No. 1 and No. 2 ranked fighters. The fighter can only lose the Ring title by being defeated, moving to a different weight class or retiring. It sounds good in principle but with four other titles available, the good idea gets lost.

The biggest problem is the amount of titles one organisation can award.

The WBA has been the worst offender. As an example, the WBA Lightweight division has Juan Manuel Marquez as "Super Champion," Brandon Rios as champion and Robert Guerrero as "Interim" Champion. How many champions are needed?

It may be argued that Rios may be unable to fight Guerrero due to illness or other circumstances and this requires the awarding of an interim title until the fight can be arranged. But why bother? The WBA could simply sanction the fight without awarding a title until Rios is ready. If he fails to fight for no good reason, he should be stripped of his title.

The "Interim" system has been open to abuse for years. The most blatant example is that of WBC Flyweight Champion Pongksaklek Wonjonkam who held the title for six years. Jorge Arca was named "interim" champion during that time but the fight never materialised. Arca would defend the "interim" title four times before giving up on fighting Wonjonkam and moving up a weight class.

The idea of a "Super Champion" also holds little point other than awarding a special belt for being recognised as holding other versions of a specific weight class title.

If we are to have separate boxing organisations, the time really has come to simply matters and sort things out once and for all. With MMA quickly overtaking boxing in popularity, something has to be done in connection with the award of title belts. 

It's pretty simple—one championship belt per organisation for each weight class.

But to be honest, there needs only to be one champion per weight division.

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Darren Clarke: Different Northern Ireland Golfer Takes Home 2011 British Open

Rory McIlroy was expected to contend for the 2011 British Open title this past weekend, but another golfer from Northern Ireland stole the crown.  Darren Clarke is 20 years older than McIlroy and now he has the same amount of major victories after posting a five under par and was just one of four players to hit under par for the tournament.  His ability to golf with success in poor weather separated him from the rest of the pack.

According to the New York Daily News, following the win, Clarke was quoted repping Northern Ireland and reflecting back on his journey to finally win one saying:

?We're (Northern Ireland) blessed to have obviously two fantastic players in Rory and G-Mac, and I've just come along - the old guy coming along behind them?Bad times in golf are more frequent than the good times.  I've always been pretty hard on myself when I fail because I don't find it very easy to accept that. And there have been times I've been completely and utterly fed up with the game.  But (you) get out there and practice and keep going, keep going, keep going, and that's why I'm sitting here now.?

Before winning the British Open, Clarke had never finished in the top five in any other major.  Clarke lost his wife to breast cancer back in 2006.  He went onto say: "In terms of what's going through my heart, there's obviously somebody who is watching down from up above there, and I know she'd be very proud of me.  She'd probably be saying, 'I told you so.??

There is nothing like a feel-good, underdog story to make up for the lack of attendance of Tiger Woods.

 

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer. Follow him on Twitter.

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What's Next For Daniel Radcliffe?

With "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" opening in theaters today, the world is now Daniel Radcliffe's oyster.


He's got a months-long commitment to "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" ahead of him and also the thriller "The Woman In Black" in the works, which is showing that Radcliffe is not one [...]

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Real Madrid Transfer News: Coentrao's Debut Gives Glimpse into Brilliant Future

Fabio Coentrao didn't take long to impress the Real Madrid supporters.

In his Los Blancos debut against the LA Galaxy, Coentrao stepped on to the pitch and showed why the club splashed so much cash to bring the defender over in the summer transfer window.

Real Madrid ran the MLS side all over the pitch, winning 4-1, with Coentrao playing a vital role in the victory.

Per ESPNStar.com: 

Coentrao displayed the strengths that convinced Mourinho to splash out a reported ?30million on him when went on a penetrating run down the left flank, before whipping in a delicious cross for Benzema to nod home Real's fourth.

Speaking after the game, Mourinho was pleased with Coentrao's showing, as well as that of Callejon and Varane.

"It was an important game for Coentrao as it will help him integrate," Mourinho said on the club's official website.

"He played a good game and showed his potential.

"Callejon also did well and Varane played a serious game."

Despite Coentrao's stellar debut, supporters of the club shouldn't get ahead of themselves.

The defender still has a long way to go, and there will be inconsistencies as Coentrao gets used to his new club and the higher quality of competition.

It won't be an easy transition, but against a lesser club, Coentrao proved that he has the skills to be a truly transcendent talent that can help carry Real Madrid into a new era.

Los Blancos have changed their strategy in the transfer market, opting to make moves that will pay dividends in the long run, allowing the club to compete with Barcelona on the world stage.

Coentrao is one of the crown jewels of this transfer window, and as we saw last night, he has the ability and touch to create special moments during the course of a match.

Needless to say, last night had to be an exciting moment for the club's supporters around the world.

When the defender comes into the prime of his career, Real Madrid will have one of the best players in the world on their hands, and it will be worth every penny the club spent to get him.

He may not get there right away, but as we saw yesterday, the glimpses are there, and that's what's important at this point of his career with Los Blancos.

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Syfy Picks Up 'Merlin' Season 4

Filed under: TV News

'Merlin' will work its magic for another season on Syfy.

According to TV Guide, the network has given the series a Season 4 renewal.

The show stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur and Angel Coulby as Gwen. All three stars along with Katie McGrath, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson and the voice of John Hurt will also be back.

Look for Nathaniel Parker to join the cast alongside guest stars Phil Davis and Gemma Jones.

 

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'John Carter' Trailer: Story of Man Inexplicably Transporting to Crazy Fantasy Mars Looks Surprisingly Respectable

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'Nurse 3D' Poster Bloody, Nipple-Inclusive

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'What If You Lived At Ikea' Is 375 Sq. Ft. Of Pre-Packaged Home

Filed under: Art / Design

Living in Ikea would be a lot like living at home, except the furniture is already built so there's none of those tiny wrenches and missing screw stuff to deal with. Oh yeah, there's also the fact that they seem to think people can live totally comfortably in under 400 square feet of space with minimalist household tools. Would it work? Is it comfortable? That's the theme behind Christian Gideon's latest set of photos, "What if you lived at Ikea?"

Gideon, his brother Dylan and their buddy Michael hung out in the pre-created living space at their local Ikea, waiting for staff and customers to roll on through, picking up their Ekby Gruven and other easy-to-build furniture along the way, and snapping shots of the living situations there-in. And because you're wondering, they thought the bedrooms were the most true-to-life of every area they frollicked.

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Meet Purdue's Epic Rube Goldberg Winning Device, Our Fantasy Gadget

Filed under: Videos, Tech, Art / Design, Science

This years Rube Goldberg competition asked college students take the simple task of watering a flower. Not only did a team from Purdue University beat out all the competition this year with this complex device, but they also crushed the previous world record by over 244 steps!

The machine also tells the story about the history of the world starting with the big bang and ending with the still looming apocalypse. My hat is off to the winning team for such a creative contraption. Watering a flower has never been this complicated.

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Vin Diesel Making Another Vin Diesel Movie

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Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Likar Ramos Available Free on Top Rank Website

Round-by-round results will be posted for tonight's bout between WBO, WBA and Ring Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KO) and Likar Ramos (24-3, 18 KO), but the fight is available on toprank.tv.

You can watch it for free, here. It starts at 9 p.m. ET and is scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior welterweight division.

Marquez is taking a warm-up bout with Ramos before his November bout with pound-for-pound star Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez rebounded in 2010 after his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2009, defeating Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis.

Ramos has gone 3-0 since losing to Jorge Solis in his 2010 super featherweight title bout.

It will be a far stretch of measuring the type of fight he will have against Pacquiao in tonight's bout but it should be a good fight. Marquez is always worth checking out.

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L.A. Lakers: What Each Player Can Do to Help Win the Title Next Year

The Lakers were swept in their most recent playoff run.

Something was obviously lacking.

Their team seemed to lack the savvy and drive that lead them to championships the two years prior. The progression of their players has seemed to come to a halt. In fact, with Derek Fisher, he has slowly hurt the Lakers because of his mediocre play compared to that of his glory days.

The stubbornness of the Lakers was the true reason they had no shot at winning it all. They have slowly molded their careers and are no longer focused on getting better and developing their individual games.

No player is perfect. That's what they need to realize.

With a new coach in Mike Brown, the Lakers are going to need to accept the new system and the changes to their roles that come with it.

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Bravo Star Says Beverly Hills Housewife Taylor Has 'Drama,' TMZ Divorce Rumors Agree

Filed under: TV Previews, TV News

If you're on one Bravo show, chances are good that you know everyone else on every other Bravo show. It's a fact -- Bravo-lebrities like to mix and mingle.

Case in point: Any episode of network programming head Andy Cohen's talk show, 'Watch What Happens Live,' where he brings together his network reality stars for fun games and lots of cocktails.

Another fine example: Spying Camille Grammer -- controversial star of 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' and Kelsey Grammer's now ex-wife -- in a preview for next week's 'Million Dollar Decorators' season finale (Tues., July 19, 10PM ET on Bravo). Camille is shown hugging one of the show's stars, designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.

So, when I caught up with Bullard today to hear all about the designer drama, I had to ask about his 'Real Housewives' pals. "Camille and Lisa Vanderpump are both friends of mine, and they show up at my event [in next week's finale]," he confirmed.

With TMZ now reporting that another troubled 'Housewives' couple, Taylor Armstrong and her husband Russell, are splitting, Bullard's only dish on 'RHOBH' Season 2 seems particularly telling. So how much does he know about the upcoming season?

 

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Full Hearts: A Review of the 'Friday Night Lights' Finale

Filed under: Reality-Free, Stay Tuned

The post below was originally published when the series finale of 'Friday Night Lights' aired on DirecTV in February (and if you want to read the first round of comments on the finale, check out that finale review, which is identical to this one except for these opening paragraphs).

A couple of notes: For a non-spoilery appreciation of the show titled 'Texas Forever: 12 Things Television Can Learn From 'Friday Night Lights,' look here.

For a non-spoilery discussion of 'FNL' on the Talking TV podcast, go here. Check out the Talking TV podcast next week for a new, in-depth discussion of the developments that occurred over the course of the show's five seasons.

This Grantland oral history of the show is worth checking out as well.

Read on only if you've seen the last episode of best drama Emmy nominee 'Friday Night Lights.'

 

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2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final: Analysis, Reaction and More

This is the dream match. Two of the world's best in women's football take to the stage one last time in the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Final, live from the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:45 CET.

Both teams come into the final with huge storylines and everything to play for. For the United States, under head coach Pia Sundhage, there beckons the prospect of making history as the first team to win three Women's World Cups.  They escaped possible heartbreak against Brazil and muscled their way past France.

And for Japan, under Norio Sasaki, what could be a better gift to a country just emerging from an earthquake and tsunami that claimed so many lives months ago than their first title? Stunning victories over hosts Germany and Sweden have brought them to the promised land.

The stage is set for one exciting finale to women's football's showcase event. Keep it here on Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and all things world football.

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'Akira' Probably Has a New Director

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Barry Manilow Talks Jingles and Fashion on 'Access Hollywood Live' (VIDEO)

Filed under: TV Replay

Barry Manilow has racked up dozens of recognizable hits over his 40-plus-year career in the music business. He wrote the classic songs 'Copacabana (At the Copa),' 'Mandy,' and 'Can't Smile Without You.' Friday on 'Access Hollywood Live' (weekdays, syndicated on NBC), host Billy Bush even told Manilow that 'Mandy' helped him seal the deal with his wife.

But many might not realize Manilow also wrote some instantly recognizable jingles, including 'Like A Good Neighbor' for State Farm and 'Stuck on Band-Aid.' "Those are the two they keep playing 30 years later," he said. For writing those jingles, he was paid the grand sum of $500 each. "I was very happy to get that five hundred dollars," he said. "Nobody could have predicted that it was going to last that long."

They also discussed fashion, showing one of Manilow's more outrageous stage outfits. "It follows me like a bad smell, that shirt," he said. At least he still has his own hair and he's skinny because he doesn't "like eating." Someone tell him he can afford a sandwich now.

 

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Zach Britton: Why Time in the Minors Is What the Baltimore Orioles' SP Needs

Zach Britton was never meant to start the season in the Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation.  Nor, was he expected to be an early season contender for AL Rookie of the Year.

Britton was expected to spend spring training with the big club, before spending a few months at Triple-A.  The Orioles were prepared to be cautious with Britton, and it appeared he would not be rushed to the big leagues like so many other Orioles pitching prospects.

Well, that careful plan was blown to shreds in April.

Britton pitched so well in spring training that when another Orioles youngster, Brian Matusz, went down, management had no choice but to bring Britton to the majors when the Orioles broke camp.

So, how would the 23-year-old rookie, who had never been tested above Double-A, fare in his rookie season?  Britton looked every bit the phenom the Orioles proclaimed him to be in April and May, running up a 5-3 record to go with a 2.93 ERA, and earning consideration for Rookie of the Year.

After success came so easily at the major league level, Orioles brass was assuredly patting themselves on the back for dodging a bullet with Britton. This early promotion could have hindered his development into a major league ace.

Now, it is July, and Orioles' president of baseball operations, Andy MacPhail, and manager Buck Showalter find themselves with a little thinking to do when it comes to the rest of Zach Britton's season.  The wheels have fallen off in the last month for Britton, and there are warning signs that he was not as ready for the big leagues as it seemed in April.

Britton suffered through one of the worst pitching performances in recent Orioles' history last Friday.  He recorded only two outs, while giving up eight runs, all while looking utterly lost on the mound.  His ERA continued its upward trend and cracked 4.00 for the first time all season.

After the start, Britton was sent to Double-A so as not to miss a start due to the All-Star break.  It is widely assumed that Britton will be back with the Orioles by the end of the month.

Calling Zach Britton back from the minors would be the biggest mistake the Orioles could make this year.

Britton is not ready to be a major league pitcher.  He does not have command of the strike zone, as evidenced by his walk rate of 3.4 BB/9.  His lack of total command forces him to rely on one or two pitches and hurts his ability to go deep into games, averaging less than six innings per start.

With Britton's excellent first two months looking like a product of the league being unfamiliar with him, the Orioles need to learn from past experience with highly touted pitching prospects brought along too soon.  They need look no further than Daniel Cabrera, who took the league by storm for a few months in 2004 before the rest of the league realized he couldn't throw strikes.  Cabrera is out of baseball now.

Zach Britton will only benefit from a few months spent at Triple-A, learning how to command his secondary pitches, boosting his confidence.  He has been given a taste of the majors.  That taste should be enough to keep a fiery personality like Britton's motivated to get back on top. 

This is quickly turning into a lost year for the Orioles.  Permanently hindering the development of a potential future ace to pick up a few meaningless wins this season would be a terrible mistake. 

For the sake of future seasons, and Zach Britton's career, MacPhail and Showalter need to be 100 percent certain that Britton is ready for major league hitters.  He has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but those flashes are becoming fewer and further between.

It's not time to declare the handling of Zach Britton a complete failure just yet, but if Britton throws another pitch in the majors this year, the Orioles just might be headed that way.

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NBA Trade Rumors, Speculation: 10 Monta Ellis Deals for Golden State Warriors

Monta Ellis has been the center of numerous trade rumors this offseason. Even though the lockout is still going strong, multiple teams have been linked to the Golden State Warriors in pursuit of the shooting guard.

Ellis is highly sought-after because of his ability to drive and shoot from the perimeter. These are 10 possibilities that could send Ellis out of the Bay Area by next season. They include nine ideas between two teams, but the last is a blockbuster deal between three.

Begin Slideshow

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NBA finals: Dallas Mavericks put Miami Heat in the shade | David Lengel

Dirk Nowitzki, Jasons Kidd and Mavericks claim NBA championship leaving LeBron James empty-handed this time

Until Sunday night, the star stitched on to the backs of Dallas Mavericks jerseys represented the Lone Star State of Texas from which they hail. Now it has two meanings. With the Mavs defeat of the Miami Heat the NBA Finals, that star also represents Dallas' maiden title triumph.

There will be a temptation to talk about the team that did not win the NBA championship on Sunday. Don't do it. In the years ahead, there will be plenty of time to focus on the "Big Three" players that came together in 2010, the elite core who dominated the headlines, that transformed the Heat into a four letter word that followed other four letter words, at least to fans outside of South Beach.

No, this space is reserved for the Dallas Mavericks, a franchise that entered the league in 1980, once lost 71 games in a single season, and is finally on top of the basketball world. They are winners, capping off their 11th consecutive playoff appearance with that elusive piece of hardware--and they deserve it, because they were the better team, a complete team, unlike their opponents.

Those who labeled the Mavs as underdogs in this series were misguided.

Dallas is a team full of all-stars, who have their own big three in Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry - but it doesn't stop there.

They also had Shawn Marion, Tyson Chandler, Jose Juan Berea and more-serviceable backups are abound, this despite losing their second best player Caron Butler to injury earlier in the season.

Yes, the Dallas Mavericks are a deep, talented club that swept the Los Angeles Lakers en-route to the Finals, and put a team on the floor which Miami could not answer.

Consider that Terry, a guard who comes off the bench for Dallas, scored 27 points on Sunday, allowing the Mavericks to take a lead into half time, on a night when Nowitzki, their all-world German forward, scored just three first-half points. Miami's top bench scorer was Udonis Haslem, who scored 11 points.

Then there is Jason Kidd, who at 38 became the oldest point guard to start in the NBA Finals. Kidd, one of the greatest point men of all time, surprised Miami with his ability slow down the Heat elite, who had targeted him as the weak defensive link. Kidd's offensive play however surprised no one, and on Sunday, his trademark distribution of the basketball yielded eight assists in addition to a pair of timely three pointers.

Now Kidd, who began his career in Dallas over 15 years ago, during much leaner times for the franchise, finally has a ring, as does his teammate, Dirk Nowitzki.

The question with Nowitzki is how do you stop a seven foot forward who runs the floor beautifully and can shoot over anyone from just about anywhere? The answer of course is you don't, and Nowitzki, who rather incredibly is actually the third German to play for the Mavericks (fourth if you count Shawn Bradley), took home the NBA Finals MVP award, completing a dominating playoff performance with ten points in the fourth quarter of Game Six, quashing any chances of a Miami comeback and a decisive seventh game.

The credit extends beyond the players as well. Mark Cuban, the poster child for owners who behave like fans, has always done whatever it takes to help his Dallas team win a championship, and that includes encouraging his management team to go after players such as Tyson Chandler, the big man they acquired last summer, whose interior defense helped clog the paint, and was a big part of the Mavs success.

The head coach, Rick Carlisle, did an exceptional job of keeping a younger and more athletic Miami team from running with the basketball, dragging them into a half court game which played against the Heat's strengths. Carlisle now has a championship ring as a coach to go along with one he won with the Boston Celtics as a player, which puts him in some pretty classy company.

Can Dallas come back next season and do it again? It's unlikely ? they are an older, more fragile team, that had to win now and did. We saw what happened to aging teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers in these playoffs. Fresher franchises such as the Oklahoma City Thunder are emerging and change is in the NBA air. Never-mind that Miami, and those players who shall remain nameless, this one time, will be staking their claim to the title for many years to come.

• NBA
• US sport

David Lengel

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Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony Divorcing

Filed under: TV News

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are getting a divorce.

The TV power couple released the following statement to People:

"We have decided to end our marriage. This was a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters.

"It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time."

The couple has been married for seven years and recently collaborated on Latin American talent show, 'Q'Viva: The Chosen.'

Lopez joined 'American Idol' last season and has yet to reveal her plans for next season. Anthony recently joined the cast of TNT's 'Hawthorne.'

 

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'Nurse 3D' Poster Bloody, Nipple-Inclusive

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Dallas Mavericks on brink of first NBA title after beating Miami Heat

? Late run gives Dallas 112-103 win over Miami
? LeBron James held to two points in final quarter

The Dallas Mavericks used a storming late run to move to the brink of their first NBA title with a 112-103 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday.

With a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven finals, Dallas can now claim the crown by winning one of the two remaining games, but they will have to complete the feat in Miami, where the teams split the opening two games.

The Mavericks went on a 15-3 run to finish off the Heat, turning a three-point deficit into the comfortable victory amid chants of "Beat the Heat" from a boisterous crowd of 20,433.

"That was a big win for us, obviously," said Dirk Nowitzki, who inspired the Mavericks with 29 points. "We didn't want to go to Miami and give them basically two shots to close us out.

"So we kept plugging there in the fourth. And now we have to go down there and basically approach Sunday's game as game seven. You don't want to give this great team any hope."

The guard Jason Terry had a pair of three-pointers during the game-ending run, finishing with 21 points on eight-of-12 shooting and adding six assists.

Dallas shot 57%, including an eyebrow-raising 13 of 19 from beyond the arc. Terry was three for five from long range, draining two of those during the late-game run.

"All season long, ever since I've been a Maverick, I've been the guy in the fourth quarter they depended on to either make plays or make shots," said Terry.

"So I really relish that role. Regardless of what's going on throughout three quarters of the game, in the fourth quarter I know I'm depended on to come through. Thank God I was able to do that again tonight."

LeBron James disappeared once again in the fourth quarter, tallying only two points. The former NBA scoring champion and two-times MVP has now amassed a combined 11 points in the final quarter of the entire series.

James was blanked in the final frame of Tuesday's 86-83 Mavericks victory, and while he was more aggressive on Thursday, he had similar results.

"We as a team, we played good enough to win again," said James, who scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds and 10 assists. "We put ourself in position to win down the stretch. Guys made plays. They just made a few more than we did. That's what it came down to."

Dwyane Wade had 23 for the Heat, scoring 10 in the final quarter, while Chris Bosh added 19. Wade bruised his hip in the opening quarter when he collided with Dallas's Brian Cardinal.

He went to the locker room but returned shortly after and played 34 minutes in the emotionally charged affair.

"It was unfortunate I had to leave the game," said Wade. "But I came back and I finished it. Once you're on the court, you're on the court. I don't have no excuses. I was able to help my team get an opportunity to win. And I'll be fine Sunday."

Dallas shot 56.5% from the floor but were out-rebounded 36-26 by a Miami team that committed 16 turnovers on the way to registering consecutive losses for the first time this post-season.

The Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said Terry took on the responsibility of team leader when the Mavericks' best player, Nowitzki, was on the bench.

"He played great, and during periods where Dirk was out of the game we were going to him and he was delivering," Carlisle said. "Those are tough minutes for us because it's hard when Dirk is out of the game. But it's the total game we've all been preaching to Jet [Terry] since the play-offs began and tonight he did a terrific job."

• NBA
• US sport
• LeBron James

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Bob Saget Wants to Submit a Tape of Himself to 'America's Funniest Home Videos' (VIDEO)

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV Replay

Bob Saget isn't proud of the story he told on 'Late Night' (Weeknights, 12:37AM ET on NBC), but he must have felt it was important for him to share it. He left absolutely no detail out, and did a masterful job of building a growing sense of dread, anticipation and suspense as the story progressed.

From the details of him wearing a robe and Ugg slippers to the fact that there was a ladder near a pool, and a jacuzzi was involved, we had an idea of where it was going. But still the exact scenario was pretty funny.

To hang a hummingbird feeder, he hooked a wire to a hammer and climbed the ladder to throw the hammer and wire over a tree branch. "I threw it, the hammer came off and came at me and I fell off the ladder into the jacuzzi," he admitted.

 

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Alexander Skarsgard Plays A Viking, Natasha Lyonne Joins 'American Reunion'

It's the swoon heard 'round the world: Alexander Skarsgard will be again playing a Viking, but this time on the big screen.
The "True Blood" stud first donned the horned helm during the third season of the HBO show when his character's Norse roots were shown in a flashback sequence, but now Skarsgard has been tapped [...]

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'Sons of Anarchy' Creator Kurt Sutter Rails Against Emmy Nominations

Filed under: Emmys, Reality-Free, TV News

When the 2011 Emmy nominations were announced yesterday there were some surprises and some snubs. And don't say we didn't warn you: One guy who's not taking being snubbed lying down is 'Sons of Anarchy' creator, Kurt Sutter.

He's been letting it rip via a series of potty-mouthed posts on Twitter since the nominations were announced.

Despite predicting on Wednesday that 'Sons of Anarchy' wouldn't be nominated -- "Tomorrow morning I'll be the fat kid who didn't get picked to play" -- the lack of nods still seems to have annoyed Sutter.

He wrote, "Best part of not getting an emmy nod. now i don't have to pretend i give a s**t about the profiteering d*****bag academy ... because you know if we were nominated i'd be all humble and blowing smoke up their asses. now i can stay true to myself and just be a d**k."

 

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'Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows' Trailer: RDJ Fights People, Gets in Drag

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Philadelphia Flyers: The 6 Most Indispensable Players on Flyers Roster

With a recent roster shakeup, the Philadelphia Flyers have moved three of their top five point-scorers from the 2010-2011 season.

Among the group of unloaded players were captain Mike Richards and leading goal-scorer Jeff Carter.

Carter carried a split following in Philadelphia, and rumors of his exact trade had developed a week prior to the deal with Columbus. This was one season after a trade sending him to Boston for Tim Thomas was in the works.

Though it was not much of a shock to see Carter go, the Mike Richards trade took everybody by surprise.

Richards was the captain of the team, signed for more than a decade, and thought to be an indispensable player.

According to general manager Paul Holmgren, he was not.

Which players currently on the Philadelphia Flyers roster exhibit unrivaled value which makes them indispensable, not trade-able assets?

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'The Office' Couple Expecting: Jim and Pam Will Have Another Baby

Filed under: Reality-Free, TV News

Jenna Fischer will successfully avoid the tried-and-true baggy clothing/large purse pregnancy cover-up when 'The Office' returns this fall.

The actress confirmed to Vulture that her character, Pam, will also be expecting when we return to Scranton for season 8. " Pam will be pregnant when the season starts," she told Vulture.

While some shows have to scramble to come up with a believable story as to why a character is pregnant (see: 'Bones'), a bun in the oven actually makes sense for Pam and her husband, Jim, who already have a toddler.

 

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Manchester United: How Wesley Sneijder Deal Impacts Cesc Fabregas Saga

Goal.com is reporting that Manchester United have reached an agreement with Inter Milan for the transfer of Wesley Sneijder for £35.2 million. If the Red Devils and Sneijder can agree personal terms, this transfer will not only have a large impact on Manchester United and the Premier League landscape, but it will also affect Cesc Fabregas's potential transfer to Barcelona.

As the fee for Fabregas's services continues to be haggled and debated about between the two clubs for weeks on end, it would seem as if a benchmark would be in place on which to negotiate. If one were to rank the top five midfielders in the world, both Fabregas and Sneijder would be firmly on many lists. In fact, most people would rank the Spaniard ahead of the Dutchman.

This would seem to give Arsenal the advantage in the ongoing negotiations. While nearly everyone outside of the Barcelona boardroom believes that Arsenal is worth a £40 million fee, the £35 million mark has been a crucial sticking point in the talks. 

Now all Arsenal must say at the negotiating table is, "Look, if super-rich Manchester United can get Wesley Sneijder, a player below Fabregas's quality, for £35 million, surely you can cough up the £40 million we want." Indeed, it is a very strong negotiating point.

Beyond this aspect of the negotiations, however, there is another reason why Arsenal can and must use the Sneijder deal to get fair value for their captain. The transfer, if and when it officially goes through, will severely impact the Premier League.

Though I hate to admit it, "Manure" will be a juggernaut with Sneijder acting as the creative fulcrum of their midfield, feeding balls to Wayne Rooney and Chicharito, with Vidic, Ferdinand and the supremely talented David de Gea at the back. To keep up, Arsenal will need to take all the money received from the sale of Fabregas and reinvest it in a player of top quality such as Juan Mata to keep up.

But will Arsenal sell at all?

Indeed, the arrival of one of the best players in the world at one of Arsenal's main title rivals could actually discourage the Gunners from selling Fabregas altogether. This would make this whole point moot. Though Arsenal undoubtedly wish to keep one of the best players in the world already, a move like this could easily strengthen their resolve to hold onto Fabregas. 

Losing him would be an enormous blow at any time. However, with such great contract leverage from the Spaniard's contract expiring in 2015, Arsenal might actually need to keep Fabregas in order to stand any chance of winning the Premier League or any silverware at all.

Samir Nasri is a good player, but he is not a third of the player that Fabregas is. Besides, Nasri looks to be leaving on a free transfer next summer anyway. Aaron Ramsey has always looked like the logical successor to Fabregas's throne; but at just 20 years of age and awaiting his first full season back from his horrific leg break, the time is not quite right for him to make the full jump from good to great.

So no matter what angle one takes—and there are several—the transfer of Sneijder to Manchester United has far-reaching implications on both the Premier League as a whole and the prolonged Fabregas transfer saga.

The Gunners are in a better position to demand more money for their player, which they will need once he is sold to keep pace with the Red Devils. And it is only the raising of the fee that will allow Fabregas to be sold in the first place. Perhaps the major consequence of Sneijder's monumental transfer will be that Fabregas is forced to stay to prevent the Gunners from being in a much worse position to win trophies than they otherwise would be.

Either way, it is certain that Sneijder's imminent transfer to Manchester United is the critical domino that will cause the rest to fall. And much of the transfer activity for the rest of the summer at Arsenal could be based off of this one giant move, for better or for worse.

Follow me on Twitter: @planefreakf22

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Cleveland Browns: Breaking Down the 5 Biggest Needs in Free Agency

The Cleveland Browns will enter the 2011 NFL season with some huge questions surrounding the state of their franchise and their players. Cleveland will officially welcome in the Pat Shurmur era when football activities finally resume, and there are still plenty of holes to fill within the active roster.

Many veterans will be leaving the Browns franchise due to free agency, trades or a "cleaning of house" that is expected to take place once the organization and players are allowed to communicate. However, with the departure of older players comes the arrival of new talent.

The following slideshow breaks down the five biggest needs for the Browns during the shortened free agency period of 2011 and what the current state of the team is at each position. Potential free agency targets will not be listed in this article as contracts are still unclear and a free agency rules are not yet in place.

Begin Slideshow

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