Grant Imahara from Mythbusters Has Died...

GRANT IMAHARA

[Oct 23, 1970 – July 13, 2020]

Worked on Mythbusters and Lucasfilm

[Source: AVClub] As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, former MythBusters host Grant Imahara has died. The news was confirmed by a statement from a Discovery representative, referring to Imahara as an “important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man.” A cause of death was not given, but THR’s sources say he died suddenly from a brain aneurysm. Imahara was 49.

Grant Imahara was born in 1970 and studied electrical engineering and robotics at the University Of Southern California, which he managed to turn into a visual effects career by landing a job with Lucasfilm after college. He worked with the THX and Industrial Light And Magic, working on effects for major movies like the Star Wars prequels (where he somewhat famously updated and operated the R2-D2 robots used in filming), the Matrix sequels, and cult classic Star Trek homage Galaxy Quest. He was also a competitor on BattleBots, helped design the modern Energizer Bunny, and built Craig Ferguson’s robot sidekick Geoff for The Late Late Show.

It was through ILM that Imahara met Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, who invited Imahara to join them on the MythBusters team in the show’s third season. Along with co-hosts Kari Byron and Tory Belleci, Imahara was part of the “Build Team” and constructed machines and robots to test myths and—in a nod to his other career—recreate stunts and effects from movies and TV to see how viable or realistic they were. The playful banter and bickering between Hyneman and Savage was the highlight of the MythBusters segments they hosted, but Imahara, Byron, and Belleci brought an infectious enthusiasm and passion to everything they touched on the show. The three of them left MythBusters in 2014, shortly before the show itself came to an end. In 2016, Imahara reunited with Byron and Belleci for the one-season White Rabbit Project on Netflix.

On Twitter, Savage said that Imahara was a “truly brilliant engineer, artist, and performer, but also just such a generous, easygoing, and gentle person.” Earlier today, possibly coincidentally, Kari Byron posted a photo of herself with Imahara and Belleci along with the caption “somedays I wish I had a time machine.” She has since shared several other photos of Imahara from the MythBusters days.

Remembering Mr. Rogers in New Documentary

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

'Won’t You Be My Neighbor?' takes an intimate look at America’s favorite neighbor: Mister Fred Rogers. A portrait of a man whom we all think we know, this emotional and moving film takes us beyond the zip-up cardigans and the land of make-believe, and into the heart of a creative genius who inspired generations of children with compassion and limitless imagination.

Stephen Hawking Passes Away...

STEPHEN HAWKING
(1942 - 2018)
Famed physicist, dies at age 76

[Source: FoxNews] Stephen Hawking, the famed theoretical physicist who defied a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to live virtually his entire adult life with the disease – in a wheelchair and paralyzed but making constant contributions to a world few could understand – has died at age 76, a family spokesman said.

Although Hawking may have been incapacitated physically, he managed to write books, including the best seller "A Brief History of Time," teach physics and mathematics, deliver speeches and even float in zero gravity, all while working in the fields of cosmology and quantum gravity.

He was not modest about what he wanted to do. "My goal is simple," he once said. "It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all."

"My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is, and why it exists at all."

- Stephen Hawking

Hawking reached his eighth decade, but was forced to miss a scientific debate to mark his 70th birthday in January 2012 because he was discharged from a hospital only two days earlier. His personal assistant told the Daily Telegraph at the time his speech was getting noticeably slower, sometimes only a word a minute.

As part of the events surrounding his birthday, Hawking gave a rare interview to New Scientist magazine and declared there was still one puzzle left for him. Asked what he thought about most during the day, Hawking replied, "Women. They are a complete mystery."

In earlier interviews, Hawking was frank about his physical restrictions. "I'm sure my disability has a bearing on why I'm well known," he said in an interview with the BBC. "People are fascinated by the contrast between my very limited physical powers, and the vast nature of the universe I deal with.

"I'm the archetype of a disabled genius, or should I say a physically challenged genius, to be politically correct. At least I'm obviously physically challenged. Whether I'm a genius is more open to doubt."

Hawking was married and divorced twice. His first wife, Jane Wilde, was a fellow student at Cambridge to whom he was married for 28 years. He then married his nurse, Elaine Mason, whom he was with for 11 years before they separated.

He is survived by three children from his first marriage, Robert, Timothy and Lucy.

Stephen William Hawking was born Jan. 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He had two younger sisters and an adopted brother.

Stephen William Hawking was born Jan. 8, 1942, in Oxford, England. He had two younger sisters and an adopted brother.

He later said the diagnosis prompted recurring dreams in which he would sacrifice his own life to save others.

"After all, if I were going to die anyway, it might as well do some good," he said. "But I didn't die. In fact, although there was a cloud hanging over my future, I found, to my surprise, that I was enjoying life in the present more than before."

Shortly after earning his PhD, Hawking became a professor at Cambridge, working as a research fellow then a professorial fellow before becoming the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. That same position, which he held from 1979 to 2009, was held by Isaac Newton in 1669.

Hawking was awarded 12 honorary degrees and was elected one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society in 1974. He was later made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1982 and a Companion of  Honor in 1989. He is also a member of the US National Academy of Science and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Hawking's research focused on cosmology and the basic laws of the universe. Along with Roger Pemrose, he applied a new model to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The model showed that space and time are infinite, and they would begin with the Big Bang and end with black holes.

He also concluded that black holes should emit radiation, and that the universe has no edge or boundary in imaginary time.

Hawking was never afraid to voice his opinion, even if it could be considered controversial.
 

Using a mathematical basis, he said he was almost certain that alien life existed in other parts of the universe. "The numbers alone make thinking about aliens perfectly rational," he said. "The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like."

"I believe that life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster such as sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers. I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space."

- Stephen Hawking

Hawking – or his animated lookalike -- appeared on numerous television shows, including "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," "The Big Bang Theory," and "Dilbert." In some instances he appeared as himself, while in others animated characters were created to resemble him. 

A 2014 biopic, “The Theory of Everything,” examined the courtship, marriage and eventual separation of Hawking and his first wife,  Jane. The movie, which was directed by James Marsh, starred British actor Eddie Redmayne as the famous physicist.

In order to communicate, Hawking used a computer system attached to his wheelchair. He used a switch to select words printed on a screen, and as he formed sentences they were sent to a speech synthesizer.

His accent was described as Scandinavian, American, or Scottish. Hawking began using the voice synthesizer in 1985, when he contracted pneumonia and had an emergency tracheotomy.

Adam West has died at age 88

A D A M   W E S T 
( September 19, 1928 - June 9, 2017)

Adam West, the actor who played Batman in the 1960s series, died Friday night in Los Angeles. He was 88 years old. A representative said he died after a short battle with leukemia. West’s portrayal of the superhero and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne, made it hard for him to get other roles. He worked throughout his career, but his options remained limited because of his association with the character. He is survived by his wife Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

[Source: Syfy] The original Caped Crusader has passed away. Adam West, an actor beloved by Batman fans for generations, died on Friday night after a short battle with leukemia. He was 88-years-old.

In a statement this morning, West's family said, "Our dad always saw himself as The Bright Knight, and aspired to make a positive impact on his fans’ lives. He was and always will be our hero."

West rocketed to fame in 1966 when he donned the cape and cowl of Batman on ABC. The show ran for three seasons, becoming a cultural touchstone to fans and a thorn in the side of West's career. The actor struggled to book roles in the following years due to his association with the character.

Despite those struggles, West continued to work throughout his long career in Hollywood, making appearances in TV and movies right up until this year, even returning several times to the character that made him a household name. He published two books, including 1994's Back to the Batcave, which offered a behind the scenes look at the 1960s series.

West's co-stars, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar, who played Robin and Catwoman, respectively, have reached out to express their sadness at the actor's death. Says Ward, "I am devastated at the loss of one my very dearest friends. Adam and I had a special friendship for more than 50 years. We shared some of the most fun times of our lives together. Our families have deep love and respect for each other. This is a terribly unexpected loss of my lifelong friend. I will forever miss him. There are several fine actors who have portrayed Batman in films. In my eyes, there was only one real Batman that is and always will be Adam West. He was truly the Bright Knight."

"He was bright, witty and fun to work with," added Newmar. "I will miss him in the physical world and savor him always in the world of imagination and creativity. He meant so much to people. A friend said: ‘The father that we wanted.’ That is a great gift, no matter how you live it."

West is survived by his wife, Marcelle, six children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Celebrities Dressed for Halloween

Ronda Rousey as Sailor Moon

Rihanna as Rafael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Kim Kardashian as a Skeleton

Katy Perry as a “Cheeto”

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as a Zombie

Jennifer Love Hewitt and boyfriend as “Brangelina”

Iggy Azalea as “Cruella DeVille”

Heidi Klum almost unrecognizable skinless body

Heidi Klum as Goddess Kali

Emma Roberts as “Pretty Woman”

Alessandra Ambrosio as the Queen of Hearts

Katy Perry as Jane Lane and Shannon Woodward as Daria

Amy Schumer Does 'Star Wars'

Amy Schumer Joins the
'Star Wars' Bikini Brigade

[Source: Yahoo!Movies] It only appeared on screen for a grand total of 150 seconds, but even today, the metal-bikini outfit that Princess Leia wore at the beginning of the 1983 Star Wars sequel Return of the Jedi remains a fixture in the pop-culture pantheon. 

Among previous actresses who’ve paid homage to the steely swimsuit: Jennifer Aniston, who wore it during a famous scene in Friends (it was Ross’s fantasy, of course); Olivia Munn, who wore during a live Attack of the Show segment; Yvonne Strahovski, who wore it on the comedy Chuck; and Kim Kardashian who donned it when she was less famous.

Now joining the bikini brigade is Trainwreck writer and star Amy Schumer, who dons the outfit on the cover of the new issue of GQ magazine. The 34-year-old Schumer isn’t just paying homage to Leia in the photo — she’s also seen sucking on one of C-3PO’s metallic fingers. The picture is just one of several highly sexualized Star Wars-themed shots featured in the magazine, more of which can be seen below.

Celebrities Who Look Like Cartoon Characters

Celebrities Who Are Actually Famous 

Cartoon Characters Brought To Life

Like, scarily alike. These actors would be the perfect selections if anyone is making a live action adaptation of any of thee famous cartoons.

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Pinoccolfer

"Glee" star Chris Colfer actually looks a lot like the puppet Pinocchio. The big eyes, thin smile, and rosy cheeks all seem to suggest that Pinocchio's wish to become a real boy really did come true.

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Bene-Butthead and Neil Patrick Beavis

It seems like an odd fit, but you've got to admit that Neil Patrick Harris and Benedict Cumberbatch look a lot like Beavis and Butthead. I've got a feeling the show would be much different if these two took over the roles.

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Daria Plaza

Not only does Aubrey Plaza already look like Daria, but she has proven to be a master of sarcasm and deadpan on "Parks and Recreation." The casting seems so perfect, that Plaza has already done a fake "Daria" movie trailer for CollegeHumor.

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Rapunzel Seyfried

Rapunzel may be voiced by Mandy Moore in the film "Tangled," but her character looks exactly like actress Amanda Seyfried. The big green eyes and long blonde hair are unmistakeable in both women.

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Emma Possible

If they ever make a live action adaptation of "Kim Possible," they need to contact Emma Stone to play the lead role. Not only do her red locks and green eyes match Kim's, but Emma also shares the characters spunky attitude.

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Joseph Gordon-Archer

It's probably not something you've ever thought of, but Joseph Gordon-Levitt could be an excellent choice to play the titular secret agent if there is ever a live action adaptation of "Archer." Of course, Joseph is probably a nicer person than his cartoon counterpart.

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Bryan Flanders

Whether purposeful or not, Cranston's styling in the first season of "Breaking Bad" makes him look just like Flanders.

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Ke$ha Thornberry

Remember Debbie, the cool older sister from "The Wild Thornberrys?" Her rock and roll style is very similar to Ke$ha's. Even Debbie's dialogue sounds exactly like things the pop singer would say.

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Christina Rabbit

Jessica Rabbit embodied sex appeal in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit,"which is also something that Christina Hendricks does in "Mad Men." The red-headed bombshells certainly know how to carry themselves.

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Quvenzhané Susie

Quvenzhané Wallis is the kid everyone in Hollywood is talking about right now. The energetic youngster would be the perfect girl to play Susie in a live action version of "Rugrats."

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Russell Rodriguez

Rico Rodriquez does a great job playing the sympathetic and mature Manny in "Modern Family," but doesn't his character remind you of someone? He looks a lot like Russell from "Up."

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Jasmine Simone

You probably know Hannah Simone from her role on the sitcom "New Girl." The actress, who has Indian and Greek roots, would is a dead ringer for princess Jasmine from "Aladdin."

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Helga Delevigne

Cara Delevigne is the it girl in the fashion industry right now, and has helped make big eyebrows a trend. Of course, the first girl to rock the big brows look was Helga Pataki from "Hey Arnold."

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Janice Versace

Janice may be the most laid back Muppet, but her similarities to the super ambitious designer Donatella Versace cannot be denied. Those prominent lips and long blond hair could make these two sisters.

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Cynthia Cyrus

When Miley revealed her edgy blonde spiky hair and red lips, a lot of people noticed a similarity between her look and Angelica Pickles' beloved doll Cynthia. The "Rugrats" doll may not be outspoken, but Miley sure is.

Who'll play Joker & Harley in SUICIDE SQUAD?

S U I C I D e   S Q u A D

The Suicide Squad (created by John Ostrander and Ryan Scott) is an antihero team of incarcerated supervillains who act as deniable assets for the United States government, undertaking high-risk black ops missions in exchange for commuted prison sentences. The group operates out of Belle Reve Penitentiary, under the directorship of Dr. Amanda Waller. Thus, the Suicide Squad's existence helps to explain why many convicted villains in the D.C. Universe roam free without having heroes tracking them down—until they, inevitably, attempt or commit another crime.

David Ayer's SUICIDE SQUAD will feature the latest incarnation of The Joker. Jared Leto is in talks for a role in Ayer's adapatation, and the prevailing wisdom is that the role he's up for is that of Batman's nefarious archnemesis. 

Isn't it interesting that Ledger won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for THE DARK KNIGHT, and now a newly-minted Best Supporting Actor winner is up for the role? Funny how things work out these days...

Word has it that Margot Robbie (THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, ABOUT TIME) has been cast to play Joker sidekick/girlfriend/henchperson Harley Quinn in the picture.

The film is currently targeting an August 2016 release and should be ramping up pretty quickly.

Hello Kitty's 40th Anniversary

Hello Kitty Celebrates 40th Anniversary

When she came to life in 1974, she was a kitty without a name, sitting sideways in blue overalls and a big red bow, on a coin purse for Japanese girls. On Saturday, fans around the world celebrate the 40th anniversary of this global icon of "cute-cool." That is, Hello Kitty.

Only a handful of characters last so long, especially in Japan, where thousands come and go in a highly competitive market. Hello Kitty has the looks, and more.

"Characters must have certain qualities, like an oversized round face, short limbs and plump body," said economist Takuro Morinaga, an expert on popular culture. "Kitty follows the basics, yet she has a strong personality."

Innovative design and clever marketing also helped expand her fan base around the world, said Christine Yano, anthropologist and author of "Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty's Trek Across the Pacific."

Hello Kitty's company, Sanrio Co., which specializes in designing and making a wide range of products in the booming "cute" business, created her as a character 40 years ago.

According to Sanrio, her real name is Kitty White, born Nov. 1 — no year is given — in the London suburbs. The birthday date was chosen because it is the birthday of her original designer, Yuko Shimizu.

Sanrio strives to keep Hello Kitty ahead of the curve, factoring in social and fashion trends and collaborating with other popular characters and fashion brands. Her basic appearance hasn't changed much, but just about everything else constantly is. Yano said the philosophy of not resting is part of the character's success.

Oct. 30, 2014. A model dressing as Japanese character Hello Kitty greets a guest arriving to take a souvenir photo with her at Sanrio Puroland, a theme park featuring Hello Kitty in Tokyo. (The Associated Press)

"That makes things very fresh, very new," she said in a telephone interview from Boston. "She is always the same but always different."

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THE 70s: A SCHOOLGIRL STAPLE

Made up of just a few simple strokes — two dots for eyes, a tiny circle for a nose and no mouth — Hello Kitty was largely for little girls at the start. Her stationery became a staple gift for schoolgirls. Hello Kitty made her overseas debut in the United States in 1976 before heading to Europe and the rest of Asia. She posed piloting an airplane in 1978 for the opening of Tokyo's Narita International Airport, symbolizing her dream of going global.

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THE 80s: KIDS STUFF NO MORE

Hello Kitty began shaking off her purely childish image and attracting adults. Her outfits and background shifted from bold red, blue and yellow to hues of pink and blue. A black and white Hello Kitty reflected a monotone boom led by Japanese fashion brand Comme des Garcons. Kitty's third and current designer Yuko Yamaguchi took the bold step of removing the black outline around the character. Hello Kitty decorated the popular items of the day, including pagers and hand-held game machines.

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THE 90s: LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER

Some of her original fans started having children, a potential second generation of fans. Sanrio Puroland, a theme park targeting families, opened in the Tokyo suburbs. Designer Yamaguchi created a baby Kitty in 1999 at the request of young mothers. "Kitty-lers," a new breed of grown-ups devoted to the character, became a national phenomenon. A Hello Kitty laptop went on sale, as did a portable karaoke machine amid a karaoke boom. "I'm her peer, and I've been her fan since kindergarten," said 40-year-old Yuko Ishikawa, who gave a big hug Thursday to Hello Kitty at Sanrio Puroland on a visit with her 3-year-old daughter, Hina. "Happy birthday!"

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THE 2000s: THE COOL FACTOR

The growing worldwide popularity of Japanese animation and comics helped Hello Kitty become cool, not just cute — or "cute-cool" as Yano puts it. A new wink gave her greater semantic presence, she said. "It can be taken straight, or ironically, or it can be taken humorously." Sanrio reached out to fans of different fashion tastes, from girly to street and designer brands. In 2008 Hello Kitty donned a Dior collection in Vogue magazine. She also co-branded with Diesel, A Bathing Ape, Undercover, Reebok and Vans, as well as cosmetics makers Crabtree and Evelyn and MAC.

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THE FUTURE: LADY GAGA, SWAROVSKI, WHAT'S NEXT?

Hello Kitty is featured on about 50,000 items in some 130 countries. Lady Gaga has performed in Hello Kitty costumes, and rock band Kiss produced T-shirts last year featuring Hello Kitty in its trademark-Kiss makeup and costumes. A sitting Kitty decorated with 14,000 Swarovski stones sells for 476,280 yen ($470) in Japan. Taiwan's EVA Air launched a Kitty-inspired Airbus A330-300 flight between Taipei and Sapporo in 2011, and Kitty-themed luxury spas have opened in Bangkok and Dubai.

Her future? There will be some ups and downs ahead, Yano says, but "I think it has a presence, a long-lasting presence."

Watch Hello Kitty in English