Saturday 30 April 2011

Steve Carell on last day at 'The Office': 'Everybody was crying'

Steve Carell leaves 'The Office' after 7 seasons

NEW YORK – Scranton regional manager Michael Scott has left "The Office," as long promised, in a fond farewell for the actor who played him, series star Steve Carell.

Carell is leaving the NBC comedy after seven seasons to concentrate on films. But his character left Dunder Mifflin paper supply company after 19 rollicking, unbusiness-like years, bound for Colorado to start a new life with his fiancee, Holly.

On the episode airing Thursday night, the show's full cast of office workers was properly emotional at Michael's departure. This even included Michael's problematic successor, played by guest star Will Ferrell in the third of a four-episode story arc.
NBC has not announced who will permanently fill the large void Carell leaves in the series, which has been renewed for next season. The guessing game has been fueled by news that guest stars in this season's remaining episodes include Jim Carrey, James Spader, Will Arnett and Ray Romano, as well as Ricky Gervais, a creator and star of the original British version.
The extended farewell episode depicted Michael's final workday, which he spent in a bittersweet, often bumbling separation process. Michael — who is inept, inappropriate and forever seeking love and laughs from his employees — wrestled with the gravity of his decision to leave.
He was caught short by a bookkeeping question: Where did he want his last paycheck to be mailed?
"Last paycheck," he murmured, as if the very idea were foreign to him.
In the break room, he drank in the mundane conversation between his soon-to-be-former colleagues.
"I'm going to Carbondale this afternoon to get a new bulk shredder," said Pam (Jenna Fischer).
"Finally!" said Kevin (Brian Baumgartner). "That old shredder sucked."
"It's a good shredder," Pam said. "It just kept breaking."
In a full demonstration of Carell's skill at bringing humanity to this quirky role, Michael's eyes reddened as he listened.
"I can't do this," Michael said a moment later, addressing the camera that captures the action on the series, which is filmed in a make-believe documentary style.
"All the channels are going to be different there," he said, choking up at the monumental challenges awaiting him in Colorado. "I'm not going to be able to find my shows."
But Michael wasn't about to give in to his fears — or let anybody else give in to theirs.
Ever the manager, he dispensed one last measure of unsolicited advice.
"Whether you're scared of dying, or dying alone, or dying drunk in a ditch, don't be," he told his flock reassuringly. "It's going to be OK."
As his going-away gift to colleague Ryan (B.J. Novak), he presented his light-up St. Pauli Girl beer sign with the buxom barmaid.
"She was once my girl, and she's your girl now," Michael said.
"This is totally unnecessary," stammered Ryan, his eyes hypnotically fixated on the sign's eerie blue glow.
Michael waged a final bout of paintball in the parking lot with his combative assistant manager, Dwight (Rainn Wilson).
But, when he was about to lose control in front of sales rep Jim (John Krasinski), he asked, "Why am I so sad?"
Jim guessed that Michael had decided to make his exit that afternoon, rather than stay around another day, as everyone expected.
"I think we should just save our good-byes for tomorrow, at lunch," said Jim, in an effort to spare them both from an emotional display. "Tomorrow, I can tell you what a great boss you turned out to be."
Michael soon left the office with a brisk, "Later, guys." Only Jim knew he was gone for good.
Then, at the airport, Michael removed the wireless mic he has worn for seven seasons of the mockumentary's filming.
"This is gonna feel SO good getting this thing off my chest," he said, returning the mic to the unseen camera crew. Suddenly he went silent as, full of hope for the future, he wheeled his suitcase toward his airline's gate.
 Source:

Steve Carell Ellen DeGeneres emotional exit

Steve Carell on last day at 'The Office': 'Everybody was crying'

Steve Carell didn't expect to be so emotional when he filmed his last episode of "The Office."I was really surprised at how bittersweet it was. Everybody was crying," he tells Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show Monday. "They're my friends. That was the difficult part of it is sort of moving on. I felt like I was a senior and everyone else is a junior and I was graduating."
Carell's finale episode aired Thursday, but was filmed four or five weeks earlier, he said, suggesting that he hasn't been keeping too busy since then.

Friday 29 April 2011

Cars (and carriages) of the Royal Wedding 2011

Cars (and carriages) of the Royal Wedding 2011


The Royal Wedding was a spectcaular event watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world. Most eyes are on the happy couple and their guests, but at MSN Cars as ever we were most concerned by the cars everyone was driving.The British car industry has had a great opportunity to star today, with star appearances from the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Jaguar - so check them all out in our gallery.

Royal Carriage

The happy couple leave Westminster Abbey in the 1902 Royal Landau carriage.

Royal Carriage

The Queen and Prince Philip leave Westminster Abbey in the Scottish State Coach en route for Buckingham Palace.

Royal Carriage

The Queen and Prince Philip leave Westminster Abbey in the Scottish State Coach enroute for Buckingham Palace.

Royal Minibuses

Although the most notable participants in the wedding got to travel by limousine or carriage, the majority of guests actually travelled by more down-to-earth methods such as this fleet of Volkswagen minibuses.

Royal Carriage

The Royal couple en route for Buckingham Palace in the 1902 Royal Landau.

Royal Carriage

The newlyweds arrive at Buckingham Palace.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VI

Kate Middleton and her father Michael arrive at Westminster Abbey.

Rolls-Royce Phantom VI

Kate Middleton and her father Michael arrive at Westminster Abbey.

Rolls-Royce Phantom IV

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Westminster Abbey in a 1950 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

The Princess Royal arrives at Westminster Abbey in a Bentley Continental Flying Spur.

Royal Carriage

In a surprise twist to the day, in mid-afternoon the newlyweds travelled to Clarence House from Buckingham Palace in this Aston Martin DB6 Volante.
The car was given to William's father Prince Charles by the Queen for his 21st birthday in 1969. It has been converted to run on E85 bioethanol made from wine wastage.

Bentley Limousine

Prince William and Prince Harry travel to Westminster Abbey in a Bentley Limousine.

Bentley Limousine

Prince William and Prince Harry travel to Westminster Abbey in a Bentley Limousine.

Bentley Limousine

Prince William and Prince Harry travel to Westminster Abbey in a Bentley Limousine.

Jaguar XJ

David Cameron arrives at Westminster Abbey in his Jaguar XJ.

Various

Two BMW 7 Series' and a Range Rover.

BMW 7 Series

Nick Clegg arrives in a a BMW 7 Series at Westminster Abbey.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rowan Atkinson and his wife Sunetra Sastry arrive at the Royal Wedding in a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Rolls-Royce Phantom

David and Victoria Beckham arrive at the Royal Wedding in a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Jaguar XF

The Jaguar XF carrying Kate Middleton leaves Westminster Abbey in London, following a rehearsal for the Royal Wedding on Thursday April 28 2011.

Source:MSN

Victoria beckham wedding

Victoria Beckham plans perfect wedding outfit

 

Victoria Beckham has reportedly customised one of her own dresses to wear to the royal wedding.
The fashion designer and her soccer star husband David Beckham will be attending the nuptials of Britain’s Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London tomorrow. They have already been spotted at LAX airport in Los Angeles with their three sons as they make their way to the UK for the big day.
While speculation about who will design Kate’s dress has reached fever pitch, fashion fans are equally excited to see what the guests will opt for. Victoria is renowned for her chic appearance and it’s now been confirmed she has opted to wear an outfit from her own line to the ceremony.
“Victoria will be wearing a dress from her own AW11 collection for the wedding accessorised with a Philip Treacy hat and a pair of Louboutin shoes that she collaborated with Christian to customise,” a spokesperson told MailOnline.
Victoria is currently seven months pregnant with a girl and it had been claimed she was having problems picking her outfit. There were suggestions she had as many as 11 different options, but it’s now been claimed she was always intent on wearing one of her own pieces.
© Cover Media
Source : Yahoo News

Lively suffers red carpet wardrobe malfunction

Blake Lively suffers red-carpet wardrobe malfunction

Blake Lively suffered a major wardrobe malfunction at a red-carpet event in New York on Tuesday night when a photographer stepped on her dress and ripped the train off.

The "Gossip Girl" star was attending the Time 100 gala at Manhattan venue Jazz at Lincoln Center, celebrating her inclusion in the magazine's Most Influential List, when snapper Patrick McMullan accidentally trod on the bottom of her blue Zuhair Murad  gown, tearing off the chiffon train.
Martha Stewart was the first to notice that the photographer was the culprit, according to New York Magazine. "Patrick!" she said. "Give her back her train!" McMullan then turned around and exclaimed, "Oh, I seem to have stepped on some lady's train!"

Kate Middleton Bouquet

USMagazine, Friday, April 29, 2011, 7:29am (PDT)
From her impeccable Alexander McQueen gown to her Cartier tiara, Duchess Catherine Middleton pulled out all the stops to accessorize for her Friday nuptials to Prince William.
When it came to her bridal bouquet, Middleton, 29, enlisted designer Shane Connolly, the florist who decked out their Westminster Abbey venue with eight maple trees.
 Comprised of a shield-shaped wired bouquet of myrtle, lily-of-the-valley and hyacinth, the bouquet "draws on the traditions of flowers of significance for the Royal Family, the Middleton family and on the Language of Flowers," according to a statement released on
the Official Royal Wedding Web site.
As a nod to her new husband, Middleton included 'sweet William' blooms. Keeping with royal tradition, stems from a myrtle planted by Queen Victoria in 1845 were also added.
Middleton's bouquet was a stark contrast to that of the late Princess Diana, William's mother. For her 1981 nuptials to Prince Charles, Diana selected a cascading arrangement of three orchid varities.
After celebrating with her new husband Friday, Middleton is expected to leave her bouquet on the grave of the First World War soldier, a tradition started by the Queen Mother in 1923.

Kate Middleton Sister

The younger sister of would-be queen Kate Middleton has been snubbed at fashion parade by Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew's daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. 

 Pippa Middleton, the 23-year-old sister of Prince William's long-time girlfriend Kate, was at a Issa fashion show when the young Princesses refused to make room for her in the front row, the Daily Mail reports.
The younger Middleton has become somewhat of a fixture on the social circuit and hosted some of the hottest parties in London.
"One of the organisers asked Beatrice and Eugenie if they could move up but they refused," a witness told the Mail.
"Photographers were taking pictures of Pippa who was getting redder by the second — in the end she had to find another seat that wasn't in the front row."
It's believed the quarrel began when Beatrice, 20, was left off the invite list to a recent charity roller-skate disco held by Pippa's sister Kate.

World’s yummiest gourmet festivals

Attracting all culinary creators and appreciators alike, food festivals are an excellent place to expand one’s mind and palette.

Here is a list of 10 epicurean dream expeditions celebrating foods from every culture throughout the globe.

Hokitika Wildfood Festival, New Zealand

For over two decades, this gourmet extravaganza has tested even the most adventurous palettes. Featuring exotic dishes like wasp larvae ice cream and barbequed Huhu grubs, the Hokitika Wildfood Festival draws a massive crowd each year. Other delectable on the menu include: possum, earthworms, sweetbreads, amidst scenic mountains, glaciers, rivers and rainforest.

Maine Lobster Festival, US

20,000 pounds of the burning orange crustaceans served over five days. Taking place on the small coastal town of Rocklands, the Maine Lobster Festival commemorates the townspeople's largest export.

The International White Truffle Festival, Italy

One of the most decadent dates on the culinary calendar, the International White Truffle Festival is held annually between September and December. The world's most celebrated chefs gather to showcase their mastery with the lavish white truffles, and the other highlight of the event is an auction that sells the fungi off at thousands of dollars a piece!

Good Food and Wine Show, South Africa

One of the largest food celebrations in the world, the Good Food and Wine Show showcase is held across 3 cities in South Africa - Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg. Known for its educational traits, the Chef-in-Action theatres offer culinary classes to aspiring sous-chef. Another show highlight at the event is the National Barista Championships

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, Australia

Celebrating Victoria's vibrant food and wine culture, and entering its 19th year (in 2011), expect to find many major culinary and wine experts, and locally celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers and food artisans at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Iceland Food and Fun Festival, Iceland

The Iceland Food and Fun Festival features visiting chefs from other countries collaborating with local host restaurants to prepare some of their signature dishes. On the final day of the festivities, competition hits fever pitch with chefs vying for the title of "Chef of the Year, by creating a winning three-course Icelandic meal

Kate's Wedding Dress

Kate Middleton's dress revealed

Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton. The Alexander McQueen designer created the ivory gown with lace applique floral detailing and a 2.7 metre train, as well as Kate's ivory duchesse satin and lace shoes. The skirt was handmade by the royal school of needlework at Hampton Court. The lace design was hand-engineered using Carickmacross lace making techniques developed in Ireland in the 1820s. The individual flowers - thistles, roses, daffodils and shamrocks - were hand-cut from Chantilly lace and engineered onto ivory silk tulle. Kate wore a diamond Cartier tiara - loaned by Queen Elizabeth - and long veil with her hair pinned up at the front, flowing into soft curls at the back. Her earrings, diamond-set stylised oak leaves designed by Robinson Pelham, were a gift from parents Michael and Carole. The bride-to-be kept her flowing gown virtually hidden as she made her way to Westminster Abbey, with only parts of her flowing train visible as she and her father Michael Middleton got into their car to travel to her wedding. William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth wore an Angela Kelly primrose dress with hand-sewn beading and matching hait, accessorised with Queen Mary's true lovers knot brooch. Kate's mother Carole Middleton was a hit in the fashion stakes, wearing a Catherine Walker-designed sky blue wool crepe coat dress with satin piping and Jane Corbett hat. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall teamed her Anne Valentine champagne blue silk dress and hand-embroidered coat with an eye-catching Philip Treacy hat and bronze Jimmy Choo shoes. In total, the milliner designed hats for 35 members of the royal families, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Queen Anna-Marie of Greece and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.

Cam Newton Panthers

Cam Newton goes to Carolina Panthers with first pick in NFL draft

Pros: On quarterback draws, Newton shows a command of play-action, and he hits gaps very quickly. Extremely impressive burst in the open field — he has a second gear that he can turn on at any time. Glides past defenders like a big receiver more than a running back — his size (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) speaks to that. Uses his quick feet to redirect in space before defenders can catch up to his moves. Nifty footwork in the pocket; Newton doesn't fall apart before rolling out like a lot of more mobile quarterbacks. 

Throwing motion is over the top, but there is a slight lag that will need to be worked out. Newton's superior rushing skills makes play-action devastating in the Auburn offense and makes him particularly tough to deal with in the Pistol formation. Obviously, he's great when throwing on the move — he keeps his looks downfield as he extends the play. Newton has a huge arm and can make every throw. He has good arc on bombs and outstanding velocity on stick throws.
Related: Draft pundits weigh in on first round's winners/losers
Cons: As a thrower, Newton doesn't always spring back in his dropbacks to optimal throwing setup, leading to inaccurate arm throws. Used to taking one read before throwing or running — perhaps two at most — leading to questions about the time it would take to get him prepared to play in a multiple-read offense.
What does he bring to the team?: Newton has a few fixable mechanical issues. He doesn't have any obvious idiosyncrasies to his game; no odd motions and his upfield speed is a wonder to behold. The real questions about Newton come from the things one can't always see on the field — football I.Q., ability to make every read consistently, and ability to take snap after snap under center.
These are the same questions that have dogged every option quarterback trying to transition to a pro-style offense, but Newton has advantages that his predecessors didn't. First, while most spread-offense quarterbacks had noodle arms, Newton can air it downfield as well as any quarterback at any level. Second, with the number of shotgun snaps increasing by over 300 percent in the last decade, those quarterbacks who played in these types of offenses aren't doomed.
In 2008, current Buffalo Bills head coach Chan Gailey employed the Pistol offense with former college spread quarterback Tyler Thigpen to great effect, and in 2009, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger ran the triple option with Vince Young at quarterback — the result was an incredible offense in which running back Chris Johnson gained over 2,000 yards on the ground. If Newton finds himself on the right NFL teamhe could reinvent the position of quarterback in the NFL by becoming the first read-and-run field general to succeed year after year.
Newton is as talented as any quarterback of this type has ever been. But will the Panthers meet him halfway, and is he ready for the transition?
Is it the right pick? In the long term, perhaps. But it's a curious move when the team has little in the way of receiving talent, and Jimmy Clausen(notes) was picked in the second round last year. It sends a clear message that the Ron Rivera Panthers will be a run-heavy team, and Newton can use his familiarity with read and run, option, and Pistol stuff to make that offense very interesting.
Source: Yahoo Sports

Lady Gaga Throws Royal Party

Lady Gaga celebrated the end of her 'Monster's Ball' tour with a royal wedding-themed party on Wednesday
Lady Gaga threw a royal wedding-themed party to mark the end of her tour.
The eccentric singer marked the end of her 'Monster's Ball' tour on Wednesday (27.04.11) by throwing a huge bash inspired by today's (29.04.11) nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton for
her friends, family and crew in Cleveland, Ohio.
According to insiders, the 'Judas' singer decorated the venue with Union Jack bunting and served her guests - including her mother Cynthia - traditional English fare such as cucumber sandwiches, coronation chicken and crumpets with jam, with gin cocktails served in royal mugs.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'Gaga had the time of her life - on occasion she was even talking in a London accent.
'Her attention to detail was impressive. She had a special room decorated backstage in British flags and bunting and everyone was told to work the royal look.'
Gaga, 25, dressed up as William's great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother, in what was described as a 'unique interpretation' of the royal, while her entourage were also creative in their costumes.

Dress designer Sarah Burton

5 Things You Don't Know About Designer Sarah Burton

dress designer Sarah Burton 
No doubt about it, Kate Middleton's wedding dress will be talked about for years to come, so it's no surprise that the 29-year-old princess-to-be will be looking to make a huge statement. With that said, choosing the McQueen fashion house "would be a daring choice for the conservative bride-to-be," reported the Guardian. Here's the scoop on Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen.

No doubt about it, Kate Middleton's wedding dress will be talked about for years to come, so it's no surprise that the 29-year-old princess-to-be will be looking to make a huge statement. With that said, choosing the McQueen fashion house "would be a daring choice for the conservative bride-to-be," reported the Guardian. Here's the scoop on Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen.
1. She had Alexander McQueen's special attention. Burton had held this role since May 2010. The designer started out as an intern at the label in 1996, returned post-grad, and was appointed head of womenswear in 2000. From then on, she was McQueen's right-hand woman until his death in February 2010.
2. She's already gaining industry fans. The Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear show during September 2011 Paris Fashion Week marked her first complete collection at her new post.
3. She has designed for a royal before. The Daily Telegraph reported that, "[Burton's] work is said to have caught Miss Middleton's eye when she designed an off-the-shoulder wedding dress for Sara Buys, a fashion journalist who married Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall, in 2005."
4. Her designs have also been spotted across the pond. Burton designed the red silk organza Alexander McQueen gown that Michelle Obama wore to the state dinner for Chinese president Hu Jintao earlier this year.
5. She's creating some buzz. On April 19, Women's Wear Daily reported that Burton is the newest name to be in the running for John Galliano's replacement at Dior.

Wednesday 27 April 2011

Mel B will judge Australian X Factor

Mel B is to become a judge on the Australian 'X Factor'.
 The former Spice Girls singer - who is due to give birth to her first child with husband Stephen Belafonte in June or July - will be replacing radio DJ Kyle Sandilands on the panel for the talent search show.
With filming commencing just weeks after the 35-year-old star is due to give birth, Mel will be joining
Boyzone star Ronan Keating and Australian singer Guy Sebastian in the hot seats.
She said: 'I love Australia and can't wait to see all the amazing talent the country has to offer.'
Meanwhile, the fourth and final judge - who will replace 'Torn' hitmaker Natalie Imbruglia - is yet to be announced, but it is widely rumoured former 'Neighbours' actress Natalie Bassingthwaighte will assume the role.
Mel - who also has two daughters, Phoenix, 12, and Angel, four, from previous relationships and is currently based in Los Angeles - recently hinted she would be taking over from Cheryl Cole on the UK version of the show.
The 35-year-old star said: 'I think I might be coming over for quite some time at some point next year. Well, I'm not going by myself, am I? The whole family is going to move, I think.
'I don't think I was meant to say that though. Oh sorry, pregnant brain, maybe that was a secret.'
Girls Aloud singer Cheryl is leaving her position on the British version to take a judging role on the upcoming US version along with show boss Simon Cowell.

iPhone 6 Rumors

iPhone 5 Rumors Give Way to iPhone 6 Rumors

We've heard a lot of rumors about the iPhone 5 lately, from camera specs to release dates to ultra-thin mockups. But if you think you know all the scuttlebutt about Apple's future plans, you're not looking far enough ahead.

Already, the rumor mill is churning for the iPhone 6--no, seriously. According to Japan's Nikkan newspaper, the iPhone 6 will feature a new kind of LCD display with "low-temperature polysilicon" technology, allowing for a lighter, thinner phone that consumes less power than its predecessors. (Expect Apple to call it the "Insanely Great Super Retina Display" or something similar.)

As AppleInsider explains, a so-called "p-Si LCD" allows manufacturers to put optical sensors, signal processors and other circuits directly on the glass substrate. This would save space inside the phone body by reducing the size of the display's thin-film transistor.

Sharp will reportedly begin mass production of the screens next spring, ahead of the iPhone 6 launch in 2012.

But that's all there is to report for now, and I would strongly advise against worrying about what kind of phone Apple is going to release in a year and a half, or whenever the iPhone 6 arrives. This industry's moving fast, and promises of "thinner, lighter and faster" don't amount to much.

Having said that, if the iPhone 7 doesn't create holograms, levitate, teleport, and cook my dinner, I'm going to be hugely disappointed.

Glee filming in Central Park

It's the pictures which will make you go 'aww' as the 'Glee' cast film their new episode at Central Park.
Central Park, the place where hit TV series 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S' took inspiration from, for the cafe Central Perk, has been taken over by the 'Glee' cast members! From the pictures you can tell Spring checks in and stars Cory Monteith and Lea Michele take a happy stroll through the park.

Cory earlier on had tweeted: "The New York mashup we are doing today will probably make your head explode. so awesome. #gleeinNYC." Ooh, we can't wait!
This happy news came after an extra had been fired after she rattled to a friend, which led to a Twitter outburst and spoiler alert. The extra named Nicole Crowther had divulged some crucial plotlines about the show's prom episode and the show's executive producer, Brad Falchuk tweeted to Nicole: "Hope you're qualified to do something besides work in entertainment." Ack. Since then, Nicole has been banned from all agencies in Hollywood.