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David Fincher is one of the most brilliant and talented directors working in film today. Love him or hate him, his array of incredible work speaks for itself. Don't like the graphic violence of Fight Club or Se7en? You might love the romance, power, and morality of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Couldn't get into Gone Girl? Try watching Zodiac or The Game. If all else fails, The Social Network tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg - one of the greatest minds of our generation. This guy's filmography is awe inspiring.

Fincher is an incredibly strong-willed director. He once said, "People will say, 'There are a million ways to shoot a scene,' but I don't think so. I think there are two, maybe. And the other one is wrong." His unique style of filmmaking works for him, so who are we to judge?

David Fincher has truly done it all, from commercials to propaganda videos, to music videos, to anti-smoking ads. And of course, he's directed some of the best films of the last few decades. If you want to learn more about the man who made some of your favorite movies, we've put together a list of answers for you! We've got trivia, quotes, stories, and anecdotes about David Fincher and his filmmaking style. Check out the most interesting fun facts about David Fincher below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.

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His Goal is to Make a Very Specific Type of Cinematographic Experience
David Fincher is one of those rare directors where you can see a trailer and before the credits role you know exactly who directed the film. Heck most times you can see a single frame and know it's Fincher. His goal is very different than most directors that seek escapism in their viewers. Fincher's is to make them "feel uncomfortable."

"Entertainment has to come hand in hand with a little bit of medicine. Some people go to the movies to be reminded that everything's okay. I don't make those kinds of movies."

Source: Biography.com
Fincher Always Intended for Fight Club to Be a Comedy
David Fincher originally intended for Fight Club to be a comedy, although many didn't see it that way. Roger Ebert himself called it "cheerfully fascist," "a celebration of violence," and "macho porn."

Fincher said to his critics, "I've always thought people would think the film was funny. It’s supposed to be satire. A dark comedy."

Source: Biography.com
He Grew Up Making Movies
By the time Fincher was 8 years old, he was already making movies on the 8mm camera he received for his birthday. Throughout high school, he produced a local television new show. At 19, he began working professionally at ILM.

Source: Independent.Co.Uk
He Considers Himself a Director, Regardless of the Medium
Fincher has shot propaganda films, commercials, a myriad of music videos, and incredible feature films, but he doesn't consider himself above or below anything in the world of directing.

"I do music videos. I do commercials. I would do live theatre. I would do musicals. I would do the opening of the Olympics. I live to try new stuff. I don't think of doing a television commercial as slumming. I don't think of doing a music video as slumming. It's different muscles."

Source: Independent.Co.Uk
Young David Fincher Really Looked Up to George Lucas
As a boy, David Fincher grew up in Marin County, CA. He used to visit every film set that rolled into town - including the set of George Lucas' American Graffiti. Lucas actually lived a few doors down from Fincher and his family, and eventually gave Fincher a job working at ILM.

Source: Biography.com
The 1990 MTV Movie Awards Were His to Win
Back in 1990, MTV used to actually play music videos. No seriously, it was a real thing that happened, and mattered a whole lot to the music community. Music videos were super expensive, and often had feature-film sized budgets. Needless to say, the MTV Music Video Awards were a pretty big deal. David Fincher was nominated in 1990 for best director of three out of the four videos nominated for the prestigious award.

His direction of Madonna's "Vogue" music video won by a landslide.

Source: Wikipedia
His Work at ILM Helped Shape Him as a Director
Fincher worked on a number of huge, genre-defining films during his time at Industrial Light and Magic (such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Return of the Jedi). "It was a great film school," he jokes.

ILM definitely helped shape his vision - the independent work that Fincher produced after his time at ILM would become his trademark as a director. He also worked on propaganda films and American Cancer Society anti-smoking ads, including the incredibly dark, edgy, smoking ad featuring a fetus puffing on a cigarette.

Source: Biography.com

He Always Re-Uses Actors He Trusts
Like Wes Anderson, and Tim Burton, David Fincher is known in Hollywood for working with the same actors over and over again. It only makes sense - once a director knows the actors' style, it's much easier to hire the same person again than to take a chance on an unknown. That's why Fincher has worked with Brad Pitt three times, Jared Leto twice, and Holy McCallany twice.

Jodie Foster was originally supposed to be Sean Penn's part in The Game, but she was unavailable. She went on to star in his 2002 thriller, Panic Room, instead.

Source: FrenchToastSunday.Com
He Saved the Original Ending of Se7en
The screenwriter of Se7en, Andrew Kevin Walker, was a first time screenwriter when he managed to get his script in to New Line. He apparently cold-called writer David Koepp and asked him for his help. New Line, o course, loved the script, but hated the now-infamous "What's in the box?" ending. After a few drafts, Walker changed the ending.

In comes David Fincher, ready to save the day - and the ending of the movie. He was fresh off Alien 3, and wasn't planning on directing another film ever again because of the negative experience he had. He read Walker's screenplay and loved it - including the severed-head ending. He lobbied to get the film made, and managed to keep the proper ending intact.

Source: MovieFone

No One Hates Alien 3 More Than David Fincher
David Fincher was fired from directing Alien 3 three times. He just couldn't get the studio heads to see eye-to-eye with him about the cost of production.

He said, "There were a lot of enormously talented people working on that movie. When a movie starts from a unified concept, and once you've unified the concept, it becomes very easy to see the things you're not going to spend money on. And if a movie is constantly in flux because you're having to please this vice-president, or that vice-president of production... I think a movie set is a fascist dictatorship - you have to go in and know what it is you want to do, because you have to tell 90 people what it is you want to do, and it has to be convincing. Otherwise, when they start to question it, the horse can easily run away with you and it's bigger than you are."

Fincher also went on to talk about how much he hates Alien 3 as a film. "If a movie gets off on a wrong foot, when you've never done it before you assume everyone is going to be there to help you right the ship, but really you're beholden to a lot of banana republics. I worked on it for two years, got fired off it three times and I had to fight for every single thing. No one hated Alien 3 more than me; to this day, no one hates it more than me. It was a baptism by fire."

Source: IMDB

15 Little Known Facts About Prostitution in America

Prostitution in the US is a complicated economy, drawing in pimps, sex workers, clients, police, and a number of other professions. While many of the details regarding the sex work industry are difficult to confirm, recent studies have pulled back the curtain on a secretive world that operates on the edge.

Research published in the last few years regarding prostitution and human trafficking statistics reveals that what we thought we knew about both sex workers and their pimps needs to be adjusted. For example, most pimps have at least a high school education - and many people involved in sex work were brought into it via family members. It's also hard to overstate how much the Internet has changed the nature of prostitution.

Here some facts about prostitution in America that most people haven't heard - and that will change they way you view the world's oldest profession.

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Craigslist Isn't the Trove of Prostitution You Think It Is
While Craigslist makes up about 13.9 percent of “adult services” listings, the classified site is easily trumped by Backpage.com, a paid service with an extensive adult services section for posting classifieds. While Craigslist removed explicit adult ads in 2010 (they're still there, just more hidden), Backpage continues to run them in the open. In July 2015, both Visa and MasterCard cut ties with the site because of its continued offering of adult ads.

Most Pimps Don't Fear Arrest
Despite the risk of arrest and assault by other pimps, many pimps find the job to be fairly safe. Traffickers and child pornography offenders alike believed that their crimes were low-risk, even with the threat of prosecution and prison time. Multiple pimps, some of whom had actually served time, expressed that "no one actually gets locked up for pimping" and found their time in jail to be short.

Pimps Aren't Happy with How They're Portrayed in Media
According to the Urban Institute study, most pimps believe that the media's portrayals of their profession exaggerate the violence they use to keep women in line. Some even see the term "pimp" itself as derogatory, preferring to see themselves as "part of the urban lifestyle" or businessmen providing a service. Despite these grievances, most admit to the occasional use of physical abuse for punishment - along with psychological coercion.

Nevada's Reputation for Legal Prostitution is Overstated
One of the most famous legal brothels in the world, The Moonlite Bunny Ranch, is in Nevada. It's a legitimate business, housing sex workers in fairly nice conditions and paying well - but prostitution is not legal in all of Nevada. Regulated brothels are allowed in eight counties, but streetwalking isn't. This means all of those cards shoved into your hand on the Vegas Strip advertising sex at all hours are in service of an illegal enterprise.

Pimps Travel on a Dedicated Circuit
Most pimps don't stay in one city, but move on a circuit of cities, whether in a state, region, or nationally. They tend to move in regular intervals, on regular paths, going to the same cities at regular times.This ensures that their regular customers always know when they'll be in town, and what sex workers will be available. The most profitable circuit seems to be in the South, involving Miami and Atlanta.

Sex Work Generates More Money Than Drugs and Illegal Guns Combined
In many American cities, more cash is transacted through the sex industry than is moved through drug and gun industries combined, according to a study by the Urban Institute. Atlanta "leads" the way in with a sex trade net worth of $290 million annually. Miami's is worth $235 million and Washington, D.C.'s is worth $103 million. This includes everything from actual street prostitution to massage parlors and escorts.
Many Women Find Sex Work Through Their Family
Almost a third of respondents to the Urban Institute study reported that a family member, male or female, exposed them to the sex trade at a young age, normalizing their own participation.

70 Percent of Pimps Have Graduated from High School
The Urban Institute study found that among pimps, nearly 70 percent either had a high school diploma or had attended college for some time. Many are violent men, but most aren't stupid. Likewise, many women stayed in sex work, or went back after they left, because of a lack of opportunity - not a lack of education.

Pimps Have Secretaries
While it's illegal, harmful to women, and destructive, there's also no doubt that the sex trade benefits people who have nothing to do with the actual services provided. Pimps often employ secretaries, child-care workers, household staff, marketers, security, and drivers who have little contact with sex workers other than as support. The Urban Institute study revealed that a quarter of pimps employed staff members to take care of daily life tasks.

Undercover Vice Cops Don't Have to Identify Themselves
Contrary to urban legend, a cop doesn't have to out themselves if you ask them if they're a cop. Understandably, this would make undercover operations nearly worthless. Officers in uniform usually have to identify themselves as police, but every police jurisdiction has different rules and requirements.

For example, the Seattle Police Department stipulates that officers have to identify themselves as police, except when an investigation is jeopardized, a police function is hindered, or there is a safety consideration. Posing as a prostitute's client would qualify for all these cases.

Love him or hate him, Barack Obama is a fascinting man. Before he even became a senator, he'd already lived a pretty action-packed life. Obama has one of those badass rags-to-riches stories that you only hear about in movies. As a kid, he moved around a lot, but eventually settled down as a young adult and went to law school, after which he became a senator. As we all know, he was then elected President of the United States in 2008, and became the first black President in the nation.

Obama truly is a man of many firsts. His presidency completely redefined our country, for better or for worse. He managed to reform the health care system forever, pull us away from the brink of a second Great Depression, repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, give his support for gay marriage, improve veteran benefits, use special forces to find and assassinate Osama Bin Laden, save the American auto industry, clean up the BP spill, implement Wall Street reform, and lead a campaign alongside his wife to raise awareness for childhood obesity.

But who is Barack Obama? What was his (very interesting) childhood like? What was he doing before the White House? What awards has he won? What does he like to do in his spare time? We've poured through Barack Obama's biographies and history to bring you these stories, quotes, and anecdotes about the 44th President of the United States. Check out this list of fun facts about Barack Obama below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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He's Eligible for Membership into The Sons of the American Revolution
Barack Obama has at least 14 ancestors that qualify him and his daughters to be included in the Sons of the American Revolution, a non-profit organization with the goal of "maintaining and extending the institutions of American freedom, an appreciation for true patriotism, a respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship, and the unifying force of e pluribus unum that has created, from the people of many nations, one nation and one people."

Basically, it's like being the ultimate patriot, and you have to have the right ancestors to get in.

Source: Suite.io

He's an Avid Comic Book Fan
Growing up, Barack Obama was an avid collector of Marvel comics. He especially loved Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian. Marvel got wind of this and decided to put him on the cover of The Amazing Spider-Man. The first issue sold out within minutes, and so did the next four special edition Obama issues, each with a different cover.

He's also been featured in Savage Dragon, Youngblood, Bomb Queen, Archie, and Ash & the Evil Dead.

Source: Museum of Uncut Funk

He's the First President Ever to Use Social Media
Not only was Barack Obama the first President of the United States to use social media, he was ALL over it! He had accounts with YouTube, Myspace, Fickr, Twitter, and Facebook. Although this seems like the standard issue now, back in 2008, when he was first elected, this was totally revolutionary. Having a social media page was a more personal experience then. Although he's since ditched the Myspace, his Twitter account remains active as ever.

Source: The Guardian
He's a Best-Selling Author, as Well as a Millionaire
President Barack Obama is worth an estimated $12.2 million. He only makes $400,000 a year as President, which might sound like a lot, but compare that to what an athlete or a super model makes each year and it isn't very much. When he was a senator, he made about $162k per year. A huge portion of his wealth actually comes from his three very successful books. He's sold over 4,650,000 copies of Dreams from My Father, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, and Of Thee I Sing. He still receives royalty checks from all copies sold.

Source: The Daily Beast

He Comes From a Huge Family
Barack Obama Sr. and Onyango Obama (President Obama's father and grandfather, respectively), both came from a culture where having multiple wives was a fairly standard practice. Obama Sr. had four wives, plus a mistress, and between them had eight known children. Onyango Obama had five wives and five children. Basically, President Obama was never short of siblings and cousins!

After their divorce, Obama's mother remarried to a man named Lolo Soetoro, and together they had another four children. This means that Obama had 12 siblings and half-siblings total.

Source: Family of Barack Obama
His 2008 Campaign Had a Myspace Page
Back in the day, when Barack Obama was just a senator in Illinois, he had his very own Myspace page. When he announced his candidacy, his page totally took off. His paralegal friend, Joe Anthony, had been personally running the page, but when Obama landed around 160k friends, the campaign decided that they were better off taking over.

Source: ABC News

He Worked a Number of Odd Jobs When He Was Young
Many Presidents (and Presidential candidates) come from fairly wealthy backgrounds. Just look at the Kennedy's, the Roosevelt's, and the Bush's, to name a few. Obama was certainly not one of the wealthiest Presidents the United States has ever seen. His first four jobs were minimum wage, and he worked long hours doing construction, painting houses, waiting tables at an assisted living facility, and even scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

Source: CNN Money
He Was a Talented High School Basketball Player
In high school, Obama was a talented basketball player. He even earned the nickname "O'Bomber" out on the court. When he moved into the White House, he kept up his game as a way to work out and stay fit. He's also been known to fill out a final four bracket every year! But according to Obama, his days of being an awesome b-baller are far behind him.

“I was never great, but I was a good player and I could play seriously, now I’m one of these old guys who’s running around. The guys I play with -- who are all a lot younger -- they sorta pity me and sympathize with me. They tolerate me, but we all know I’m the weak link on the court and I don’t like being the weak link.”

Source: Huffington Post

He's a Nobel Prize Winner
Being the leader of the free world is an experience that only a handful of people in history have been able to achieve. Winning a Nobel Prize is another rare, but extremely valuable, accomplishment. Obama won the Nobel Prize in 2009 for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."

Source: CBS News

His First Name Is a Common Word in Swahili
Have you ever wondered where the name "Barack" comes from? His first name is Swahili, and it means "blessed." His middle name, Hussein, is Arabic, and translates to "handsome one." The name Obama is a Kenyan surname meaning "slightly bent."

Source: Baby Names Meaning

17 Crazy Interesting Facts About Dopamine

What does dopamine do? Well, at the most basic level, everything you think, do, and are is basically part of one big chemical reaction. That's not an altogether comfortable thought for some people - but it's the science. It's hard to deny when you start looking into incredible brain chemicals and neurotransmitters like dopamine.

Most people have heard of dopamine; in pop culture, it's generally considered "your brain's natural heroin." That kind of trivia stuff is both true and... not quite true. It's true in the sense that heroin and many other drugs increase the dopamine levels in your brain, and that's a big part of the high. But the fact is, in its natural setting, this amazing molecule is responsible for far, far more than inspiring all the best Stone Temple Pilot albums. The dopamine facts below will explain.

Dopamine inspires a lot of things we do; it's the reward our brain gives us when we're doing something useful, like learning a bunch of dopamine trivia! See if you can feel that little chemical hit yourself while you're learning about one of the most important biological chemicals in your body.
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Emotions Only Last About Two Months
Just as it only takes two months to kick a habit, emotional highs and lows last about the same length of time. Because your brain maintains a more or less set balance of dopamine and receptor cells (through up-regulation and down-regulation), the highs and lows of emotion can only last so long.

This (along with oxytocin levels) is responsible for that blissfully happy, two to three month "Honeymoon Period" new couples usually get. It's also the reason why it takes us about two months to get over the constant sadness of a breakup.
It Only Takes Two Months to Kick Any Habit
There's a downside and an upside to addiction. The downside is, it sucks, and a lot of it is due to dopamine receptor cell down-regulation. The upside is... those cells DO grow back, after you stop doing whatever it is that's flooding your synapses. Assuming you've got all the right vitamins and minerals, dopamine receptors can be back up to full strength in four to eight weeks. So, if you can deal with life being kind of crappy for that long, you can kick almost any habit forever.
Drugs Trap Dopamine, They Don't Release It
There is a common misunderstanding that recreational drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines, morphine, and opiates cause the release of dopamine. But that isn't exactly true.

When dopamine goes into your synapses, some of it bonds to receptors, and the rest gets absorbed back into the original cell. This "re-uptake" system is like an airport conveyor belt that keeps your synapses from flooding with dopamine, triggering massive down-regulation of receptors. These drugs are "selective dopamine re-uptake inhibitors," meaning they BLOCK the "out" door on the conveyor belt and keep dopamine in the synapse. You're still producing roughly the same amount of dopamine - it's just getting trapped in the synapse.
Lots of Foods and Vitamins Boost Dopamine
You can eat all the bananas and algae you want, but the pure dopamine in them will never get to your brain, because it can't cross the blood/brain barrier.But the chemical precursors your brain needs to produce dopamine DO cross over. These precursors are primarily the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine, and L-DOPA. Phenylalanine can be found in spinach and leafy greens, milk, eggs, chicken, liver, beef, and soybeans. You can get tyrosine from dairy products, chicken, turkey, fish, bananas, avocados, lima beans, soy products, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and peanuts. L-DOPA comes from velvet beans and broad beans.
It Scares Away Snails
That's right: snails, slugs and all things slimy. Dopamine, exactly as it's found in your brain, occurs in a lot of plants. Red and yellow bananas contain massive amounts of the stuff - the highest concentrations found in nature. There is also a species of marine algae that's 4.4% dopamine by weight.

Being a diuretic, dopamine (specifically its precursor, L-DOPA) is deadly to snails, slugs, and other things you can kill with salt. Like salt, dopamine makes them secrete water and dry out. Let that be a lesson to all you snail enthusiasts out there:don't feed your pets bananas, marine algae, or human midbrains.
It Makes You Pee More and Weigh Less
Yep - that's a thing. Dopamine is a diuretic, which causes your body to try to get rid of both salt and water. In the modeling and pro bodybuilding worlds, diuretics are often used heavily a day or so before stage time to drop "water weight," thinning out the skin and increasing the appearance of muscle tone. In crazy high doses, this can lead to severe dehydration, but dopamine usually won't do that. However, the weight loss isn't just water. Dopamine also plays an important role in the pancreas and insulin production, helping to burn sugar faster and keep your metabolism high.
You Can Only Stay SO Happy
It's true: happiness truly is fleeting, and you do build up a tolerance to it. In fact, dopamine is actually poisonous to its own receptors. Meaning, if you get too much of it in your synapses, the receptors "die" (or "down-regulate), which reduces the amount of dopamine absorbed.

Then you aren't as happy, dopamine levels go down, and the receptors grow back ("up-regulate"). In the end, this means that all the money and stuff in the world can never make you happier than your first chocolate chip cookie.
It's NOT Your Body's "Natural Morphine"
Contrary to popular belief, Dopamine is not an endorphin (natural opiates produced by your pituitary gland). Endorphins trigger the release of dopamine (among other things), which is part of where the feel-good comes from. But dopamine itself is a neurochemical, which stays in your brain instead of floating around the body.
It's Addictive
Any chemical involved in your brain's reward circuits can be addictive; the positive feelings you get from your reward circuits are some of the best sensations in life. But dopamine (and the drugs that modulate it) are addictive for a whole different reason. Once down-regulation occurs in receptors, you need more and more dopamine to feel normal. This is one (if not the primary) mechanism of addiction.
It's the Dope of Hope, Not Happiness
Technically speaking, dopamine doesn't actually make you "happy." Dopamine's job is to work on your reward circuits by encouraging you to keep doing whatever you're doing. Dopamine doesn't tell you something good IS happening; it tells you something good is ABOUT to happen. It's a drug of anticipation, not reward. Dopamine is either giddy excitement on a good day, or hope to keep you going on the bad days.

Ellen DeGeneres is everywhere these days, and it's no surprise why. On top of being an impossibly likable TV personality, she's also a stand-up comedian, an actress, a record label owner, and an award winning artist and author. She's hosted the Emmys and the Academy Awards, and has won 13 Emmys and 14 People's Choice Awards. She's a true comedy powerhouse, and she's been a household name for over three decades.

But who is Ellen DeGeneres? What's her regular, day-to-day life like outside her talk shows, movie roles, and stand-up? What was it like being one of the earliest faces of the LGBT rights movement? What did she do before she began hosting Ellen? What books has she written? How many charities does she support? We've dug deep into Ellen DeGeneres's history, and found the coolest, most interesting fun facts about her life.

Whether you remember her mostly for her role as Dory in Finding Nemo, or you've regularly watched her talk show for years, there's still a ton of stuff to learn about Ellen Degeneres. Checkout this list of the best fun facts about Ellen DeGeneres below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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She's Won a Ton of Awards
Ellen DeGeneres has been nominated for an insane amount of awards. Out of the 129 awards she has been nominated for, she has won a grand total of 63 of them. Even in show biz, that's a lot! She's won 13 Emmy Awards, 14 People's choice Awards, two Producer's Guild Awards, six Teen Choice Awards, and many, many more.

Source: AceShowbiz.com

Ellen Held a Bunch of Odd Jobs Before She Was Famous
Ellen DeGeneres's pre-fame jobs ran the gamut - from doing boring clerical work at a law firm to waiting tables at TGI Fridays. She even had mall jobs, like her stint at J.C. Penney. She was also a hostess, a bartender, and even a house painter at one point. DeGeneres often refers to some of these odd jobs on her show, and mentions how they helped shape her into who she is today.

Source: Wikipedia
She Was Technically the First Gay Lead Character on Any TV Show, Ever
When DeGeneres came out in 1997 on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, it was a major breakthrough for the LGBT community. The writers of her TV show, Ellen (formerly titled These Friends of Mine) decided to write in an episode where her character comes out of the closet. In "The Puppy Episode," Ellen DeGeneres comes out to her therapist, played by Oprah Winfrey. In that moment, she became the first lead gay character on television.

Source: Makers.com

Her Talk Show Was the First to Win an Emmy in Its First Season
Ellen DeGeneres's popular talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, actually won an Emmy back in 2004 when it was fresh out of the gate. No other talk show has ever won an Emmy during a freshman season, but somehow, DeGeneres pulled it off. As if that wasn't enough, the show actually won four Emmys that night; one for Best Talk Show, and three for outstanding technical prowess. The show went on to receive 25 awards in its first three years.

Source: Wikipedia

She Was the First Female Comedian to Sit in "the Hot Seat" on the Tonight Show
Back in the day, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was the most sought-after talk show program to land an interview on. It was basically like being interviewed by Letterman and Fallon combined. Back in 1986, Ellen DeGeneres landed a spot on Johnny Carson's couch as a young, struggling comedian. At the time, she was living on a flea-infested mattress in New York, and had told herself that she would be the first woman comic invited to sit in "the hot seat."

She told Today, "I created that experience because I wanted it."

Source: PEOPLE
She's an Active PETA Member/Supporter
DeGeneres is not only a vegetarian and an animal lover; she also fights for animal rights by supporting PETA. In 2009, PETA named her Woman of the Year. On her talk show, she managed to expose millions of viewers to a healthy, vegan diet, and discussed the importance of adopting animals rather than buying them. She truly believes in equal respect for animals, and has been an unrelenting voice on behalf of our four-legged friends for decades.

Source: EllenTV.com
She Supports Over 40 Charities
DeGeneres uses her talk show as a place to encourage others to donate to charity. One of her most infamous episodes featured Mark Wahlberg doing pull-ups worth $1k each for breast cancer research. Wahlberg managed to do 23 pull-ups in 30 seconds, and Ulta Beauty decided to round that number up and donate $25,000.

Ellen DeGeneres herself supports a whopping 45 charities and over 30 causes.

Source: Look to the Stars
She's a New York Times Best-Selling Author
Ellen DeGeneres has written four incredibly successful books. Her first three are memoirs, and her latest is an interior designing how-to guide. My Point... And I Do Have One was published in 1995, two years before she officially came out as a lesbian.

Source: Amazon
She's Worth Over $200 Million
Although the exact numbers on each website vary (who snoops in celebrities' bank accounts and finds out this information anyways?!), every financial site seems to agree: Ellen DeGeneres is worth at least $200 million.

In 2015 alone, she's made $75 million on her various projects. Her popular daytime talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, had its contract renewed, and her production company, Very Good Productions, is operating spectacularly. She's also the proud owner of several fantastic properties and expensive cars, which account for a good chunk of her overall net worth. She was also listed as #12 in Forbes's 2015 Celebrity 100. In 2014, she came in at #4.

Source: Forbes
She Released a Comedy Album in 1996
In 1996, DeGeneres recorded one of her stand-up specials in Portland, OR, and subsequently released it as an album. Taste This is full of great Ellen-isms and anecdotes, but went out of print in 2008.

Source: AllMusic.com

Crazy Facts About Edward Scissorhands You

Edward Scissorhands is one of Tim Burton's greatest masterpieces. Upon its release on December 7, 1990, fans and critics the world over fell in love with its gothic overtones mixed with its portrayal of poppy suburbia. Danny Elfman's haunting, timeless score ties everything together within Tim Burton's creepy, masterful world. An incredible cast, featuring Johnny Depp, Winona Rider, and Vincent Price, make for one of the best dark fantasy films of all time.

It became an even bigger cult classic as time went on - over the years, adoring Edward Scissorhands fans have been inspired by the film's underlying message of love, acceptance, and tolerance. But how much do you really know about the making of the movie? About the journey from story boarding, to script editing, to the silver screen? We've gathered some of the best Edward Scissorhands facts to entertain and educate you!

This Edward Scissorhands trivia goes back to the film's very inception (when a young Tim Burton was still in high school), through casting (when Johnny Depp was still miles away from the super star he is today), into production, release, and beyond. These fun facts and Easter eggs cover everything from surprises and cameos, to the Edward Scissorhands stage musical, to where you might be able to visit some of Edward's topiary handiwork today!

Check out this list of the best Edward Scissorhands trivia below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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The Character Edward Scissorhands Was Based on the Screenwriter's Dog
Screenwriter Caroline Thompson confirmed in an interview that the role of Edward Scissorhands was actually based on her smart, eager dog.

“[Johnny] was just so confused about [Edward], I said, ‘Well, the character is actually based on my dog, and if you imagine a dog that is so present and so eager and so smart…that’s that character.’ And he got it instantly. Shazam," she said.

Source: Popsugar
Tim Burton Didn't Know Who Johnny Depp Was When He Cast Him
Although it's weird to think about, Johnny Depp used to be a teenage heartthrob - the Justin Bieber of the late '80s and '90s. Luckily for Depp and Burton's lifelong friendship, Burton had never seen an episode of 21 Jump Street.

"I didn't really know who he was," said Burton. "I hadn't really seen him in anything. So I met him sort of cold, at a coffee shop. And that was almost the best kind of thing, because I had no preconception of him as an actor," he said.

"That first meeting, I knew he was the right person for it. Just because he seemed to be somebody who was, like, trapped in that, whatever 21 Jump Street thing - but that wasn't him. So he just felt like the character, you know? Somebody who was perceived as one thing and is actually something else."

Source: iSchoolGuide

Many Other Iconic Actors Were Considered for the Titular Role
It's hard to imagine anyone else as Edward Scissorhands, but at the time, all manner of actors were auditioning for the titular role. Both Jim Carrey and Robert Downey Jr. were strong contenders, and Tom Hanks came pretty close. Gary Oldman was offered the role, but ultimately turned it down. Tom Cruise didn't like how dark the ending was, so Johnny Depp was given the part.

Source: Imaginary Cinema
The Legendary Stan Winston Created the Scissorhands
Stan Winston, the man in charge of the effects studio responsible for much of our childhood nostalgia (think Jurassic Park, Alien, Terminator 2, etc...) also created Edward Scissorhands's scissor hands. Tim Burton was, of course, over the moon the first time he saw them.

“I didn’t think he’d actually have scissors for fingers. I though they’d just be long sharp pieces of metal that weren’t finished – but this is much better!” he exclaimed.

Each finger is actually a completely different type of scissor, and they made many different ones for stunt/safety purposes, as well as closeups.

Source: Stan Winston School
Dianne Wiest Championed Getting the Film Made
Dianne Wiest, who played the lovably absent-minded Avon lady, really fought to have this film made. She read the script and loved it, and kept pushing for it to be filmed.

"Dianne in particular was wonderful. She was the first actress to read the script, supported it completely and, because she is so respected, once she had given it her stamp of approval, others soon got interested. In many ways she was my guardian angel," said Tim Burton.

Source: Burton on Burton

It Was Vincent Price's Last Film Role
Vincent Price's role as the mad inventor who brings Edward Scissorhands to life was actually written specifically for him. Unfortunately, he was very ill during the entire filming, and his role had to be cut down to accommodate his struggles with emphysema and Parkinson's disease. He passed away three years after the film's release in 1993.

Source: The Parkinson Hub
Some of Edward's Handiwork Is on Display in a New York City Restaurant

It was basically a childhood dream come true when we found out that they didn't just throw away all that amazing topiary. Some of those meticulously-sculpted plans have a permanent home at the upscale restaurant in NYC, Tavern on the Green.

Source: CentralPark.org

There's a Fossil Named After Johnny Depp Because of Edward Scissorhands
In 2013, paleontologist David Legg discovered a creature with decidedly scissor-looking hands. So, naturally, he decided to name it after the iconic actor who had portrayed Edward Scissorhands.

“When I first saw the pair of isolated claws in the fossil records of this species, I could not help but think of Edward Scissorhands. Even the genus name, Kootenichela, includes the reference to this film, as ‘chela’ is Latin for claws or scissors. In truth, I am also a bit of a Depp fan and so what better way to honour the man than to immortalise him as an ancient creature that once roamed the sea?” said Legg.

Source: Imperial College London
Edward Scissorhands Himself Only Says 169 Words
Johnny Depp had a lot to do to become the character of Edward Scissorhands, including losing about 25 pounds for the role. Learning his lines, however, was the easiest part of filming this whole movie. The character Edward Scissorhands only spoke a total of 169 words throughout the entire film.

Source: IMDb
Because of this Movie, Winona Ryder Wasn't in Godfather III
Winona Ryder was offered a role in Godfather III, and after the roaring success of the first two, people thought she was totally crazy to turn it down. Rumor has it that her then-boyfriend, Johnny Depp, convinced her to do Edward Scissorhands instead.

Source: toofab

Out of all the "Lils" (Bow Wow, Boosie, Bub, Mama, Kim, Jon, Romeo, etc...), Lil Wayne is arguably the best. Lil Wayne is an enigma. He's a rapper unlike any other. He's a mixtape master, and drops albums that defy standard analysis. He's done more guest spots than most rappers would ever dream of, and is worth more money than you'd ever imagine. He was the flagship artist of Cash Money Records, and is the CEO of Young Money Entertainment.

But who is Lil Wayne? What's his day to day life like? Who are his influences? What causes does he believe in? What was his (insane) childhood like? When did he start rapping and how? What were those gun charges a few years ago? What's with all of those death/health rumors? Is Sizzurp really that good?

We've put together a list of the coolest facts about Lil Wayne, including trivia, fun facts, and your hottest burning questions. Check out these awesome Lil Wayne facts below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.

http://www.ranker.com/list/lil-wayne-facts/lauren-slocum,

He Hasn't Written a Single Thing Down Since 2002
Lil Wayne did an epic 10,000 bars freestyle in 2002, and hasn't bothered to write down his lyrics ever since. He believes that as soon as you write down your rhymes, they can become false, in away. He explained this philosophy in an interview with GQ.

"But you could read what’s on the paper, right? So basically anybody that could read could recite it. That takes something away from it. But if I walk up to a guy and say “Rap for me,” he’s going to say something. His characteristics or whatever. I’m going to get what I love about him, just from his presence. That’s why you never saw me rap no TV shows. Other rappers be having to rap after an interview. So can you spit something for us? They never ask me to do that because the interview is so compelling that they actually got Lil Wayne.

I always tell somebody that’s why I am good, that’s why I’m okay, because I’m being me, I’m doing me. Now the day I gotta write stuff down - no one can believe what’s written down. Perfect example: If I was a bum and I told you I had a mansion around the corner and three Bentleys and twenty-eight bitches in my house butt naked waiting for me, you wouldn’t believe me. I’d say, 'You stink, get out my face, give him $100.'

But if there was a book that said, there was this bum with a mansion with twenty bitches in it, you’ll try to use it and put it toward real life. That’s why I don’t write nothing down. That’s why I don’t believe the Bible, nothing that’s written, because nothing that’s written is to be believed"

Source: realtalkny.com

His Birth Name Is Actually Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
During an interview with Katie Couric, Lil Wayne revealed that he dropped the "D" in Dwayne because "I'm a junior and my father is livin' ...he's never been in my life, so I don't wanna be Dwayne, I'd rather be Wayne." When she asked him if his father knew this, Lil Wayne replied, "He knows now."

Lil Wayne and his biological father never had a good relationship. He considers his stepfather, Rabbit, to be his real dad. Unfortunately, Rabbit was murdered before Lil Wayne made it big. In order to commemorate Rabbit, Lil Wayne had a tattoo dedicated to him.

Source: CBS News
He Initially Went By a Very Different Rap Name
Lil Wayne went through a series of other stage names before settling on the one we know and love today. His real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., but that sounds way more like the same of an accountant or an insurance salesman than a hardcore rapper. Before landing on Lil Wayne, he called himself Shrimp Daddy. This nickname was an homage to fellow Cash Money rapper, Pimp Daddy, and also made fun of his short stature. For awhile, he also used the nickname Baby D, but that one eventually fizzled out.

Source: XXL
He Accidentally Shot Himself When He Was 12 Years Old
Lil Wayne almost died at age 12 when he accidentally shot himself in the chest. He came home early from school on report card day, and found a .9mm handgun sitting on a bed in his home. He started playing around with it, as you do when you stumble upon a loaded gun, and accidentally shot himself in the chest. Miraculously, the bullet missed all of his vital organs, but he quickly began bleeding out. Luckily, an off-duty police officer named Robert Hoobler responded quickly to the 911 call, and was able to save Lil Wayne's life.

Source: Nola.Com
His First Album Dropped When He Was Only 11
After signing with Cash Money Records at age 9, he wrote and produced an album called "True Story." It was released under the name "The B.G.'z," which was a mini rap group made up of Lil Wayne (known as Baby D at the time), and BG (aka Lil' Doogie). Lil Wayne was only 11 years old when this album dropped.

Source: Dat Piff
You can also listen to the album using the above mentioned link.
He and Birdman Have Been Friends Forever
Lil Wayne became friends with Lil Slim and Birdman when he was just 9 years old. They were both signed to his favorite record label, and Lil Wayne wasn't even intimidated when they asked him to start rapping right there on the spot. He impressed both of them so much with his confidence and his rhymes that they signed him to Cash Money Records.

Source: Blaze Magazine
He Has Epilepsy and Other Serious Health Problems
Lil Wayne's health problems have been a hot button news topic for several years now. He's been hospitalized more times than we can count, and headlines are always wondering if maybe this time, he's taken the Sizzurp too far. But although some of his health issues are a direct result of his lifestyle, he also has some underlying medical problems that have plagued him for years. In 2013, he made a statement to clear things up.

“The thing is, man, the bad news is, I’m an epileptic, so I’m prone to seizures,” he said. “This isn’t my first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh seizure. I’ve had a bunch of seizures; y’all just never hear about it. This time it got real bad because I got three of ’em in a row, and on the third one, my heart rate went down to, like, 30 percent. Basically, I could’ve died soon. That’s why it was so serious."

Source: MTV
He's Been Carrying a Gun Since His Pre-Teen Days
Lil Wayne has been a gun advocate for as long as he's been alive. In fact, he's been carrying a gun since he was 11 years old. His first gun was a .32 Derringer, and the bullets only cost him a quarter each. More recently, he's become more outspoken about gun violence. He said in an interview, "You mentioned that in 2010, I was locked up for a weapon. If there was anything I could do in my life that I could ever change, it'd be that. Sandy Hook Elementary, my heart goes out to you."

Source: Perez Hilton
He's Recorded Well Over 500 Guest Tracks on Other Artists' Albums
In the 15 year span between 1997 and 2012, Lil Wayne recorded 597 guest tracks on other artists' albums. He's obviously done more since, but unfortunately, the author of this fan site hasn't updated the exact number in awhile. He has recorded more guest tracks than any other musician alive or dead.

Source: LilWayneHQ
His Net Worth Is $150 Million
Lil Wayne might be lil, but his bank account is huge! This dude has some serious stacks. The 5'6" rapper's estimated net worth is $150 million. He's had chart-topping album after chart-topping album, reinvented the mixtape game, and has invested his earnings well. He's also the first rapper to have an album drop at #1 since Tupac in the early '90s.

Source: therichest

Fun Facts About the Voices of Family Guy

Family Guy voices and the voice acting that goes into Family Guy is some of the best in the business. Of course there's Seth MacFarlane, the one who started it all. He lends his vocals to Peter, Stewie, Brian, and upwards of 40 other characters. Then you have Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, and Seth Green who voice Lois, Meg and Chris, but do you know who else is behind some of your favorite characters? Everyone from Patrick Stewart to Ellen Page to Betty White has lent their unique voices to the show.

Before Brian and Peter came into the picture though, there were Larry and Steve, two of Seth MacFarlane's original voices. Do you know how they play into the Family Guy equation? What about the voices behind the voices you ask? The writers behind Family Guy aren't afraid to drum up controversy. They'll make the characters say whatever they want, whenever they want and how ever they want, much to the dismay of one voice actor's mother. Even other animated shows have taken offense to Family Guy, and we haven't even gotten to the law suits yet.

Here are some of the most interesting fun facts and tidbits about the Family Guy actors and voices of Family Guy who bring the hilarious Griffin family and personalities of Quahog to life.

http://www.ranker.com/list/family-guy-voice-facts/jordan-love,

Brian Is Essentially the Dog Version of MacFarlane

In addition to Brian's voice being the normal speaking voice of Seth MacFarlane, they also share several ideals. Brian's views on politics and religion are largely the same as MacFarlane's.

There's a Reason Meg Is Constantly Abused by the Griffins
According to Seth MacFarlane, the reason Meg is constantly abused by her family is that none of the writers know how to write for a teenage girl. As a result, Meg is relegated to a life as the family's metaphorical punching bag.

The Simpsons Pay Better

It's relatively close, but it pays slightly better to be a voice actor on The Simpsons than on Family Guy. Granted, Homer and the gang have been around for a little longer and make less than they did at the height of the show.

Chris Always Defends Robot Chicken Because of Seth Green
Family Guy makes fun of Robot Chicken a lot, but the producer and lead voice actor for Robot Chicken is Seth Green, the voice of Chris. That's the reason Chris is always the one to defend the show.

Peter's Voice Is Based on a Security Guard

As one of the most prominent voices in the show, you might think there would be some significance behind Peter's voice. Turns out, the voice is just based off some security guard from MacFarlane's college days. Pretty anticlimactic.

Adam West Said No to Batman

Adam West agreed to continually voice himself as Mayor of Quahog only if there were no references to his role in the 1966 Batman. Apparently the actor wants to put that all behind him and focus on more serious things, like Family Guy.

It Pays to Be a Griffin

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Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, and Mike Henry all make $225,000 per episode. It's not the highest paying gig in voice acting, but that's a lot of money for four of the core voices of the series

Chris's Voice Is Based on a Killer
Set Green, the voice of Chris Griffin, has said that he based Chris's voice on the notorious Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs.

Family Guy Is Emmy-Worthy
For nine out of the 11 years from 2005 to 2015, Family Guy has either been nominated for or has won an Emmy. They've seen nominations for everything from voice acting to Best Comedy.

Brian Almost Had a Very Different Voice

William H. Macy auditioned to be the voice of Brian but didn't get the part. We can only imagine how much different the show may have been without MacFarlane voicing the family dog.

Fun Facts About the Voices of the Simpsons

The Simpsons has become the longest running cartoon in American history, and as such, there’s hardly a person on this earth who has not been affected by the series in some way or another. Ever since it premiered in 1989, the bumbling adventures of Homer Simpson and the rest of the inhabitants of Springfield have become a weekly event that millions of people tune in to watch. While the series has experienced its own set of ups and downs in terms of quality, its status as a modern TV icon will never find itself in question, and The Simpsons voices are iconic.

You know it's true: the Simpson family would be nothing without its iconic voice actors. From Dan Castellaneta to Hank Azaria to Yeardley Smith, each member of the show’s principal cast has brought something unique and engaging to the television institution. These actors have the uncanny ability to simultaneously give the audience wacky antics, as well as heartwarming pathos, and don’t even get us started on the sheer number of celebrity guest stars that have been featured on the show over the last few decades.

This list of facts that you may not have known about the voices of The Simpsons. includes all kinds of info about The Simpsons actors and voice cast behind the scenes, so sit back, grab a donut or a Duff, and vote up the fun fact about The Simpsons voices that you think is the most interesting!

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-simpsons-voice-facts/conner-schwerdtfeger, videos, behind the scenes, other,

Mayor Quimby Was Inspired by JFK
Longtime Springfield Mayor Joe Quimby was inspired by real life President John F. Kennedy. The Simpsons creators modeled him after the late president by giving him a thick Boston accent and a penchant for extra-marital affairs, not to mention some tenuous dealings with the Italian mafia.

The Principal Cast Makes $300,000 an Episode
According to Uproxx, each member of the principal cast of The Simpsons makes roughly $300,000 per episode. For comparison's sake, early in the show's run they made $30,000 per episode.

Homer Simpson Is the World's Most Popular Voice for GPS Navigation Systems
Homer Simpson holds the Guinness World Record for as the most highly downloaded voice for a GPS navigation system in the world. His voice has outsold the closest competitor by a factor of three to one.

Homer's Iconic D'ohs Never Appear in the Script
According to IMDb, Homer Simpson's iconic catchphrase, "D'oh," never appears in the script for an episode; the only thing written on the page is "(annoyed grunt)" which actor Dan Castellaneta has since turned into the iconic "D'oh."

Yeardley Smith Is the Only Member of the Principal Cast Who Does Just One Voice Regularly
While the rest of the cast regularly doubles up when voicing characters for The Simpsons, Yeardley Smith (the voice of Lisa Simpson) is the only current member of the cast who only does one voice on a regular basis.

Elizabeth Taylor Voiced Maggie's First Word
As the infant of the family, Maggie Simpson typically has the least to say out of any of the Simpsons. Outside of fantasy episodes, she rarely speaks at all; however, she spoke her first words in the 1992 episode "Lisa's First Word," in which she uttered the simple noun "daddy." Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor offered her services as the voice of the famous baby, and reportedly had to utter the single line repeatedly until the producers were satisfied.

Only Homer Has Had Dialogue in Every Episode
Homer Simpson is the only character to have spoken a line of dialogue in every single episode of The Simpsons to date. Marge and Lisa have appeared in every episode, but did not have dialogue in "Krusty Gets Cancelled," and "Chief of Hearts," respectively. Bart Simpson did not even appear in the episode "Four Great Women and a Manicure."

Dr. Marvin Monroe Was Never Actually Killed Off, He Just Has a Hard Voice
Despite the fact that Dr. Marvin Monroe's tombstone has been shown on The Simpsons, his death is not considered canon. He has appeared on the show recently, diffusing allegations towards his death by saying he was "very sick." The reason for the character's reduced usage on the series actually stems from the strain his voice places on actor Harry Shearer.

The Frasier Connection
Bart's arch-nemesis Sideshow Bob is voiced by actor Kelsey Grammer, while his brother Cecil is voiced by actor David Hyde Pierce. If this duo sounds familiar that's because they also played brothers Frasier and Niles Crane on the hit NBC sitcom, Frasier.

Phil Hartman's Characters Were Not Retired After His Death
Following the untimely murder of comedian Phil Hartman in 1998, his two major characters on The Simpsons (Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz) were not retired from the series. They still regularly appear in the backgrounds of certain episodes, they just don't have any speaking lines.

22 Times Rey Was One of the Coolest Characters in the Galaxy

Who is Rey? If you've seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you know she's the new main character on the scene, in a galaxy far, far away. This list contains spoilers, so read on only if you've seen The Force Awakens.

A scavenger from the planet Jakku, patiently waiting for her family to return, Rey is a bonafide, Force-sensitive badass. Not only that, she's also intelligent, caring, empathetic, a natural pilot, and a mechanic with quick reflexes. Having her as the main character could be the first time we see a female Jedi in a lead role in the Star Wars films, so her character is also a precedent-setting trailblazer.

In addition to her breathtaking Force feats, including having Luke's (originally Anakin's) lightsaber call to her, using a mind trick on a stormtrooper to free herself from The First Order, and defeating Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel, fan speculation is swirling as to how (or even if) she's related to Darth Vader himself. The following are just a few of the times when she proved that she's the best character in the galaxy, and the main one to watch as the trilogy unfolds.

Star Wars Episode VII? Nah. More like Star Reys Episode Rey: The Force Areykens.
http://www.ranker.com/list/rey-star-wars-the-force-awakens/candice-darden, film, star wars, behind the scenes, other,

She Has an Eerie Amount in Common with Luke Skywalker
This handy grapic shows just a few of the things she has in common with the Jedi whose lightsaber called to her. Her commonalities with Luke set her up to poetically balance the Force in the galaxy, hearkening to Lucas's original conception of Luke, as inspired by Joseph Campell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces. She will likely be desperately needed to keep the dark side in check, fulfilling her role as a mythic hero.
She Knew How to Survive on Her Own in a Hostile Environment
When we first meet Rey, she's alone on the planet Jakku. We come to find out that she's been waiting for her family to come back for her, having been abandoned on the desert planet at a very young age. Having to become a scavenger just to keep herself fed, she's managed to become a resourceful survivor on a planet that is barely hospitable.

She's even able to deftly maneuver around the remains of an Imperial Star Destroyer, looking for parts that could be sold for a price in order to keep herself fed. She seems to have developed an expert eye for the right parts over the years, as well as developed the moves and physical strength in order to retrieve them from their various precarious positions.
She Has Powerful Force Affinity, Even Untrained
From quick reflexes and mechanical ability, to being able to use a powerful mind trick to ensure her release and defeat (an admittedly injured) Kylo Ren wielding Luke's old lightsaber, Rey has some of the most breathtaking natural Force affinity we've yet seen in the entire Star Wars canon. We can't wait to see her fully-trained.
She's a Trailblazer and Will Likely Be the First Female Jedi in a Lead Role
In the episodes to follow The Force Awakens, it will likely be the first time we see a female Jedi in a lead role in the Star Wars films. Rey already broke the mold in The Force Awakens, being the first female main character to powerfully wield her Force-affinity, and there's surely much more in store.
She Left No Man Behind
When Rey and Finn went flying up in the air and into the dirt after those stormtroopers went after them on Jakku, Rey could have easily kept running... but instead, she chose to stick by Finn and help him up, also looking out for BB-8.
She Escaped The First Order Via Jedi Mind Trick
When Rey is shackled in a chamber, a prisoner of The First Order, she's able to get the attention of her stormtrooper guard and use a Force-fueled mind trick to get him to release her shackles and leave his weapon behind. When she says, "You will remove these restraints and leave with the door open. And you will drop your weapon," we're instantly reminded of "These are not the droids you're looking for."
She Proved She Had a Heart of Gold by Rescuing BB-8
As soon as she saw the BB-8 droid, she jumped into action and negotiated a release, cutting the cute little droid free so he wouldn't be scrapped for parts. Later, when 60 full rations were offered to her in exchange for the droid (her average seemed to be about a half ration a day), she again protected BB-8, refusing to sell to someone who only wanted the droid to harvest for parts, when he was clearly so much more.
Luke's Lightsaber (Originally Anakin's) Called to Her
In the basement of Maz Kanata's cantina lies an ages-old lightsaber, originally owned by Anakin before he turned to the dark side, then his son Luke after that. When Rey explores the basement upon hearing screams, we quickly discover that this is the lightsaber calling on her to embrace her destiny. Once she touches the lightsaber she's greeted with a flurry of flashbacks, some unpleasant and seemingly overwhelming. When Maz tells her to take the lightsaber, she initially resists, but there's no denying that the saber has found its new master.
She Turned the Tides on Kylo Ren After He Invaded Her Mind
"You're afraid... that you'll never be as powerful as Darth Vader."
She Never Hesitated to Lend a Helping Hand
From fixing BB-8's antenna to helping Finn, Rey is consistantly there for those that need help.

Krysten Ritter has popped up in dozens of films and TV shows over the years. She's been everywhere having a great run on Breaking Bad, leading the sitcom Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, then starring as Marvel's Jessica Jones. That's quite a run, but who is Krysten Ritter?

How did she get started? What was she doing before she was the B*tch in Apartment 23? What does she do when she's not on set? How much does she love animals? What causes does she support? Which actresses in particular inspire her?

We went through Krysten Ritter facts, quotes, anecdotes, trivia, and stories to build a veritable Krysten Ritter biography full of interesting facts about the actress. Consider this your own Krysten Ritter wiki and learn more about her life on and off screen!

http://www.ranker.com/list/krysten-ritter-facts/coy-jandreau, videos, celebrities, interesting, behind the scenes, other,

She's Tall... Really Tall
Most actors seem larger than life on screen and then when you meet they physically fall short. Krysten Ritter is the opposite, she's strikingly tall.
She Started Out as a Model
Ritter started her career as a model, having been discovered at the mall. "My mom had heard that something like that was going on, so we went to the mall and sure enough we were scouted. We had no idea [what modeling was about]. I was 15, tall, gawky, awkward, and really, really skinny. I was with Elite Model Management and then Wilhelmina [Models]."

She's a Succesful Writer
In addition to acting in film and television she plans to, and has, written for film and television. She has even had one of her projects optioned - a script about her experiences as a model.

She Has an Eye for Fashion and Design
She started as a young model, and clearly paid attention to the fashion and design because nowadays she's on the other side of the dress. She's co-designing dresses, shoes, and jewelry. She's already helped create a dress with fashion designer Corey Lynn Calter and a Jewelry line with Michael Spirito. Impressive.

She's in a Band
Krysten Ritter comes across as an awesome rock and roll chick in almost all of her roles. It turns out she totally is in real life. She sings, plays the guitar, and is more or less a one woman band called Ex Vivian. Check out one of her music videos above.

She's Loves Animals and Has Done Ads for PETA
When you grow up on a farm you end up either loving or loathing animals. Ritter loves them, a lot. She even did a PSA for PETA, discussing the dangers of leaving your dog in a hot car.

She Was a Huge Breaking Bad Fan, Even Before She Appeared on the Show
It's always great when people are fans of the projects they're working on. It's especially cool if they absolutely love the material and make it their mission to be a part of it.

“I binged the first seven episodes in one day and thought, I want to be on it, and I don’t care if anybody sees it. Trusting your instincts like that is a great lesson, because when you listen to your gut, you can’t go wrong.”

She Had a Pet Cow Named Jake
That's right... a cow.

"My stepfather called horses 'hay burners.' They do nothing. You can’t milk them and you can’t eat them, so we didn’t have them. But I had a calf I raised named Jake. He was so small that when I got him, I could pick him up. We took naps together and snuggled. And then he got big—very big. We put him in the pasture. When I would go hang out with him, I’d pull him over to the side of the fence, hold on to the scruff of his neck and get on him. And he would start walking. People would drive by and take pictures, like, Who is this girl riding a cow?"

She's a Big Supporter of Autism Awareness
Ritter does all manner of fundraisers and Autism awareness campaigns throughout the year. In February 2013 she tweeted "It's that time of year again! Please help me raise money for Autism Speaks by supporting me in the 2013 La walk for Autism. Last year we raised a lot of $ and I want to better it this year!!! Every dollar and penny adds up!" She also hosted the Autism Speaks Blue Jean Ball in 2012.

She Grew Up on a Farm
You know that classic small town girls moves to the big city story? That's Ritter for you.

She told Philadelphia Style, "I grew up on a farm in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. I really liked it because I had animals to play with and a moped to ride around on and a cow I could ride, too. Very opposite of how my life is now."

Think of a hard-drinking secret agent who has a penchant for womanizing and getting himself into dangerous situations. Sure, you may have thought we were talking about James Bond, but throw in some mommy issues and you’ve got Sterling Archer all summed up. Ever since Archer premiered in 2009, the world’s most dangerous spy has traveled the globe with his co-workers, leaving a trail of destruction, shame, and humor in his wake.

As interesting as the stories of Archer, Lana, and the rest of the ISIS gang may be, the stories of the people behind the characters can often be just as fascinating. Archer has assembled a crack team consisting of some of the best voice actors such as H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Tyler, and Chris Parnell - just to name a few. Under the guidance of creator Adam Reed, these actors have taken what could have been superficial, unlikable characters and imbued them with a certain humanity that makes them endlessly… wait, I had something for this… watchable.

So with that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the most fascinating facts about the voices of Archer. Call Kenny Loggins, enter the Danger Zone, and vote up the facts that you find the most fascinating.
http://www.ranker.com/list/archer-voice-facts/conner-schwerdtfeger,

H. Jon Benjamin Laughed Hardest at a Holocaust Joke
H. Jon Benjamin has admitted that the joke on Archer that made him laugh the hardest was the "Meow-schwitz" line from the Season 2 episode titled "El Secuestro." Despite being Jewish himself, Benjamin is a self described "sucker" for holocaust jokes.

Dr. Krieger's Voice Actor Provided Ray Gillette's Face
Lucky Yates, who provides the voice for the psychotic Dr. Krieger, also served as the physical likeness upon which agent Ray Gillette's appearance was modeled. Or maybe he's one of Krieger's clones, we aren't really sure.

People Scream "LANA!" at Aisha Tyler on the Street Because of the Show
When questioned by fans about the long running joke in which Archer screams "Lana!" to get her character's attention, Aisha Tyler confirmed that fans scream the name at her on the street when they recognize her. We better call Kenny Loggins because she's now in the Danger Zone.

The Kane Family Mirrors Aisha Tyler's Educational Background
Throughout the series, Lana has slowly revealed that she is an incredibly passionate proponent of environmental conservation and her parents are scientists who work to make the world a more habitable place. In reality, Aisha Tyler has a bachelor's degree in environmental policy from Dartmouth and participated in a science fair as a child in a project intended to create "artificial sunlight," which later made it into the series.

Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter: A Cross-Series Romance
If the chemistry between Len Trexler and Mallory Archer sounds familiar, that's because Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter previously played married couple George and Lucille Bluth on the hit comedy series Arrested Development. In addition to these two lovebirds, fellow Arrested Development alumni David Cross and Judy Greer also appear in Archer.

H. Jon Benjamin Was Cast Without Actually Reading a Script
In an appearance on Conan, H. Jon Benjamin revealed that he panicked when he learned that he had been cast to play Sterling Archer because didn't read the script and assumed Archer would have a British accent. As it turns out, despite being a fairly prolific voice actor, the man doesn't do English accents very well at all.

Amber Nash's Favorite Scene to Record Involved Humping Food
While recording the scene in which Pam repeatedly humps a gyro, Amber Nash wasn't giving the executive producer quite what he wanted in terms of performance. In order to elicit the best performance, the EP mimed humping things in the recording booth while Nash screamed into the microphone.

Chris Parnell's Favorite Episode Is El Contador
Chris Parnell has stated that his favorite episode of Archer is "El Contador," mainly due to the fact that it was one of the first episodes that took his character Cyril Figgis out of the office and into the field like a real agent.

Judy Greer Says Archer's Writers Don't Really Consult the Actors
During a Reddit AMA session, actress Judy Greer admitted that when penning new scripts for Archer, the writers of the show don't consult the actors for input. Considering how well-rounded the characters and performances have become, it's difficult to discern if that's a good or bad thing.

Aisha Tyler's Favorite Episodes Are Skorpio and Skytanic
Actress Aisha Tyler has admitted that her two favorite episodes of Archer are "Skytanic" and "Skorpio." She loves "Skytanic" because of the scene in which Pam watches Cyril and Cheryl have sex while sitting on the toilet, and she loves "Skorpio" mostly because of the chocolate threesome scene, which (while disturbing) is something we can all agree with.

13 Fun Facts About the Voices of SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants is a zany kid's show on Nickelodeon full of interesting and unique characters like Squidward, Patrick, Mr. Crabs, Sandy, and of course, SpongeBob himself. Just like its cast of cartoon characters, the voice actors who portray them are equally funny and intriguing. This list is filled with fun facts about the people who make the sea creatures that live in Bikini Bottom come to life each episode.

It's not just Tom Kenny - the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants - who brings tons of personality and pizazz to the show. Even the tertiary characters are voiced by rad people, and SpongeBob has been the host to many famous celebrity guest stars. If you're looking to finally answer, once and for all, the question, "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" this list will provide you with fun facts, trivia answers, and more!

Vote up the best facts about your favorite SpongeBob SquarePants voice actors below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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The Voice of Mermaid Man Is a Legendary Thespian
The voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob is voiced by, you guessed it, Ernest Borgnine! Before he passed away in 2012, he was a very talented, acclaimed actor. He's had roles in many films, such as The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, The Wild Bunch, and Escape from New York. In his lifetime, he won an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards. He also served in the American Navy.

Source: Wikipedia
The Voice of Plankton Is Also a Writer on the Show
Doug Lawrence, aka, Mr. Lawrence, is not only a key member of the main cast; he's also a writer. Lawrence voices Plankton, Larry the Lobster, and a few other miscellaneous characters, but he also writes parts of the SpongeBob scripts. He's also an actor, stand-up comedian, and animator. Along with animating, writing, and voice-acting for SpongeBob, he also did all of the above listed duties on Rocko's Modern Life.

Source: Wikipedia
A-List Actors Love to Lend Their Voices to the Show
SpongeBob has managed to find that sweet spot between entertaining for children and equally hilarious for adults. Many celebrities are actually fans of the show themselves, and have leant their voices to the famous cartoon. SpongeBob SquarePants has seen many impressive A-listers, such as Robin Williams, Kristen Wiig, John Goodman, Dennis Quaid, Ian McShane, and Johnny Depp.

Source: Quora
Every Cast Member Is Shown a Full Storyboard of Their Scene to Better Prepare Them for Their Lines
Like most actors, voice actors are given normal scripts and are expected to imagine all of the visuals that might accompany their work. On the set of SpongeBob SquarePants, however, the talented voice cast gets to check out the storyboard for their sequence of lines to help them prepare. Carolyn Lawrence, who voices Sandy Cheeks, told About.com:

"On SpongeBob SquarePants they send us a storyboard so we can see the drawings beforehand. I absolutely love that! Not only do I get to read the script, I can actually see what the artists have in mind. It is an amazing process and I feel so fortunate to be able to work that way! As a guest on a show, there are times when you don't even get to see a script before you get there. I would prefer to let the script come alive in me before a taping."
Jon Hamm Is Set to Be a Guest Voice Star on an Episode of SpongeBob
You read that right - Don Draper is coming to Bikini Bottom. Jon Hamm will play a character called Don Grouper in an upcoming episode of SpongeBob. Grouper is an ad exec (naturally) at Grouper, Goby, & Koi, and Mr. Krabs has to turn to him for advice for the Krusty Krab. The episode is slated to air sometime in 2016.

Source: MovieWeb
Tom Kenny Voiced Many of Your Favorite Childhood Characters
It's not uncommon for an actor to voice a myriad of characters. Usually, great voice actors can do many voices and change their vocal intonations at the drop of a hat. This makes them very marketable, and most book many gigs playing a variety of characters.

But even by voice actor standards, Tom Kenny has a lot of credits to his name. He's got over 359 voice acting credits, which means that he played a different character in each one. He's not only the voice of SpongeBob; Kenny has also voiced Dog from Catdog, Heffer from Rocko's Modern Life, The Ice King from Adventure Time, The Mayor from The Powerpuff Girls, and Spyro from the Spyro games.

Source: Wikipedia
Three Different People Have Voiced the "MY LEG!" Guy
Fred the Fish began as a background fish who grew into one of the main supporting characters on the show. He now has a backstory, a family, and many subplots devoted to his character. Mostly though, he's the fish that always yells "My leg!" when anything goes wrong. Three different actors play this guy, depending on the occasion. Their names are Dee Bradely Baker, Doug Lawrence, and Tom F. Wilson. Tom Kenny himself even has a credit as Fred "My leg!" the Fish.

Source: Behind the Voice Actors
Tom Kenny Has Voiced Many Superheroes and Villains
Tom Kenny hasn't only voiced regular cartoon characters; he's also the master of superhero and super villain voices as well! At DC, he's voiced Penguin, The Plastic Man, Silaak/The Anti-Monitor, Mumbo/Magic God, and Mockingbird. Over at Marvel he's voiced Doctor Octopus on a number of shows, the collector from the animated version of Guardians of the Galaxy, and Iron Man and Captain America on Marvel Super Hero Squad.

Source: IMDb
You've Seen the Actor Who Does the Voice of Mr. Krabs in Tons of Movies - You Just Don't Know It
Clancy Brown, the voice of Mr. Krabs, not only sounds familiar, he probably looks pretty familiar too! Brown has appeared in over 239 movies and TV shows over the years, including Shawshank Redemption, Highlander, and Starship Troopers.

Source: IMDb
SpongeBob Is Married to Karen in Real Life
Tom Kenny, the voice actor responsible for your favorite absorbent, yellow, porous friend under the sea is real-life married to Jill Talley, who voices Plankton's computer wife, Karen, on the show. The two first appeared together on Fox's sketch comedy show, The Edge, in 1993. They were also on Mr. Show from 1995-1998, after tying the knot in '95. They have two children together, Mack (born in '97), and Nora (born in '03).

Source: Wikipedia

25 Fun Facts About the Voices of American Dad

American Dad is often referred to as the redheaded stepchild of adult animated shows. It may not pull in the big numbers that some of its comrades do, but it is still hilarious in its own right. Whether you love the liberal antics of Hayley, the staunch conservatism of Stan, or just want to chill out with smooth R&B and Steve, there's something for everyone on American Dad.

The voice actors behind the characters might be familiar to you if you're a fan of animated television series and films. On top of the MacFarlane siblings voicing their respective characters, you also have names like Scott Grimes, Dee Bradley Baker, and Patrick Stewart. Some guest voice actors on American Dad have even been A-list actors, such as Kim Kardashian, Burt Reynolds and Brian Cranston.

American Dad might not have the clout that The Simpsons or South Park has, but it's been cancelled one time less than Family Guy, and is enjoying a nice little spot over on TBS. The cast members even say they like it better that way; it gives them more freedom with less pressure.

Before you run over and binge watch the first eight seasons of American Dad, check out these fun facts about the characters, the show, and the voices behind it all. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section!

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Seth MacFarlane Wasn't Quite Sure About the Direction American Dad Was Heading In

At first, Seth MacFarlane was a little bit confused about where exactly the show was going. American Dad didn't find it's unique voice until around season three, when showrunners Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman realized that this show could be delightfully weird if they wanted it to be. This excited MacFarlane to no end, and he began spending more time working on the show.
The Cast and Crew Have Fun Together
The writers, producers and voice actors have gotten together on multiple occasions for panel discussions, and they always nail them. Seth MacFarlane has said that it isn't easy for them to all get together on the same schedule, but that when they do, it's tons of fun.

Seth's Sister, Rachael MacFarlane, Is the Voice of Hayley Smith

Seth's sister, Rachael MacFarlane, does the voice of Hayley Smith on American Dad. She's also voiced other, smaller roles in Family Guy and was the voice of Mandy in The Grimm Adventures of Bill and Mandy.

Klaus the Not-French Fish
Originally, Klaus's character was meant to be French, but Dee Bradley Baker performed his audition for the role in German instead. He did so well that the producers actually changed the part for him. Klaus's name was originally supposed to be Francois, but of course, they had to alter that, too.

Hayley Loves the Roger Aliases

Rachael MacFarlane, the voice of Hayley, says she's a big fan of the Roger aliases. Her favorites are Jenny Fromdabloc, Dr. Penguin, and Genevieve Vavance.

Steve Is Nothing Like Neil Goldman

Steve was originally set to be voiced Ricky Blitt. In his original iteration, Steve was gawky, awkward, and overall dorky, much like Family Guy's Neil Goldman. Before the show aired, the character's voice was changed to that of Scott Grimes, and Steve was made to be more attractive.

Klaus Is in Spongebob, Star Wars, and Halo

Dee Bradley Baker, the voice actor who makes Klaus come to life on American Dad, has voiced a whole lot more than you might realize. He's loaned his voice to tons of Spongebob Squarepants characters, a couple of Star Wars characters, and Gravemind from Halo 3. In Star Wars: Rebels, he plays the voice of Admiral Konstantine, and also voiced a variety of clone troopers from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He's also the voice of the lovable Cinnamon Bun on Adventure Time. On Spongebob, he voices a variety of nameless fish, but his distinctive flare is easily recognizable.

The Cast Was Excited to Move to TBS

After departing from Fox and making the move to TBS, the cast was thrilled to learn that they could now cuss more. As Rachael MacFarlane put it, "we get the freedom to say shit twice and douchebag in every episode."

It's a Trap! Featuring American Dad

Largely because of the shared producers and voice actors, several American Dad characters were featured heavily in the Family Guy episode, "It's a Trap." This meant that viewers got to listen to Seth McFarlane's vast array of character voices.

American Dad Was Almost the New Family Guy

Family Guy was actually cancelled twice before becoming a staple in the crude family comedy cartoon lineup. After its second cancellation, American Dad was meant to be its replacement. There are tons of similarities between the two shows, and that's because they were actually never supposed to air at the same time. They even feature a bunch of the same voice actors! Luckily, Family Guy came back, and they decided to keep American Dad as well. It was a win-win for comedy lovers everywhere.

All of the Clever Easter Eggs Hiding in Fargo the TV Series

SPOILERS AHEAD? YOU BETCHA!

The hidden references in Fargo the series are endlessly fascinating. Mostly because showrunner Noah Hawley doesn’t get permission or notes from the Coen brothers, who gave us the 1996 film version, he and the writers for the Fargo TV series can do as they please. And they’ve done just that, packing the series full of Coen brothers Easter eggs and shoutout infinitum. They may executive produce, but the Coen brothers references in Fargo are the insightful and clever handiwork of Hawley and company.

From UFOs to ice scrapers, Hawley has made a detailed study of not just the film, but also other Coen brother projects. Among the Fargo Easter eggs, there are references to No Country for Old Men, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Raising Arizona, and even Reservoir Dogs, which, though not a Coens film, is worthy enough to get a nod.

At first, Hawley didn’t expect to make that many Coen brothers references in Fargo, but as the TV series got rolling, the deep well of material was hard to resist. Not content just to draw upon the accents, the music, direct quotes, and phrases, there are many sly connections between characters and scenes from Coen brothers films to the TV show.

Fargo the series draws upon the richness of the Coen’s universe. Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) and Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) are equally enjoyable as pushovers pushed too far. Freeman isn’t doing an impression. He’s showing another layer to a similar kind of character. Another obvious Coen character is the film’s Chief Marge Gunderson and TV’s Officer Molly Solverson. We also see two characters executed in the woods, worlds apart. Simone Gerhardt meets a similar fate as Bernie Bernbaum from Miller’s Crossing, complete with “Oh Danny Boy” as her send off music.

It’s the hidden references in Fargo the series that make a second and even third watch of the TV series fun and even necessary. You'll definitely want to catch the many funny moments that will whiz by in a blank. For instance, As Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) walks away from the post office in a small town, he tells a man mopping the floor, “You missed a spot.” A direct call back from Raising Arizona to H.I. McDunnough’s repeat offender when he walks through the prison corridors and tells a huge inmate the same. There are the similar dreams of Betsy Solverson and H.I. McDunnough; the need for unguent; a nod to Uli, the ferret-wield nihilist from The Big Lebowski. One character even calls out the name of an actor while making a snowman.

There are many Easter eggs to hunt for. Vote up your favorite Fargo Easter eggs and fully actualize your Coen brothers references. Okay then.
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Milos Digs Up Showalter’s Money
If you’ve seen the film Fargo, you know that Carl Showalter (Steve Buscemi) is fed into a wood chipper by his mostly-silent partner Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), who is in turn arrested by Chief Marge Gunderson. Neither criminal gets the remaining $924,000 Carl buried by the side of the road, deep in the snow, and marked with a red-handled ice scraper. Their misfortune is a new beginning for a young and desperate Stavros Milos. The year is 1987, the time period of the film Fargo.

Flash forward about a week later from the film version moment after Carl buries the money, to season one of the TV series and Milos discovering the money on the side of the road marked by the same ice scraper. The discovery makes Milos reaffirm his vows to God, something he will forget later after becoming the Supermarket King of Minnesota.
Showrunner Noah Hawley uses the money as leverage in a key plot line. “It wasn't just a gimmicky Easter egg. It was the key to Milos, and Malvo is all into figuring out what the key is to unlocking people that he meets. It was also a really great opportunity four episodes in, just at the audience has really settled into the idea, ‘You know, the show really has nothing to do with the movie and it exists in its own right,’ to actually go, ‘You know, wait a minute, it is connected to the movie in a way you didn't expect or see coming.“

Mike Zoss Pharmacy
Supervillain Anton Chigurh robs the Mike Zoss Pharmacy in No Country for Old Men. Lester Nygaard goes to the pharmacy to get some salve or ungent for his infected and telling hand wound in season one of Fargo. The Coens shopped at this real-life pharmacy during their childhood in Minneapolis.
H.I. McDunnough and Betsy Solverson Have Similar Dreams
In Raising Arizona, H.I. has a dream about the future. He sees himself and Ed with children of their own and the future at large. Maybe it was Utah.

In Fargo season two, Betsy Solverson is battling cancer and has a similar dream about the future where she sees her daughter, granddaughter, future son-in-law, and husband doing well. She also envisions the Gameboy and Costco. The narration has the same cadence and even some of the very same dialogue from H.I.’s speech in Raising Arizona.

Solverson’s scene is shot very similarly to the film version as well, for a nice homage.
UFOs in Coen Films, on the TV Series, and in Real Life Minnesota
UFO sightings are not uncommon when it comes to the Coens. In 2001’s The Man Who Wasn’t There, Billy Bob Thornton’s character, Ed, sees a UFO in the final scene. Another character talks about the time she and her husband saw a UFO.

Season two of Fargo was heavy with UFO imagery, specifically a triple homicide at the Waffle Hut in the beginning of the series and shootout at a motel toward the end, both featuring a hovering spacecraft. Fully actualized Peggy Blumquist dismisses the huge overing overhead space craft to her gobsmacked husband, “Oh that. It was a spaceship. No big deal.”

The Coens and the show’s producers may have drawn upon a “real life” account by Deputy Sheriff Val Johnson in Marshall County, Minnesota on August 27, 1979 about his encounter with a flying saucer.

On the show, there’s an Orson Welles audio cue from The War of the Worlds positing that aliens are observing man as scientists do infusoria through a microscope, possibly preparing for an invasion based on mankind penchant for violence. Before that invasion happens, though, Hank Larsson (Ted Danson) might be able to help. Larsson believes that the cause of most wars and conflicts between humans is miscommunication. He created his own language in the form of symbols that can be understood by anyone. Perhaps, his language even lured the visitors to the planet.
Is Stavros Milos Nathan Arizona from Raising Arizona or the Big Lebowski?
Showrunner Noah Hawley says that Milos is not specifically a Coen brothers character but that there are several ties between the two. Both come from humble beginnings and built small town empires. They have cheesy commercials running non-stop on local cable, the same tastes in smoking robes, and a name drop of the word Arizona in Milos’s self-help book. Platt’s Milos could also be a hail to David Huddleston’s The Big Lebowski autocrat who celebrates achievers.

Bonus fact: Stavros Milos is the name of a lovestruck character who has a thing for a sheep from Woody Allen’s Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask).
One Man’s Wood Chipper Is Another Man’s Meat Grinder
In the film, Gaear Grimsrud loses it and kills his partner in crime, Carl Showalter. He feeds Carl, piece by piece, into a wood chipper in a now iconic scene. In season two of Fargo, butcher Ed Blumquist (Jesse Plemons) dismantles Rye Gerhardt’s body and feeds the parts into a meat grinder to protect his wife from being discovered as the accidental killer.
The Many Faces of Mr. Tripoli
In season one, Lorne Malvo is on the bad side of mob boss Moses Tripoli out of Fargo. In season two, Hanzee Dent, with a malformed face from Peggy’s hot coffee, gets a new identity and is set on a path of revenge for the outfit in Kansas City, saying, "Not apprehend, dead. Don't care heavily-guarded. Don't care into the sea. Kill and be killed. Head in a bag.” These are the same words Tripoli says in season one while he cracks into a freshly made fish dish.

Also at the end of season two, we see Dent intervene in a fight on a playground between two smaller kids, one of them deaf, and a bully. As Dent draws his knife and barrels toward the bully, we’re pretty sure the bully’s not getting a stern talking to. Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench work for Mr. Tripoli, formerly Hanzee Dent.

Another connection to the Tripoli name is The Huddsucker Proxy. Moses Tripoli was the clock caretaker.
LaBoeuf, True Grit Easter Egg in a Supply Closet
In season one of Fargo, Malvo is confronting empty-headed trainer Don Chumph about his shoddy shakedown of Milos. Chumph takes him into a supply closet where we see the word “LaBoeuf” written in marker on the box - this is Matt Damon’s character name in True Grit.
Bernie Bernbaum and Simone Gerhardt Beg for Their Lives in the Woods
In Miller’s Crossing, the rat fink Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro) begs for his life, twice, asking Tom Reagan (Gabriel Byrne) to have mercy and to banish him rather than kill him.

Season two saw Bear Gerhardt leading his traitorous niece, Simone, deep into the woods where she made a similar plea to be banished rather than killed. Neither Bernie or Simone is spared. As the aerial shot pulls up and away from Simone’s execution site, we hear the song “Oh Danny Boy,” a direct homage to Miller’s Crossing.
The Hapless Man in the Car
As H.I. carjacks a man in Raising Arizona, after robbing a convenience store and slipping some pantyhose over his head, the man observes, “Son, you got a panty on your head.” He manages to escape from H.I.’s carjacking and a story to tell.

The man in the car who tries to help Ed and Peggy escape from the relentless Hanzee Dent isn’t so lucky. Dent shoots the man in the head shortly after he utters, “What the trouble, young fella?”

17 Fun Facts About the Voices of South Park

Few television shows in history have caused quite the level of controversy that South Park has. Thankfully, because it's a cartoon, the cast members on South Park have been able to escape much of the scrutiny surrounding the show. If you don't know what their faces look like, it's a lot harder to be angry with them! The two main South Park voice actors certainly get plenty of judgement from fans, the media, and haters, but that's because they're also the writers, creative directors, and producers of the show! Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the geniuses behind South Park, and we've got a ton of fun facts that we'll bet you didn't know about them - and the other voice actors on the show - listed below.

So who are the South Park voice actors? How many voice actors does it take to bring so many colorful characters to life? How much actual work do Trey Parker and Matt Stone do on the production side? Why did one of the key cast members leave the show? Well else do the voices of South Park do when they aren't working?

Vote up the best fun facts about South Park below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
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Trey Parker Has an Unlikely Hobby - and an Even More Unlikely Hero
Parker, who voices tons of characters on the show, such as Eric, Randy, and Mr. Mackey, has a deep love for the piano. He plays both piano and keyboard, and cites Sir Elton John as one of his biggest heroes. Parker has been playing piano since the age of twelve. He now plays the keyboard and sings for the band D.V.D.A.

Kyle Broflovski's Character Is Based on Matt Stone
The inspiration behind Kyle's character actually comes from his creator, Matt Stone. On the show, Kyle's parents are even named Gerald and Sheila - the same names as Matt's mom and dad.

Source: Wikipedia

Many of the Celebs on South Park Are Actually Voicing Themselves
Whenever a celebrity is parodied on the show, Stone & Parker have two options. They can either do the impression themselves, or ask the actor/musician/athlete to come on the show and voice themselves. Many rock stars have loaned their own voices to the show, especially when promised that their character will be viewed in a positive light. Joe Strummer, Ozzy Osbourne, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Meat Loaf, Brad Paisley, DMX, and other musicians have all made cameos on South Park.

Source: IMDB

Producer Jennifer Howell Was the First Girl Character to Get Boobs
Jennifer Howell is one of the producers of South Park, so she generally handles the business side of things. But when she decided to loan her voice to the character Bebe Stevens, Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided to reward her by allowing her character to be the very first girl to get boobs at South Park Elementary.

Source: About.Com
There Are Only Four Main Cast Members
Despite the fact that this show has been on the air for nearly two decades, and despite it's seemingly endless list of characters, there are only four main voice actors on the show. All of your favorite characters - Stan, Satan, Kyle, Jesus, Sheila, Principal Victoria, and the rest of the gang - are all voiced by the same four people. Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone make up virtually all of the main male cast, while Mona Marshall and April Stewart tackle all of the female voices on the show.

Source: Wikipedia
Token Works in the Art Department
Adrien Beard, the actor who plays Token Black on South Park, does double duty on the show. Not only is he the only black kid at South Park Elementary, but he's also a member of the Art Department.

Source: About.Com
One Member of the Voice Cast Left After His Religion Was Parodied
Remember Chef on the earlier seasons of South Park? He was a fan favorite, appearing in the early seasons as voiced by the irreplaceable musician, Isaac Hayes. But after one of South Park's most infamous Scientology episodes, Hayes walked away. It turned out that Hayes himself was a Scientologist, and he took serious offense to some of the show's jabs.

In an interview, Hayes said, "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins."

Source: Fox News
There Are Only Four Reccuring Guest Voices
The cast of voice actors on South Park is extremely small, and the pool of guest voice actors is just as tiny. With a main cast of four people, there are only four additional members of the supporting cast to help carry the show. The additional actors who loan their voices to South Park are: John Hansen (the voice of Mr. Slave), Vernon Chatman (the voice of Towlie), Adrien Beard (the voice of Token Black), and Jennifer Howell (the voice of Bebe Stevens).

Source: Wikipedia
Trey and Matt Voiced/Wrote/Animated a Movie Together Before South Park
Trey Parker and Matt Stone met at undergrad at the University of Colorado at Boulder. The two became fast friends, and began creating various comedic projects together. While at Boulder, they made The Spirit of Christmas, also known as Jesus Vs. Frosty, back in 1992. The film featured an evil Frosty the Snowman battling the baby Jesus.

One of the Original Female Cast Members Tragically Committed Suicide
Mary Kay Bergman, the incredibly talented actress who loaned her voice to all of the female voices in the early seasons of South Park, tragically killed herself in 2011. She had suffered silently with bipolar disorder and generalized anxiety disorders for many years, hiding her illnesses from co-workers, friends, and even her husband. After contributing to a radio program celebrating the 45th Anniversary of Disneyland, Bergman shot herself with a 12-gauge shotgun.

Bergman's loss was a heavy blow to all of the cast and crew of South Park. In the early beginnings of the show, she was credited as "Shannen Cassidy" because she did not want Disney to know that she was associated with such a vulgar show. Bergman had loaned her voiced to hundreds of cartoons in her lifetime, including the voice of Snow White, various characters from Beauty & the Beast, and Jessie's yodeling voice from Toy Story 2. She is survived by her husband, Dino Andrade, who started a memorial foundation in her name to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention.

Source: FamousDead

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is a titan of entertainment. In fact, he's more than lived up to his goal of being "The most electrifying man in Sports Entertainment!" He's surpassed sports entertainment and become one of the biggest, most bankable, movie stars in the world! He's fully transformed from Pro Wrestler turned actor, into a full time movie star.

But who is Dwayne Johnson? Who is The Rock? How does the man perceive himself and what goals does he have next? What Guinness and WWE records does he hold? Which shows did he appear on before he was a Movie Star? How storied is his family's wrestling history? Is he really that awesome and nice of a guy? The answer to the last one seems to be a resounding yes, the rest, and much more, will be answered below!

Vote up all of your favorite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson fun facts!

http://www.ranker.com/list/dwayne-the-rock-johnson-facts/coy-jandreau,

Appeared as His Own Father on That '70s Show
When your dad is an icon of the '70s and you become an icon of the 2000s and then there's a show set in the '70s, sometimes you have an amazing ability to play your own father in the past! This very thing occurred on an episode of That '70s Show in its very first season.

Often Hires His Cousin as His Stunt Double
When you're 6'4 it's hard to find a stunt double. When you're also 260LBs it's nearly impossible. Luckily for Dwayne Johnson (and all the productions he works on) his cousin is almost the same mountainous size, and a stunt guy! He's got a similar build, tattoos, and skin tone, and they've worked together for over a decade! On everything from Scorpion King to the Fast movies.

He Has Two Children
Dwayne Johnson recently welcomed a daughter with his longtime girlfriend Lauren Hashian. They named her Jasmine. He also has a daughter with his ex-wife Dany Garcia named Simone Alexandra Johnson. He announced his new daughter's name and revealed the first photo of her on his Instagram.

Had the Highest Acting Debut Paycheck
His supporting role debut in The Mummy Returns (2001) laid the groundwork for the spinoff The Scorpion King in 2002. Though the film is far from a masterpiece, it, and he, did set a world record. He was paid an astounding $5.5 Million for his very first movie! That's an insane amount for an untested (as of yet) actor's debut! It was clearly a worthwhile gamble.

He Was the First Athlete Ever to Host SNL More Than Once
When The Rock first hosted SNL back in 2000 many give credit to that appearance as getting his career as an actor started. So that in and of itself is well worth it. But when he was quickly invited back in 2002 it was the first time any athlete had been invited to return. This locked Dwayne/The Rock in as much more than just a wrestler. He was well on his way to film stardom. He has since gone on to host the program four times.

Is Partly Responsible for SMACKDOWN Being Part of the Modern Lexicon
The word "smackdown" was added to Webster's Dictionary in 2007. That's because of WWE's show, Smackdown!, popularizing the term, right? Wrong. The only reason Smackdown! was called Smackdown! (and still is) is because The Rock used to threaten "lay the smackdown" on somebody's "candy @$$" every time WWE was on TV. So basically the point is, The Rock added a word to the dictionary.

He Finally Owns the Name 'The Rock'
After years of the WWE owning the name, license, logos and phrases associated with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson finally has the rights to his other name. If you look closely at the credits to most of Dwayne's early films, WWE Films is almost always listed because of the use of the title 'The Rock' to advertise. Now he finally has it all to himself.

He Was the Top Grossing Actor of 2013
2013 was a great year to be Dwayne Johnson. He was everywhere. He even bested Robert Downey Jr. that year. While Iron Man 3 made an insane 1.2 Billion, Dwayne starred in a huge movie (Fast 6), a big film (GI Joe: Retalliation), and two smaller films (Pain and Gain, Empire State) adding up to 1.3 Billion putting Dwayne Johnson in the top spot!

Is a Recipient of the Congressional Horizon Award
Back in 2008 Dwayne Johnson was honored by congress! He received a Congressional Horizon Award which is an award to people who "have contributed to expanding opportunities for all Americans through their own personal contributions, and who have set exceptional examples for young people through their own successes in life." His ex-wife and daughter stood alongside him as he accepted the award.

He Had a Rough Childhood
Dwayne Johnson was a big kid, a real big kid. He was 6'4, 225LBs going into high school. This gave him both confidence and arrogance, which led to some troubled years. He was arrested a number of times from 14-15.

“I was running around and getting in trouble a lot. I was arrested multiple times for a multitude of things, from fighting to a theft ring to check fraud to more fighting. I did a lot of stupid sh*t and struggled to stay on the right path.”

Then at 15 he realized how much trouble and stress it was causing his parents so he cleaned up his act and has been on the right path ever since. He even uses some of his time helping other troubled youth to this day.

Fun Facts About the Voices of Rick and Morty

Rick and Morty has spawned a rabid fan base and created a sprawling sci-fi mythology, neither of which could have been accomplished without its voice cast. The Adult Swim animated series was met with immediate critical acclaim upon its debut and has only grown more popular since. What could have been little more than an easy spoof of Back to the Future turned into a strange combination of science fiction adventure, sharp satire, and sophisticated storytelling.

Much of the show’s success is owed to the performances of its principal cast. Co-creator Justin Roiland voices the two title characters, and he's joined by Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, and Summer Grammer as the rest of the Smith clan.Together, these actors have created a family that is wacky, yet also dark. From Roiland’s absurdly cynical take on the alcoholic Rick to Parnell’s hopelessly ineffectual Jerry, each actor vividly brings each animated character to aural life.

That's why there's a list of the most interesting facts about the voices behind Rick and Morty’s ensemble. Vote up the ones that you find the most interesting, and remember: Wubalubadubdub!

http://www.ranker.com/list/rick-and-morty-voice-facts/conner-schwerdtfeger, videos, tv, behind the scenes, other,

Dan Harmon Developed the Show After Being Fired from Community
Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland created Rick and Morty after Harmon was fired from his executive producer position on the cult comedy series Community. His animosity towards his former employers is perhaps most apparent in the above clip, which not so subtly addresses his feelings towards his time on Community.

Chris Parnell Thinks Jerry Smith Would Beat His Other Characters in a Rap Battle
When asked who would win a rap battle between Archer's Cyril Figgis, 30 Rock's Dr. Spaceman, and Rick and Morty's Jerry Smith, Chris Parnell admitted that he thought the victory would go to perpetual loser Jerry. He couldn't explain why, he just felt it in his gut.

Only One Actor Can Burp on Cue
Sarah Chalke, who portrays Rick's daughter and Morty's mother Beth, can make herself burp on command. This talent often annoys co-creator and voice actor Justin Roiland, who constantly struggles to get Rick's burps out.

Justin Roiland's Likeness Has Appeared on the Show
In the Season 2 episode "Get Schwifty" co-creator and Rick/Morty voice actor Justin Roiland appears as himself, tied up with a sign calling him a thief. Despite voicing numerous characters on the show, this is the only time to date where Roiland's likeness has been used on Rick and Morty.

Rick's Catchphrase Is a Mockery of Catchphrases
Justin Roiland has said that Rick's catchphrase of "Wubalubadubdub!" is meant to satirize TV show catchphrases, and was never intended to become a catchphrase itself.

In his own words, "That catchphrase thing is a joke on stupid catchphrases... That's the joke. It's a horrible cringeworthy catchphrase that I just made up in the record as an outtake that made its way into the show."
Stephen Colbert Has Been Featured On The Show
Stephen Colbert had a cameo on Rick and Morty as Zeep Xanflorp, a hyper-intelligent scientist from the microverse that power's Rick's car battery. Rick's intellectual equal, Zeep then turns on his creator and tries to trap him within the mircroverse.

Mr. Meeseeks and Lemongrab Take a Physical Toll on Justin Roiland
Justin Roiland has said that doing the high-pitched shrieks for Lemongrab on Adventure Time and Mr. Meeseeks on Rick and Morty, physically pains him, leaving him with a sore throat and a throbbing headache.

Justin Roiland Loves Voicing Both Main Characters
Justin Roiland has admitted that he loves voicing both of Rick and Morty's main characters by himself, primarily due to the fact that it gives him much more freedom to riff while he is in the recording booth and see where the dialogue takes him. Considering how absurd and seemingly improvised so many of their interactions are, his process appears to be working.

Justin Roiland Almost Didn't Voice Morty at All
Early in the development of Rick and Morty, Adult Swim wasn't too keen on the idea of Justin Roiland voicing both of the show's titular characters. The two frontrunners to voice the awkward teenager were prolific voice actors Billy West, known as the voice of Phillip Fry in Futurama (as well as Doug on Doug), and Tara Strong, known for her work as Harley Quinn in the Batman: Arkham games. Eventually, Adult Swim relented and Roiland was granted both lead roles.

Mr. Meeseeks Started with a Name and a Scream
During a Reddit AMA session, Justin Roiland admitted that he and executive producer Dan Harmon grew tired of coming up with complex story ideas, so instead, Roiland just started screaming "I'm Mr. Meeseeks!" From those simple outbursts they developed what has gone on to become perhaps the show's most popular character.

22 Hidden References You Never Noticed in Family Guy

Seth MacFarlane is best known for his sense of humor, as well as the way he incorporates pop culture references into everything he writes. However, perhaps his greatest achievement has been the longevity of Family Guy, which has remained a fixture in pop culture ever since it premiered in 1999.

Much like his other projects, Family Guy has a ton of hidden references and Easter eggs scattered throughout each episode. While some of the references are super obvious, there are a handful that proved just how clever MacFarlane could be with his pop culture jokes.We've put together a list of MacFarlane's greatest hidden Easter Eggs in Family Guy - see if you can remember all of them!

Whether it be a reference to one of the show's most memorable creative voices, a hidden callback to a previous joke from seasons ago, hidden characters from other MacFarlane projects, or timely jokes and plot lines, here are some of the most well-hidden references and Easter eggs featured throughout every episode of Family Guy up until this point! Check out this list, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.
http://www.ranker.com/list/family-guy-easter-eggs/oliverhanson,

Pause for a Headline Joke, Leave Disappointed
When the Griffins win a boat race, their story is plastered all over newspapers everwhere in the episode titled "Model Misbehavior". Keeping in line with the show's nods to its viewers, another headline below reads "DVDS PAUSED FOR HEADLINE JOKE - MILLIONS DISAPPOINTED." Family Guy knows how dedicated its fans are to finding these Easter eggs - so this one was a totally hilarious let down.
WWID
During the Passion of the Christ 2: Crucify This in "North by North Quahog", viewers might miss a fairly post-modern joke featured briefly. As Jesus is driving in some kind of midlife crisis convertible, his license plate reads WWID (What would I do?), which is a playful spin on the phrase "What would Jesus do?"
Gumbel 2 Gumbel
This reference is a behind-the-scenes in-joke about Seth MacFarlane's previous career experience. In "If I'm Dying, I'm Lying", Peter is given the opportunity to bring back any show of his choosing, and selects Gumbel 2 Gumbel. This show just so happens to be the name of the first project that MacFarlane pitched to Fox.
A Familiar Movie Scream
The Wilhelm Scream is featured several times throughout various episodes of Family Guy. Its frequent use is a pretty funny nod to the soundbite's overruse in cinema and movies, specifically in the Star Wars films.
Meg Is Short for "Megatron"
Traditionally, Meg would be short for Megan, but in "A Fistful of Meg," viewers learned that it is actually short for Megatron. After Lois gives birth, Peter altered her name on the birth certificate in honor of the most popular Transformers character.
Ron Jones, Walter Murphy, and John Williams
In "Brian Does Hollywood", there is a sequence near the end of the episode which features famous pornstar Ron Jeremy presenting the award for Best Original Score in an Adult Film, and the nominees include Ron Jones, Walter Murphy (both heavily invovled in the musical components of Family Guy), and famed composer John Williams. The idea of the man who scored Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park scoring a porno is totally absurd and hilarious.
The Cantina Scene Shows a Few Familiar Faces
The Star Wars-themed "Blue Harvest" episode of the series was an amalgamation of everything that made Family Guy so good to begin with. However, during the scene at the cantina, Roger from American Dad and Bender from Futurama make cameo appearances.
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
At the beginning of "Road to Rupert", Brian is having a yard sale. During one of his interactions with Stewie, you can see a pile of DVDs on the table featuring copies of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story, which was a straight-to-DVD Family Guy film.
99 Red Balloons
In the "Road to Germany" episode of the series, Mort Goldman accidentally travels back in time and runs straight into a Nazi scientist. He shows Goldman their 100 luftballoons, but sadly, one of them pops. This is a reference to the hit '80s pop song, "99 Red Balloons," by Nena.
All Work and No Play Makes Stewie a Dull Boy
In the episode "Love Thy Trophy," viewers catch a glimpse of Stewie playing with his building blocks. If you look fast, you can see that he has spelled out the word "REDRUM" using his blocks - which is a fairly blatant reference to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. In The Shining, Danny Torrance and his imaginary friend, Tony, begin spelling out the word "redrum" all over the Overlook Hotel where his family is staying. His mother finally realizes that "redrum" is "murder" spelled backwards. Knowing Stewie's character, this makes perfect sense.

Everyone on planet Earth know at least one or two of Seth MacFarlane's many incredible voices. You might recognize his work from one of his many hit movies or TV shows, or perhaps you know what he looks like from watching one of the various awards shows he has hosted over the years. Seth MacFarlane is the man who brought us Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show, Ted, and A Million Ways to Die in the West, and we've put together a list of inside secrets about his hilarious world.

Who is Seth MacFarlane when he's not working on one of his various projects? When did he get into animation? Why does he love doing it? What are his long term goals? What's his relation to the science world? What are some of his other (many) talents? How much is he worth? What is his personal life like?

We've poured through Seth MacFarlane's bios, stories, trivia facts, quotes, and anecdotes to make this MacFarlane fun fact list. If you want to know more about this hilarious animator, voice-actor, producer, and writer, vote up the best fun facts on this list below, and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section.

http://www.ranker.com/list/seth-macfarlane-facts/coy-jandreau,

He's Named After the Town Drunk
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is named after the town drunk. Many have falsely attributed his middle name, Woodbury, to a town in New England, but the real story is actually much funnier than that. This Esquire interviewer asked MacFarlane in so many words if his middle name had anything to do with the New England town. This was his response:

"That's what we thought. A lot of the men on my mother's side of the family had the middle name Woodbury, and about ten years ago, we asked my grandfather where it came from, and he said that when he was born in Gardiner, Maine in 1904, his mother thought that the town drunk was the funniest guy she'd ever met, and his name was Woodbury, so we're all named after not just a drunk, but a jolly turn-of-the-century drunk."

He Has a Creative Way of Acting with Himself
During his Reddit AMA, he was asked if it was weird to record multiple characters at once by himself. He explained his methods to curious fans in the below statement:

"Often I'll record one voice first, leaving pauses for the other character's lines. I'll then play back the first character in my headphones while voicing the second character, so it feels like I'm playing opposite another actor."
He's a Fantastic Singer, and Had Some Incredible Trainers
Any fan of Family Guy knows that Seth MacFarlane loves singing, but many people don't know that he's actually quite a talented singer. He's released a number of albums, and has even won a Grammy. MacFarlane has worked with some of the best vocal coaches in the industry to hone his singing talent.

“I was trained by a couple in Los Angeles that were both in their 90s at the time who worked with Sinatra at one point, trained him at one point, trained with Streisand at one point. They show you how to do it with no help. There are certain tools you can use in terms of your voice to sculpt your interpretation of the piece.”

He Used to Work for Hanna-Barbera
After college, Seth MacFarlane worked for animation titan Hanna Barbera. Before going on to craft his own animation empire, he was a writer and animator for many of their well-known programs. MacFarlane worked on everything from Johnny Bravo, to Cow & Chicken, to Dexters Laboratory.

He Was Almost on One of the Flights on September 11th
Seth MacFarlane was supposed to be on one of the two flights that collided with the Twin Towers on September 11th. He only missed his flight by about 15 minutes, as his travel agent had told him the flight was an hour later. He had been out drinking the night before, and showed up late to the airport due to a hangover.

A source told National Enquirer magazine, ''By all rights, Seth shouldn't be here. He missed the plane [to New York] because he was out boozing the night before the flight and got to the airport late."

His friend Mark Wahlberg (the other star of Ted) was also supposed to be on that flight.

His Mother Had Her Pelvis Crushed, Saving His - and His Sister's - Lives
There was a terrifying incident when Seth was a baby that gave him that scar on his head, and left his mother horribly injured.

“When I was a kid, I was about four years old, my mother was driving me to nursery school and my sister was in the car, she was 2-years-old. When I say car, the family car was a red Volkswagen bus, my parents were ex-hippies. It was the middle of winter, and my mother pulled up to a house to pick up another kid. She parks the bus on a hill, but the break was on an ice patch. The break slips, the bus starts rolling down the hill. My mother screams, runs after the bus, grabs me and pulls me out, grabs my sister, then pulls her out. I landed on my head, and split my head open. It gets so much more gruesome than that. Everybody was fine after the fact, but the bus went up on a snow bank, tipped over and fell on top of her. So from stomach down, she’s under the bus, you know, and she shattered her pelvis, and spent 2 months in the hospital.”

He's Been Nominated for a Staggering 105 Awards
Seth MacFarlane is best known for Family Guy, hosting award shows, and making hilarious movies. He's obviously a very talented dude in a myriad of categories, and his critics agree. He's been nominated for over 100 professional awards, including a Grammy for singing, an Academy Award for songwriting, Critics Choice Awards for Animation and Reality TV (Cosmos), the Emmy's Teen Choice Awards, a Spike Award, and many more. Out of the 105 awards he's been nominated for, he's won 28 of them.

Family Guy Was Inspired By His College Thesis, The Life of Larry
Back in the mid '90s when Seth was still in college he wrote, animated, and voiced two short films. One was called The Life of Larry (which was his thesis at Rhode Island School of Design) and its sequel, Larry & Steve. He voiced nearly all of the characters himself. The sequel, Larry & Steve, had a character that was actually a middle-aged dog named Steve. This was his first inspiration for Family Guy's infamous talking dog character, Brian.

He Acted Out Ted's Bodily Movements on Set
Seth MacFarlane was doing a lot on the set of Ted. Not only was he the writer, the director, and the voice of Ted, he was also the physical body of Ted! He was hooked up to sensors that the CGI team used to match Ted's body movements in the film. It must have been so fun to have the voice of Ted acting out the scenes side by side with the other actors.

He Was Nominated for an Oscar on the Night He Hosted the Academy Awards
Although Seth MacFarlane hosted the 2013 Academy Awards, he was also nominated for one himself that year. He was in the running to win Best Original Song for "Everybody Needs a Friend," from Ted. He didn't win, but needless to say, he handled the rejection like a champ.

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