Topic

Entertainment & Media

A collection of 115 issues

The Web of Intrigue: How a 'Bad Back' Nearly Cost Tobey Maguire His Spider-Man Suit

Tobey Maguire's back pain nearly forced him out of Spider-Man 2. The studio hired Jake Gyllenhaal as his replacement, prompting a sudden recovery from Maguire, who reclaimed the role for the iconic sequel. The two actors later co-starred in the film Brothers (2009).

Downtown: The Forgotten 90s Animated Gem That Was Too Real for MTV

MTV's 'Downtown' (1999) was an Emmy-nominated animated series praised for its unique realism. Writers transcribed real conversations and used non-actors for dialogue, creating a cult classic that was unfortunately cancelled after just one season due to poor marketing and network shifts.

From Metropolis to Lucy's Living Room: The Unseen Genius of Karl Freund

Karl Freund, the visionary cinematographer behind German Expressionist masterpieces like Metropolis and Hollywood horrors like Dracula, was also the technical innovator who developed the multi-camera system for I Love Lucy, forever changing how television sitcoms were made and looked.

"Have You Heard My British Accent?": The Day Dick Van Dyke Hung Up on James Bond

In the late 1960s, after Sean Connery left the role of 007, producers shockingly offered the part to American comedy legend Dick Van Dyke. Famously self-aware of his terrible British accent from Mary Poppins, Van Dyke's hilarious one-question response ended the call immediately.

From Literal to Legendary: The Real Reason We Call It the 'Silver Screen'

The term 'Silver Screen' isn't just a metaphor. Early movie theaters literally used screens coated with silver or aluminum paint. This metallic surface was highly reflective, making the dim projections of the era bright enough for audiences to enjoy.

Beyond Chandler Bing: Matthew Perry's Staggering 6,000-Meeting Journey to Sobriety

In his 2022 memoir, Matthew Perry revealed a stunning statistic: he had attended an estimated 6,000 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. This number offers a profound glimpse into the lifelong commitment and immense struggle behind his public battle with addiction and his ultimate legacy of advocacy.

The World's Biggest Stage: How Edinburgh's Festivals Sell More Tickets Than Almost Anything on Earth

Every August, Edinburgh hosts a cultural event so vast that its combined ticket sales are surpassed only by the Olympics and the World Cup. The Edinburgh International Festival and the anarchic Fringe Festival together create the world's largest celebration of arts and culture.

Before the Hit: The Story of How a-ha's 'Take on Me' Failed Twice

The iconic 1985 hit 'Take on Me' by a-ha wasn't an overnight success. It was a complete re-recording of a 1984 single that flopped. This is the story of a song that needed three attempts and a revolutionary music video to become a global anthem.

The Surprising Journey of 'Red, Red Wine': From a Neil Diamond Ballad to a UB40 Anthem

Most people know UB40's reggae classic 'Red, Red Wine,' but few realize it's a cover. The song was originally a somber ballad written and performed by Neil Diamond in 1967 before being transformed into the global anthem we know and love today.