“Because you changed the lives of millions around the world. So thank you so much.”
MTV / wovenwithwords.com
MTV / wovenwithwords.com
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Shailene Woodley's Speech Brought John Green To Tears At The MTV Movie Awards
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Voilà ce que tout le monde portait ce week-end à Coachella
Au royaume des franges et des bottes qui puent.
Kendall Jenner et Kylie Jenner
Premiere/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES
Blake Anderson et Tyler The Creator
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Fergie
Premiere/Rocstar/CPR/FAMEFLYNET
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Justin Bieber Wore The Tiniest Ponytail To Coachella
One small step away from a full man bun.
Here it is from the front:
Michael Kovac / Getty Images for NEON CARNIVAL
The side:
Michael Kovac / Getty Images for NEON CARNIVAL
And the back:
Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic
#BLESSED.
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17 Things You Missed At The MTV Movie Awards
ICYMI.
Amy Schumer started off the night by zinging MTV.
MTV / mtv.tumblr.com
Robert Downey Jr. won the Generation Award and gave some sage advice...
MTV / mtv.tumblr.com
MTV / makos-lightningrod.tumblr.com
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Sebastian Roche
Alberto E. Rodriguez, Jason Merritt, Jesse Grant, Frederick M. Brown / Getty. Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed.
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
My wife.
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
A glass of red …sometimes a malt whiskey.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
Brilliant.
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
No idea.
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
My wife.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
Nothing is awkward darling.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
It’s been too long… but can’t wait to see my buddy Sam Robards, here in LA, in The Price by Arthur Miller.
What TV show should everyone should be watching?
Well everyone’s watching it already… Game of Thrones. The Jinx is also amazing. Anything by David Attenborough. House of Cards. The Originals and Once Upon a Time.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
How to Get Away with Murder. Top Chef.
What's the first CD you bought?
Sting.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Stinky cheese. I’m half French, after all.
What music are you currently listening to?
D’angelo - Really Love.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
Team America World Police.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Bad manners. Ignorance.
What's your favorite day of the year?
My wife’s birthday.
What was your first online screen name?
NatureBoy.
What's your favorite emoji?
The shit with the smile on it.
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Both.
New York or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles.
Comedy or drama?
Both.
Bacon or Nutella?
Nutella.
Coffee or tea?
Tea. I’m half British, after all.
'80s or '90s?
'80s.
Britney or Christina?
Adele.
NSYNC or BSB?
Rolling Stones.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Who?
And finally: tell us a secret.
I grew up on a boat.
The Originals airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW.
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Chris Hemsworth's Wax Figure Looks Nothing Like Him
Probably because it looks nothing like him? Just a guess…
Here's Chris Hemsworth with the wax figure of himself at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, California.
Chelsea Lauren / Getty Images
But, um... it looked nothing like him?
Chelsea Lauren / Getty Images
And his face kind of says it all.
Chelsea Lauren / Getty Images
↧
Fredrik Eklund Sells 8 Absurd Items We Found On The Internet
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Any Bravo fan knows Fredrik Eklund as the bold, hilarious, and high-kicking real estate mogul, but did you know that he's also a published author? After reading Fredrik's new book The Sell, we thought it only appropriate to test the larger-than-life personality's ability to sell anything — and by that, we mean some really weird stuff. Here's how he did.
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed: Are you ready, Fredrik?
Fredrik Eklund: So basically I'm supposed make this sound like 'You have to buy this book!'
BF: Good luck!
Product #1: The "Knitting With Dog Hair" Book
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #3:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #4:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
[Ed. Note: Mousey and Frizty are Fredrik's beloved dogs.]
Item #2: Pickle Ice Pops
FE: When I first read this I thought it was Pickle Poops.
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
BF: What does that translate to?
FE: Salty goodness!
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Item #3: Oversized Lighters
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #3:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
FE: I mean, I don't smoke joi —
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
BF: What do you smoke there, then?
FE: We have cigarettes, we don't have joints! It's very illegal.
Item #5: Unicorn Meat
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed. Edit by Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
FE: It is! I mean, some people like Vitamin E, sodium, or Iron... I like to sparkle.
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #3:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Item #5: Handerpants
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #3:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Item #6: Easy Feet
FE: So basically they wash your feet? I mean, this is too much.
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
FE: It's an inside joke.
Item #7: Horse Head Mask
FE: You have to admit, this is bizarre.
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Item #7: Dog Wigs
FE: I mean, this is too much. This is where my career has taken me: #1 in New York City, now at BuzzFeed trying to sell this unsellable piece of...
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
FE: Dogs get bald, too!
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Item #8: Bullshit Button
Sell attempt #1:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
FE: Is that how you wink?! This is why I could never pick up anyone at a bar.
Sell attempt #2:
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Follow Fredrik on Facebook, Instagram, and on his website. You can order a signed copy of his new book The Sell here. Million Dollar Listing New York premieres tonight at 10/9c on Bravo.
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Caleb Ruminer
Getty. Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed.
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
A Jackson Pollock painting.
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
Some sort of rum.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
The expression "oh man!"
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
Carmax.com.
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
Called me: Mom
Texted me: Dad
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
I was jamming to "Blank Space" in my car with the windows down and the guy next to me caught me. That wasn't that embarrassing, it happens a lot. But, then he pointed at me and started laughing so hard I thought he was going to cry. I just kept driving and tried not to look at him.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
Theatre: In December to see an improv show. Movie theater: last week to see Insurgent.
What TV show should everyone should be watching?
The Newsroom.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
Spongebob SquarePants. I just went to see the movie with my college roommates 2 weeks ago.
What's the first CD you bought?
Millennium by the Backstreet Boys.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Peanut M&Ms.
What music are you currently listening to?
Little bit of Sinatra and a little 80's music.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
The Goonies.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
When my hands and feet are pruned from being in water
What's your favorite day of the year?
Christmas. No doubt.
What was your first online screen name?
Just my name. My first online account was MySpace. I didn't have Aol messenger or AIM.
What's your favorite emoji?
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies.
New York or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles.
Comedy or drama?
Drama.
Bacon or Nutella?
Nutella.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee
'80s or '90s?
90's.
Britney or Christina?
Britney.
NSYNC or BSB?
BSB.
Beyonce or Rihanna?
Beyoncé.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Lizzie McGuire.
And finally: tell us a secret.
I'm a huge Miles Teller fan.
Finding Carter airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on MTV.
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Is Shia LaBeouf's Rattail A Clip-On?
Here’s what we know.
Here's Shia LaBeouf's rattail at a screening of LoveTrue last night.
Noam Galai / WireImage
CPR/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES
CPR/FAMEFLYNET PICTURES
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Usher's Gold Crutches Just Raised The Bar In Performances
The bar has been raised.
Here's Usher on stage at Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day.
How about TWO. GOLDEN. CRUTCHES.
↧
How Celebrities Celebrated 420 This Year
Rihanna attended a 420-themed wedding. You just can’t top that.
Seth Rogen blazed up.
Rihanna looked cute...
...gathered her essentials...
...and attended a wedding.
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Kristen Taekman of "RHONY" Reveals 65 Things About Herself
She’d bathe in milk, she doesn’t like smelly people, and she loves poopy diapers.
David Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
1. Favorite color?
Green.
2. How tall is your hair?
You tell me, how tall is my hair?
3. Favorite pizza topping?
Mushrooms.
4. Favorite word?
Pretty.
5. Favorite vegetable?
No vegetables.
6. Favorite boy band?
Elvis, the original. He had a band to begin with.
7. Last book you read?
Whew, umm... it was Carol's book.
8. Favorite sport?
Soccer.
9. Last album you bought?
Lenny Kravitz's Are You Gonna Go My Way.
10. Favorite show on TGIF?
The Golden Girls. Always and forever. We always joke that i'm on the Golden Girls show. I mean, I am, not for nothing.
11. Favorite member of NSYNC?
Joey. I don't even know. There's gotta be a Joey.
12. Jorts or cargo pants?
Cargo pants. What the hell is a jort?
David Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
13. Best bowling score?
I don't even know. 100?
14. Mini-golf or real golf?
Mini-golf. Mini-golf is the only real job I had. I scooped ice cream at the Farmington miniature gold course. So I'm partial to mini-golf.
15. Solitaire or poker?
Poker.
16. Last person who texted you?
My girlfriend Elsa.
17. Mustache or goatee?
Mustache.
18. Any hidden talents?
I think I can sing.
19. Do you own plants?
Ha. One. I own one. I own only one at a time. It's that cool new one that everybody likes. It's big; she's really pretty. She's a little dry. I don't know how much longer she'll be with us.
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Allie Gonino
Rick Diamond, Craig Barritt, Araya Diaz / Getty. Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
The wallpaper on my phone is a picture of my dog, Lola.
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
If not water, I will ask for a shot of Fireball whiskey. If the bar is too snooty for that sort of libation, I will opt for a gin and tonic.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
"And."
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
The McKittrick Hotel.
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
Obama. Obviously I cannot elaborate, as our conversation is confidential.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
On my flight today, I was seated next to a very rude woman. She was "singing" loudly; everyone was noticeably bothered as it was an early flight. The flight attendant even asked her twice to stop during the safety announcement, which she ignored. I asked her if flying made her nervous or scared. She said, "No, it is my right to worship my God whenever I want," to which I replied, "OK, well, perhaps you could just do it a little quieter, in case people are trying to sleep or get some work done." She insisted she was not bothering anyone, and kept singing. Luckily, we both fell asleep until we started descending, when she started singing again. When we landed, I was in a hurry to catch my connection, but when I asked her to excuse me so I could grab my bag, she would not budge and told me I could wait for everyone else to get off before I got my bag. So I climbed over my seat to the row behind, and went around her, and some passengers around us expressed their support. I understood she just wanted attention though, and had no regard for her environment. It is still always better to handle yourself with patience and try to adapt to the situation rather than succumbing to bad vibes.
When was the last time you went to a theater?
I went to the Irish Arts Center tonight with my mom to see James Maddock play. Great venue, holy cow, the sound was amazing.
What TV show should everyone be watching?
If you think I would say anything other than The Red Road, you would have to be snorting chloroform.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
I do not have a guilty pleasure show, but I do partake in social media, which is definitely a guilty pleasure.
What's the first CD you bought?
I want to say Britney Spears' ...Baby One More Time? I think all the music I had before that was on cassette tapes.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Truly hard to resist chocolate-covered almonds if I see them sitting out...
What music are you currently listening to?
I have been listening a lot to the new Father John Misty record I Love You Honeybear, an old Etta James record Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie, and Glen Campbell's Greatest Hits record. Also been digging the new album from The Controversy, Don't Count on Me.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
Great question! Gotta be Dumb & Dumber and/or Napoleon Dynamite. I once threw up my popcorn from laughing so hard during the closing scene in Napoleon Dynamite when Napoleon rides up to Kip's wedding on his white horse. TMI?
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Definitely my own emotions, and my mind. When my mind is quiet, I am at peace.
What's your favorite day of the year?
Any day I have a successful bowel movement. TMI?
What was your first online screen name?
OMG, AIM, how classic. I think it was livelovely7 or something like that.
What's your favorite emoji?
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
PUPPIES!!!
New York or Los Angeles?
I love them both for different reasons, but I think L.A. has the edge over New York for me because of the scenery and weather.
Comedy or drama?
Comedy.
Bacon or Nutella?
Bacon dipped in Nutella.
Coffee or tea?
Tea. But I do enjoy the occasional latte.
'80s or '90s?
The '90s, like, duh.
Britney or Christina?
Gaga.
NSYNC or BSB?
NSYNC. But really, Green Day.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Lizzie!
And finally: Tell us a secret.
I just broke wind. TMI? Now look at this cute picture of me in a bathrobe!
The Red Road airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/9 CT on Sundance TV.
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Naturi Naughton
Mike Windle, ROBYN BECK, Gustavo Caballero / Getty. Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed.
What's your wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
It's the POWER poster for Season 2!
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
Cranberry & Vodka, or a Margarita!
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
"Perfect."
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
What Broadway shows are hot to go see.
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
My parents.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
I recently tripped walking up to a red carpet in LA and I totally ripped a little bit of the material at the bottom of my dress! But I got right back up, put on a brave face, and still hit the carpet! I knew there was a rip at the bottom of my dress so when posing for pictures, I just flung the flowy material and used movement in order to hide my little tear in the dress. No one even noticed:)
When is the last time you went to a theater?
I went to go see a friend of mine in the Broadway play You Can't Take It a With You starring James Earl Jones. Amazing! I love live theater!
What TV show should everyone should be watching?
Other than my show Power on Starz... Hmmm... Lol. I would definitely say watch American Crime. It's so good!
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
Real Housewives of Atlanta! No doubt about it.
What's the first CD you bought?
Destiny's Child, Writings on The Wall. I was always a huge fan!
What is the one food you cannot resist?
BBQ ribs.
What music are you currently listening to?
D'Angelo. His new album Black Messiah is on replay!
What movie makes you laugh the most?
This is kind of random but, Pure Luck. Martin Short and Danny Glover are hysterical!
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Lack of communication! Hate that.
What's your favorite day of the year?
Christmas Eve... My family is together and my mother makes cookies and we have eggnog and watch a classic movie together! Simple and pure joy.
What was your first online screen name?
Raindropzz4u.
What's your favorite emoji?
Smiley face with the tongue sticking out!
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies.
New York or Los Angeles?
New York all the way!
Comedy or drama?
Drama.
Bacon or Nutella?
Bacon.
Coffee or tea?
Tea.
'80s or '90s?
90s were the best!
Britney or Christina?
Christina.
NSYNC or BSB?
NSYNC.
Beyonce or Rihanna?
Beyoncé, All day.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Hannah Montana.
And finally: tell us a secret.
I am extremely competitive in the game Taboo. You don't want to mess with me! Lol!
POWER returns to Starz on Saturday, June 6th.
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Jerry O'Connell Has A Complicated Relationship With Uncle Jesse
Because his wife Rebecca Romijn used to be Rebeca Romijn Stamos.
Last night's guests on Watch What Happens Live were Lori Laughlin and Jerry O'Connell. Nothing awkward about that. Yet.
Bravo
But things took an immediate turn to Awkward City when Andy announced the night's poll question.
Bravo
And their reaction to the question.
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Nick Simmons
Valerie Macon, Araya Diaz / Getty. Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
What's the wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
On my phone, it's the Eye by MC Escher. On my computer, it's just black. Like my heart.
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
Water. Shirley temples. Other manly things like that.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
I converted my height into meters for a British friend. I'm 2.03 meters tall.
Who is the last person that called or texted you?
My mother and Norman Reedus. Weirdly.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
I scared the sh*t out of someone I thought was a friend of mine which turned out to be a stranger. So I just owned it and said, "YEAH. TAKE THAT" and ran away.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
I saw The Imitation Game and cried like a baby.
What TV show should everyone should be watching?
Hannibal or Cosmos.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
Friends reruns.
What's the first CD you bought?
Marilyn Manson, probably.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Chocolate anything.
What music are you currently listening to?
The Weeknd, Hozier, Lorde, the Black Keys, and (always) Led Zeppelin.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
Ace Ventura. Either one.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Superstitious LA people who try to convert me.
What's your favorite day of the year?
Halloween.
What was your first online screen name?
I don't remember. It's probably still out there somewhere... cold and all alone on AOL's servers. Poor little guy.
What's your favorite emoji?
The skull one.
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies. Kittens are made of claws and spite.
New York or Los Angeles?
New York, even though I live in LA.
Comedy or drama?
Drama.
Bacon or Nutella?
Don't do this to me.
Coffee or tea?
Tea.
'80s or '90s?
'90s, because no '80s hair dude sings better than Chris Cornell. Sorry dad.
Britney or Christina?
I refuse to pick my favorite ex-girlfriend, grow up guys.
NSYNC or BSB?
Nirvana. Screw the rules.
Beyonce or Rihanna?
Beyonce.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
Alex Mack.
And finally: tell us a secret.
I'm a summer intern at the Illuminati.
Nick's t-shirt collection with The Style Club is a 3 piece unisex collection with proceeds going to Sophie’s Place, a charitable youth organization in Vancouver.
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What Celebrities Wore To The White House Correspondents' Dinner This Year
Looking glam, everybody.
Wolf Blitzer and Jane Fonda
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
Chrissy Teigen
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
Tracee Ellis Ross
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
Gina Rodriguez
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images
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Kristen Taekman From RHONY Gets Revenge On All Of Her Cast Mates
It’s turtle time for Ramona.
Kristen Taekman is only in her second season of The Real Housewives Of New York City, but she's already had her fair share of drama. Everyone knows the housewives love a good prop, so we decided we'd let Kristen combine that with throwing things at peoples faces (another housewife pastime) to get revenge on all the ladies. Even those she hasn't had any beef with — yet.
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
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Tell Us About Yourself(ie): Alison Sudol
Mark Ralston, Jason Merritt, Chelsea Lauren / Getty; Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed.
What's your wallpaper on your phone and/or computer?
My guy, wearing goggle-like headgear at the surround audience exhibition in New York, and a Jonas Mekas photo.
When you walk into a bar, what do you typically order?
Rosé please.
What's the one word you are guilty of using too often?
Amazing. Rad. Equally guilty.
What is the last thing you searched for on Google?
"how to make baba ganoush?" —We’re having some friends over for a barbecue. I’m not going to make it, too intimidated.
Who is the last person who called or texted you?
My friend Myles.
What was the last awkward situation you were in and how did you handle it?
We met an older gentleman on a walk who was holding up a tiny baby, showing her off for the world to see. I said, super confidently, “Ah, congratulations! Proud Grandpa!” and he looked at me like I was an alien. “Papa” he said with a huge frown. There was no way to get out of that one. I smiled as charmingly as I could and ran.
When is the last time you went to a theater?
Does movie theater count? We saw Ex Machina last week, it was incredible. So good.
What TV show should everyone be watching?
Dig! Transparent! (end of shameless self-promotion). Girls, Togetherness, Modern Family.
And what is your TV guilty pleasure?
We don’t have a TV but we do love The Undateables out of the U.K. So heart-wrenchingly good.
What's the first CD you bought?
Mmm… can’t remember. I remember buying Elephant (White Stripes) and Coldplay (Parachutes) the same day though. It was a big day.
What is the one food you cannot resist?
Cake.
What music are you currently listening to?
Cocteau Twins, Mac DeMarco, Perfume Genius, Baden Powell, Astrud Gilberto, Cate le Bon.
What movie makes you laugh the most?
Step Brothers.
What drives you absolutely crazy?
Bad drivers. Open-mouthed eaters.
What's your favorite day of the year?
CHRISTMAS
What was your first online screen name?
Nope. Also can’t remember (brain is a sieve)
What's your favorite emoji?
♡
Pick one: Kittens or puppies?
Puppies with kittens.
New York or Los Angeles?
Both.
Comedy or drama?
Dramedy.
Bacon or Nutella?
NUTELLA TO THE MOON AND BACK
Coffee or tea?
Coffee.
'80s or '90s?
'80s.
Britney or Christina?
TLC.
NSYNC or BSB?
uh oh.
Hannah Montana or Lizzie McGuire?
I’d hug them both.
And finally: Tell us a secret.
I’m learning how to pole dance.
Catch Alison in Dig, airing Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/9 CT on USA.
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Neil DeGrasse Tyson On Talking To Aliens, His Bill Nye Bromance, And "StarTalk"
It's hard not to be totally transfixed by the brilliant astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and when he stopped by BuzzFeed in New York to chat all about his new show StarTalk, he pretty much, for lack of better words, blew our minds.
Tyson is turning his popular radio show StarTalk into the National Geographic Channel's first-ever late-night talk show, and we sat down with the famous scientist as he talked all about the new series and answered some very important questions from the BuzzFeed Community. Here's what we learned.
What’s going to be new and different about the talk show, compared with the podcast?
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Nothing. I just have to be a little better groomed — normally not necessary when you do radio. When someone says you have a face for radio, they're insulting you. So we're in a different set of course. We're in the Hall of the Universe of the American Museum of Natural History — gorgeous space. We're all delighted about how well that came out, but otherwise we're conducting the show in exactly the same way we've done it for radio and podcasts.
What part of the show are you most excited about?
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
NGT: StarTalk features people drawn from pop culture, and people you probably have heard of in many cases, and my conversation with them is about all the ways that science has impacted their lives. So they bring a fan base to the show, and then their fan base then hears their person have a conversation about science — where they learn, we hope and we expect, that science is infused in everything that we do in this world. It's not just some enterprise that you can step around, or climb over, or dig under. Or saying, "That's science, but I'm not into science, I'm into art." You learn how much science there is in the art you do.
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
So it's a way to mainstream what people maybe have previously thought was only for science geeks. In one example, I have [former] President Carter as a guest. I didn't ask him about the Middle East, even though he has a Nobel Prize for having negotiated peace there. I talked to him about his engineering background. So we got into a whole other aspect of his life that wouldn't really come out necessarily in other interviews. We had a StarTalk-ian conversation.
When did your (spectacular and sassy) bromance with Bill Nye begin, and what sparked it? (via Anniqueg)
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
NGT: (Laughs) My spectacular bromance? So, we were on the board of The Planetary Society, an organization co-founded by Carl Sagan, and that's when I first met him. He had just finished up on The Science Guy show — we clearly had overlapping professional interests, so we started comparing notes. I think we fed off of one another in our exploration of what works with the public, what doesn't work, what do they want, what do they not want; and his background is in engineering, mine is in science, and so they were complementary but also supplementary to one another. So I think it worked quite well, and we slowly became better and better friends, and a year ago he moved to New York City. So now I see him quite often — he comes to events, I feature him on the radio program. So that's it! And he taught me how to tie a bow tie. I'm still an amateur at it, but I was taught by the master, so.
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What would your advice be for a female high school senior who is discouraged from pursuing astronomy because she is constantly told it’s impractical and that she won’t get a job? (via PR)
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NGT: If you walk the streets of any big city, you will find street artists, street performers, street musicians — there are no street scientists. There are no street engineers. There are no street mathematicians. Ever wonder why? Because they're all employed! But in general, that's just a fact. Don't shoot the messenger. Now, I'm an academic and I value people pursuing their interests. So one should major in college in a subject that interests them without reference to what they think is the employability within that subject, for several reasons. One, the world changes faster than the time you're in college. So what is employable now may be less employable later. Maybe some other thing will come up that will interest you that is unseeable right now. All of these forces are at play.
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But regardless, if you do what you love the most, you may just become the best in the world at it. If you're the best in the world, it will beat a path to your door. And even if you do not draw the salary that others earn, you'll be far happier than they ever will be, if they're in professions foisted upon them by their parents or by social pressures of their friends.
What led you to having such a drive and passion for science? Is there a specific reason or is it just something you’ve always loved? (via jessyk49766b262)
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NGT: I think the universe found me, it was not I who found it. I was 9 years old [during] my visit to my local planetarium — the Hayden Planetarium here in New York City, where I now serve as director. And normally that plays pretty well, that's a small-town story. You know: Hometown kid does good, comes back, runs the thing. No one cares in New York. I tell people in New York [and they're like], "Yeah, your point is?" So at age 9 I looked up at the night sky — a night sky I had never seen before having grown up in the Bronx, where maybe a dozen stars are visible. The lights dim, the stars come out in the dome, and I have been hooked ever since.
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By age 11, I knew what I wanted to do professionally. At age 9 you just do it because it feels good. At age 11, I had an answer to the annoying question that adults ask children: What do you wanna be when you grow up? And my answer was an astrophysicist. At that point, that pretty much shut them up. Because there's no comeback on that. And I've been on that track ever since.
If there are any other life sources out there, what would you say to them? (via emilyc4cebcbb78 )
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NGT: Aliens? Did the person just not want to use the word aliens?
I guess so!
NGT: Well, it presumes that they and I have the capacity to communicate with one another. The fact is, there's life all over earth with DNA that we share in common with them, yet we have never had a meaningful conversation with any of them — even the life form closest to us, chimps. No one has ever [said], "Oh, how are you feeling today? You wanna go for a walk?" Something as simple as that! Not, "Could you solve this equation for me?" The simplest thoughts are not transferrable between species.
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Maybe we are as stupid or as unintelligent compared to them as chimps are compared to us, or dogs are compared to us. And if that's the case, there is no conversation low enough that they could dream up that could possibly sync to the highest levels of conversations that humans have ever conceived. That's a daunting reality. I'm just saying.
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How did you, as a young person, become an astrophysicist? What struggles did you face? Is it worth it? (via DylanJamesNemeth )
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NGT: Astrophysics was hard. So, do you do something that's easy and fun? Or do you do something that's hard and fun? Many people steer away from things that are hard or that they're not good at, on the premise that they'll never be good at it. I wonder how many discoveries are lost into the ether because someone was discouraged from doing something they enjoyed because they found it to be hard, and then gave up on it rather than stuck with it. And how long does it take someone to judge that it's hard and then give up? One semester, typically. "I wasn't good at it, I got a low grade and therefore I'm giving up on it."
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
My grades weren't stellar — they were OK. They weren't high enough for any teacher to say, "Hey, he'll go far!" Now they'll say that if you go back to them. But at the time, none of them would say it. They will correct their retrospective memory of me in this regard, but at the time, none of them were saying this. So it was hard. But I wanted to know it. I remember distinctly opening the calculus textbook in high school and seeing this page of formulas, squiggly lines, Greek letters, and I said, I will never, ever understand this. But month by month in the course, it was as though a fog were dissipating — I know what that is! Hey, I can put that together with that. And calculus rose up out of the depths of my ignorance into a potent tool to calculate the behavior of the universe, empowering me to realize my dreams.
So if you encounter something hard, that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. It means you should redouble your efforts to gain command of it. Because then you add it to your utility belt of methods and tools for solving problems when others can't.
If you had the opportunity to explore space but never come back to Earth, would you? (via Slytherin394 )
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NGT: Oh, of course! (Laughs) By all means! Bring the family, get a good Netflix account. You know, sure!
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
What’s your favorite movie about space? (via mango8fish)
David J. Bertozzi / BuzzFeed
NGT: I have several, but near the top of the list would be Contact, and Deep Impact — it's lost in the shadow of the film Armageddon where Bruce Willis saves the world. But Deep Impact was a similarly themed film where an astroid came and struck Earth. Except the asteroid in Armageddon had good aim. Pieces of it — one decapitated the Chrysler Building, another one I think hit the Eiffel Tower. It's like, what, they have LoJack on their aiming? What is that? That's directors believing that that's what they need to do to destroy a city. And in Deep Impact it hit the ocean, and then you get a tsunami to destroy the city. They did it right, and they still got to destroy a city. But Deep Impact got a lot of physics right, the acting was great, and the story was sincere. So Deep Impact and Contact — both appearing like a year or two from one another — for me are very high on my list.
Watch StarTalk Mondays at 11 p.m. ET/10 CT on the National Geographic Channel.
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