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'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant DeMario Jackson breaks silence: My character has been assassinated

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DeMario Jackson Bachelor in Paradise

"Bachelor in Paradise" contestant DeMario Jackson issued his first statement Wednesday since he was accused of sexual misconduct involving another participant on the show.

In the statement, Jackson called the accusations an assassination of his character with "false claims and malicious allegations" and said he will be seeking legal counsel.

“It’s unfortunate that my character and family name has been assassinated this past week with false claims and malicious allegations,” Jackson said in a statement to E! News. “I will be taking swift and appropriate legal action until my name is cleared and, per the advice of legal counsel, will be seeking all available remedies entitled to me under the laws.”

The statement was released just hours after “Bachelor In Paradise” contestant Corinne Olympios, the reported victim of the alleged sexual misconduct, announced that she has hired famed attorney Marty Singer to represent her.

The incident reportedly occurred early last week on the show's first day of taping. Sources have told news outlets that production was suspended after producers filmed a sexual encounter between Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) and Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21) while she was too drunk to give proper consent.

ABC and producer Warner Horizon have confirmed that an investigation into "allegations of misconduct" is in progress. It was reportedly the result of a "third-party complaint" filed by a show producer. But neither ABC nor Warner Horizon has confirmed that this season of the show has been canceled.

"Bachelor in Paradise," a summer spin-off of ABC's long-running "The Bachelor" franchise, has aired for three seasons. It features eliminated contenders from the franchise who are secluded at a beautiful destination and gives them another chance at romance.

SEE ALSO: 'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant reveals details of the scandal that could cancel the show

DON'T MISS: Corinne Olympios breaks silence about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' scandal: 'I'm a victim'

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NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'


Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah praise the 'uniting' of Americans after the GOP shooting

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Stephen Colbert Trevor Noah Scott Kowalchyk CBS

On Wednesday's "The Late Show," Stephen Colbert had "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah on and the two late-night hosts touched on the shooting that happened earlier in the day at a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, where GOP members were practicing for the Congressional Baseball Game.

The shooting injured five people, including Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who is currently in critical condition.

Noah, who was on to promote his new book "Born a Crime," told Colbert that when he saw the coverage in the aftermath of the shooting, he was happy to see "people from both sides seeing this and uniting under the banner of human and American before anything else. That's one of the things that we're seeing less and less of in society it feels like."

Noah believes that's why Democrats and Republicans need to show Americans more often that despite their divided views, they can get along.

“I think that’s something that’s lacking in American politics is politicians showing from both sides of the aisle that they are friends,” Noah said. “It’s almost become like wrestling where the fans don’t realize that those people get along. Those people fight every single day, but like Paul Ryan said today, like Nancy Pelosi said, they said we fight tooth and nail but we don’t forget that we are people, we are friends, we are families, we are colleagues. And I feel like they could do a better job saying that to America, is that, ‘Hey, we fight, you can fight, but don’t forget at your core you are Americans. Don’t ever forget that.’”

Colbert agreed: "That's absolutely right."

Watch Colbert's interview with Noah below:

 

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How producers 'play matchmaker' to orchestrate sex on reality shows like 'Bachelor in Paradise'

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the bachelor nick

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Allegations of sexual misconduct on the "Bachelor in Paradise" suspended production Sunday.
  • A reality-TV producer explains what it's like to handle alcohol consumption and sexual activity among cast.
  • Explicit rules include "no drunk driving, no drugs in front of kids, no nonconsensual sex."
  • He says its common for reality shows story producers to "play matchmaker" and plan out TV romances before the cameras start rolling.


James Callenberger has produced reality shows for MTV, VH1, National Geographic, and Fox. Writing under a pseudonym, he explains how sex and romance is manufactured behind the scenes on reality TV.

Producing reality TV isn’t for the faint of heart. Nearly every show, regardless of the nondisclosure and arbitration agreements that cast and crew are required to sign, faces the risk of a PR explosion if the methods used to create compelling TV entertainment are exposed in all their sordid glory. From the perennial allegations of vote rigging on American Idol to the occasional Caitlyn Jenner traffic death, ugly reality has a way of usurping the most carefully crafted story lines and focusing audience attention on what goes on behind the scenes. This week’s scandal on "Bachelor in Paradise," involving allegations of sexual misconduct between cast members DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, demonstrates the risks that both cast members and producers face when they sacrifice safety and self-interest on the altar of reality-TV spectacle.

For those just tuning in, news broke Sunday that "Bachelor in Paradise" suspended production pending investigation of “misconduct” on the set in Mexico. While no charges have been filed, a producer apparently reported what appeared to be nonconsensual sexual activity between the two contestants, triggering a full investigation by ABC and Warner Bros. of the incident. Unverified reports claim the production staff encouraged the two to hook up, and that by the end of a sexual encounter in a hot tub, Olympios may have been too intoxicated to give consent. Olympios has reportedly lawyered up.

corinne and demario bachelor in paradise

As a seasoned reality-TV producer, I’ve both led and endured countless crew meetings regarding alcohol and drug consumption and sexual activity among cast members. Television executives are overwhelmingly risk-averse, and the whiff of litigation can ruin a career, so we make sure that when we go into the field, we know the rules: no drunk driving, no drugs in front of kids, no nonconsensual sex. If we see that someone is moving toward nonconsensual sex, we step in, or better yet, encourage another cast member to step in, and capture the fallout on camera.

At the same time, on a show like "Bachelor in Paradise," the drunken hook-up is the coin of the realm. Even on shows less romantic than the "Bachelor" franchise, producers plan dalliances in preproduction. For example, years ago I was producing a show whose lead was a young man new to the entertainment business, and one of our season-long arcs involved a romantic relationship with a pseudo-celebrity. Producers reached out to a handful of potential cast members and asked if they would be interested in hooking up with our guy on the show. The one who was up for it got the part — she knew what she was getting into and used it to extend her fame into a 16th minute.

One can’t overestimate the value of that 16th minute of fame. More screen time translates into more social-media followers, which as Olympios has demonstrated with her Team Corn clothing line, means more money. Today’s reality-TV stars face a totally different calculus than those of yesteryear; while it was laughable that reality stars in the genre’s early days could parlay their notoriety into an acting career, today’s reality fixtures are opening nightclubs and selling skinny margaritas for millions of dollars. As such, there are implied incentives available to cast members who are down to fool around.

Excited to share a special surprise coming this week...😆🤐🤗 #jointheteam #staytuned #teamcorn 🌽

A post shared by Corinne Olympios (@colympios) on Apr 2, 2017 at 3:58pm PDT on

In order to deliver the most interesting romantic relationships, story producers in preproduction play matchmaker. In initial interviews, producers ask cast members whom they’re attracted to, then base their soft-scripted story lines on mutual attractions. Once on set, they gently encourage paired cast members to drop their inhibitions and follow their instincts. This is pure speculation, but a producer might have told Olympios something like, “It would be great to see you and DeMario get to know one another,” while another producer might’ve told Jackson, “Corinne is into you, you should make a move.” Meanwhile, a third producer may have been overseeing the scene in the hot tub, and this producer, who knew nothing about previous conversations, was perhaps the one who blew the whistle on the alleged sexual misconduct.

The free flow of alcohol complicates the matter. "The Bachelor" shamelessly encourages its cast to get drunk in order to calm nerves and erase inhibitions, and "Bachelor in Paradise," with its open bar and atmosphere of adult Spring Break, often functions as a fully documented drunken bender. But the same inebriation that helps romance blossom can also limit the possibility of consent, and this requires producers to walk a fine line, knowing full well that their jobs require them to bring home the goods.

bachelor alcohol

Reality producers very rarely interrupt good scenes. You’re much more likely to be dragged across the coals by an executive asking why you called cut than by one asking why you didn’t step in. Mistakes can be edited out, but drama can’t be recreated. That’s likely why, per reports, the producer who complained about Olympios and Jackson’s encounter didn’t step in and stop it while it was happening. During filming, producers are hyperfocused on two questions: Is this good TV, and how can I make it better? Only after the fact do they consider what happened from a moral and legal perspective.

If ABC chooses to cancel its fourth season of "Bachelor in Paradise," the network and studio will lose millions of dollars in sunk production costs and lost ad revenue, not to mention a PR nightmare that could end the spinoff entirely. This couldn’t come at a worse time for "The Bachelor," the rare broadcast franchise that has seen its audience grow in recent years.

In my opinion, the Bachelor in Paradise producers didn’t just screw up when they allowed the alleged nonconsensual hook up to happen, they also broke the cardinal rule of reality-TV production afterward: When disaster strikes, you shoot the disaster. If Olympios has a sexual-assault claim against Jackson, or even the producers, it would be much more edifying and entertaining to see that legal case play out live, both in and out of Paradise, than to read about it online. Reality television, whatever its flaws, is capable of contributing to the national debate about consent and sexual assault, and Bachelor in Paradise, by suspending production, has missed out on an opportunity to participate in that discourse.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Everything we know about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' sex scandal that could kill the show

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corinne and demario bachelor in paradise

A "Bachelor in Paradise" scandal threatens to not only cancel the show, but forever change ABC's long-running hit "Bachelor" franchise going forward.

An alleged incident of "sexual misconduct" that occurred while taping last week in Mexico has shut down production and forced ABC and show producer Warner Horizon into launching an investigation.

On Wednesday, both "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants who are reportedly at the center of the alleged incident, DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, released their first official statements. Both claim they're victims of the scandal and have sought legal counsel.

How did we get here, and what's next? Here's a rundown of all the events we know so far:

SEE ALSO: 'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant DeMario Jackson breaks silence: My character has been assassinated

DON'T MISS: 'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant reveals details of the scandal that could cancel the show

The potential for a sexual-misconduct scandal was already at play.

Before we go into the events of the current scandal, we have to acknowledge that all the elements for it have been cooking for years. It's almost a wonder that it took 15 years of "The Bachelor" and multiple spin-offs for a sexual-misconduct scandal to happen.

Just look at the mix: an attractive young man or woman vying for the attention of equally attractive people, competition, hunger for celebrity, and, in many cases, a real desire to fall in love. Throw alcohol into the mix, and you have a recipe for possible disaster and legal trouble.

That said, the current "Bachelor in Paradise" scandal — in which a female cast member was sexually assaulted while too drunk to consent, according to reports of allegations from those working on the show — stepped over the boundaries set for reality TV.

A veteran reality-TV producer, who has never worked on the "Bachelor" franchise but has worked on similar shows, told Variety that they found this situation "unusual."

"My concern about this situation is that if the person was beyond a point of making her choices and was still being shot and being put into this scenario, it's a very weird situation," the producer said. "When you talk about sexual assault, it's almost always just two people alone and it becomes a he-said-she-said situation; this is the most unusual situation because not only is there a third party, but there are cameras that watched everything that happened and everything that led up to what happened. That, to me, is the smoking gun as to why a franchise worth hundreds of millions of dollars was shut down."



Sunday, June 4: Day of the alleged sexual assault.

With three seasons under its belt, "Bachelor in Paradise" began taping its fourth season on this day in Mexico and was set to last three weeks. It also happened to be the day when the incident occurred, according to reports.

Sources told news outlets that a sexual encounter between DeMario Jackson ("The Bachelorette" season 13) and Corinne Olympios ("The Bachelor" season 21) occurred when she was too drunk to give proper consent and the show's cameras were rolling.

TMZ published a graphic description of the alleged sexual encounter between the contestants in a hot tub.



Tuesday, June 6: An investigation was underway, production halted, and the contestants were placed on lockdown.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, production continued on the show Monday. But at some point between Sunday and Tuesday, a producer filed a complaint about potential sexual misconduct. It isn't clear whether that producer was present while the alleged incident was being taped.

A contestant told People on condition of anonymity that taping was suspended and the cast members were placed on lockdown Tuesday, meaning they were sent to separate rooms, couldn't contact one another, and were under constant supervision by production.

"We were told to stay in a certain part of the [resort] while they figured out what the hell had happened," the contestant said. "We knew something bad had happened; there was a dark energy that came around the house. You have to understand that we weren't even there a week. The game hadn't even really begun yet."

THR reported that Jackson and Olympios were questioned ahead of the other contestants after the complaint was filed and were sent home.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant says the scandal cost him his job and video will clear his name

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demario jackson bachelor in paradise inside edition

DeMario Jackson, the "Bachelor in Paradise" contestant accused of sexual assaulting a female cast member, suggests tapes from the alleged incident will clear his name.

"My character has been assassinated, my family name has been drug through the mud," Jackson told "Inside Edition" for a segment to air on Thursday. "The only thing I want is for the truth to come out. I feel like the truth will be able to come out in those videos."

Jackson's interview with the newsmagazine show echoes his official statement released on Wednesday, in which he called claims that he sexually assaulted Corinne Olympios when she was too intoxicated "false" and "malicious.""Bachelor" cameras were reportedly rolling as the alleged incident took place. He also said that he has sought out legal counsel.

Jackson told "Inside Edition" that the scandal has cost him his job as an executive recruiter, but he doesn't blame anyone for what's happened.

"I don't blame anyone right now, all I want [are] the tapes," he said in addition to asking for privacy for himself and his family.

Olympios also released a statement on Wednesday. The alleged victim announced that she had hired famed attorney Marty Singer to represent her and said she had very little memory of what occurred that night, adding, "I'm a victim."

Currently, production on the show has been suspended pending Warner Horizon's investigation into the incident as a result of a complaint filed by a producer. The incident occurred on the show's first day of taping on Sunday, June 4.

Watch Jackson's interview with "Inside Edition" below:

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' sex scandal that could kill the show

DON'T MISS: 'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant DeMario Jackson breaks silence: My character has been assassinated

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'

The 'smoking gun' that led ABC to suspend 'Bachelor in Paradise' after an alleged sex scandal

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bachelor in paradise marcus lacy chris harrison wedding season 2

While the media has focused on "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants DeMario Jackson and Corinne Olympios, who are the center of the sex scandal that has shut down the show for now, a reality TV producer says the "smoking gun" behind its suspension really involves ABC and producer Warner Horizon's role in the alleged incident.

Variety spoke with the producer, who hasn't worked on the "Bachelor" franchise, but has produced similar shows.

The producer said that while one or more contestants could be at fault here in the case of an drunken fling gone too far, which is what has been alleged by sources close to the set, the real reason ABC and Warner would shut down production lies with the failure of their own producers and crew.

The reality TV producer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, laid out why this alleged sexual misconduct is especially unusual and has big consequences for ABC and its producers.

"My concern about this situation is that if the person was beyond a point of making her choices and was still being shot and being put into this scenario, it's a very weird situation," the producer said. "When you talk about sexual assault, it's almost always just two people alone and it becomes a he-said-she-said situation. This is the most unusual situation, because not only is there a third party, but there are cameras that watched everything that happened and everything that led up to what happened."

And while ABC and Warner contestant contracts make sure to cover the companies against anything that happens to and between contestants during their time shooting, that can surely be challenged in the case of incidents that included recklessness by producers.

"That, to me, is the smoking gun as to why a franchise worth hundreds of millions of dollars was shut down," the producer concluded.

"Bachelor" host Chris Harrison gestured to the production's responsibilities toward the cast and crew in his statement on Tuesday.

"Let me start by saying the safety and care of the cast and crew of our show is of the utmost importance to us," Harrison said. "It is with this thought in mind that we made the decision to suspend filming. An investigation into the situation was started immediately. Warner Bros. is handling the details of that investigation. They're moving quickly to gather all the facts, and once that's done, a clear, concise decision can be made about where we go from here."

A producer reportedly filed a complaint about the alleged incident, after which the investigation was started. As of yet, no charges have been filed with law enforcement, but both Olympios and Jackson have said they have sought legal counsel. ABC and Warner may have quite a legal battle ahead of them.

SEE ALSO: 'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant says the scandal cost him his job and video will clear his name

DON'T MISS: Everything we know about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' sex scandal that could kill the show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'

Stephen Colbert mocks Fox News for dropping 'fair and balanced' motto: 'They finally watched themselves'

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stephen colbert fox news slogan cbs late show

Stephen Colbert celebrated conservative-leaning Fox News Channel's decision to drop its "fair and balanced" slogan.

"Fox News is dropping its 'fair and balanced' slogan," the "Late Show" host said on Thursday's episode. "I assume because they finally watched themselves."

According to The New York Times, the main reason Fox News dropped the longtime slogan was to distance itself from its founder, the controversial Roger Ailes, who was fired last August amid multiple complaints of sexual harassment. Ailes died in May at 77 years old.

But Colbert may have contributed to one of the other reported reasons Fox News dropped the slogan.

“According to a Fox insider, the slogan was dropped because the phrase had been mocked,” he said, before placing his finger on his lip in a guilty manner. "I’m sorry."

To make up for it, Colbert jokingly offered some slogans to replaced the one Fox News is leaving behind. They included:

"CNN for your angry uncle."

"Thanks for watching, Mr. President."

"You’d be pretty if you smiled more."

Watch the video below:

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There's one really good thing to come out of the 'Bachelor in Paradise' scandal

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bachelor in paradise

Amid all the press and scandal surrounding "Bachelor in Paradise" right now, it's clear that very few of the people and companies involved will get out unscathed.

On the most basic level, we have a man who, according to allegations from sources close to production, performed sex acts on a woman who was too intoxicated to give proper consent. The alleged aggressor, "The Bachelorette's" DeMario Jackson, says he's innocent and is a victim of an assassination of his character.

At the same time, the woman in question, allegedly "The Bachelor's" Corinne Olympios, has said she is a victim as well.

Is it possible for both of them to be victims?

Yes. Sure, they signed up to exploit their good looks and loose ideas of what constitutes true love for the world to watch. But "Bachelor in Paradise" can be blamed for placing them in these predicaments to begin with and letting things go too far.

We have to acknowledge that all the elements for an incident like this have been cooking for years. It's almost a wonder that it took 15 years of "The Bachelor" and multiple spin-offs for a sexual-misconduct scandal to happen.

Bachelor in paradise sexual assault season 3 abcJust look at the mix: an attractive young man or woman being vied for by 20 equally attractive people, competition, hunger for celebrity, and, in many cases, a real desire to fall in love. Throw alcohol into the mix, and you have a recipe for possible disaster.

That is why reality TV contestants basically sign away all their rights to sue a network and the show's producers before they can get one second of airtime. Everyone, especially the producers, knows that the conditions of dating shows like this are likely to lead to some pretty questionable situations. I'm willing to bet that similar drunken sexual altercations have happened during shooting on other seasons, but were taken care of quietly because they occurred between adults off-camera.

As one reality TV producer told Variety, what set this situation apart is that there were allegedly producers and crew members watching the incident go down as the cameras continued to roll and not one of them decided to step in to stop what was happening. That's the "smoking gun" that forced ABC and Warner to shut down a multimillion-dollar production and begin an investigation.

The failure to act of those people employed by Warner, and by extension ABC, made this drunken sexual encounter hard to keep contained. It opens the companies up to all kinds of legal liabilities. There will probably be payouts to those cast members involved, several people fired, and a lot of embarrassment for the companies involved.

the bachelorOkay, so what's this good thing I mentioned that would come from all this?

You know how they say that flying after a terrorist attack is the safest time to do so, because everyone is on high alert? Well, we're about to enter the safest time ever to be on a reality dating show.

After this scandal, not only will the "Bachelor" franchise be more careful about protecting its cast members, the entire industry will be. Again, not because they especially care about the welfare of their cast members, but because they're going to want to protect themselves from being liable. I even predict less alcohol, more creative ideas for triggering drama and romance, and more stringent casting practices.

So go ahead, shoot your audition tape. This is the time to do it.

SEE ALSO: The 'smoking gun' that led ABC to suspend 'Bachelor in Paradise' after an alleged sex scandal

DON'T MISS: Everything we know about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' sex scandal that could kill the show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'


'Bachelor in Paradise' contestant Corinne Olympios wants tapes of the alleged sexual misconduct

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Corinne Olympios

Corinne Olympios is requesting the tapes from the alleged "Bachelor in Paradise" scandal that has made news recently.

“Corinne hasn’t seen the tapes,” the contestant's publicist Stan Rosenfield told The Hollywood Reporter. “We just want to find out what happened and get to the bottom of it."

THR reports that Marty Singer, Olympios' high-powered attorney, has sent a letter to "Bachelor in Paradise" producer Warner Bros. demanding that it release the tapes to his client.

According to sources close to the production, Olympios was engaged in sexual acts with fellow cast member DeMario Jackson while taping the show last week. Show sources have alleged that she was too intoxicated to give consent. Warner launched an investigation into the situation and suspended production on the show after a producer filed a complaint.

Olympios said in a statement on Wednesday that she had very little memory of what occurred that night, saying that she was "a victim."

Olympios' request to see the tapes aligns with Jackson's call for the tapes on Thursday. He told "Inside Edition" that he believes the footage will clear his name.

Though "Bachelor in Paradise" contestants sign contracts protecting ABC and Warner Bros. from lawsuits stemming from incidents that occur during shooting, if Olympios or Jackson can prove that the producers were acting recklessly, they could have a case against the companies.

As of now, Warner's investigation into the alleged incident is ongoing and no charges have been filed with law enforcement. Show sources have said it's doubtful the "Bachelor" summer spin-off's fourth season will resume production.

SEE ALSO: There's one really good thing to come out of the 'Bachelor in Paradise' scandal

DON'T MISS: Everything we know about the 'Bachelor in Paradise' sex scandal that could kill the show

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Everything you need to know about Corinne Olympios — the newest villain on 'The Bachelor'

Steve Ballmer spent his last weeks at Microsoft secretly binging on Netflix

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Steve Ballmer

The story goes: After Steve Ballmer retired from his 34-year career at Microsoft in 2014, including 14 years as its CEO, he felt so lost that he spent weeks at home binging Netflix.

So when we sat down to talk to Ballmer during the Code conference a couple of weeks ago in LA, we asked him about it.

Turns out the story is sort of true and sort of not. When Ballmer left Microsoft he didn't binge on Netflix. He became a golf fanatic, spending nearly every minute playing, he told us. He no longer plays that much but still calls golf his guilty pleasure.

But he did do a major Netflix binge. Only it was during the final three weeks when he was still technically working as Microsoft's CEO. 

"I binged in this show 'The Good Wife.' I watched 100 episodes of 'The Good Wife' in three weeks. That was actually before I retired. I had everything planned out so that we were going to announce my successor before Christmas. And then the board decided not to. They hadn't made a final call. Can you start a new project when you think you hve two weeks left or three weeks left? So I said, now what do I do?" Ballmer laughed and mimed using the TV remote control.

The board announced Satya Nadella as Microsoft's new CEO at the beginning of February, so he had a good month of free time on his hands.

And he may, actually, have binged on more than 100 episodes. "The Good Wife" aired over seven seasons for a total of 156 episodes.

Moral of the story: Even iconic CEOs at powerful tech companies are tempted to goof off at work after giving notice, just like a Regular Joe.

SEE ALSO: Steve Ballmer could be the happiest retired guy on earth, and the best part is the golf

SEE ALSO: Why billionaire Steve Ballmer spent $10 million to build a free — and strangely patriotic — website

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Qatar Airways CEO says 'illegal blockade' won't change growth plans (BA)

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Qatar Airways

PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - A boycott by four Arab nations will not halt Qatar Airways' growth or plans to accept delivery of new aircraft, it said on Monday, adding it was seeing demand return after an initial downturn.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5 in the worst diplomatic crisis in the region in years.

The crisis has seen those countries close their airspace to Qatar Airways, forcing it to fly longer routes and thereby adding costs.

"There has been monetary impact," Chief Executive Akbar al Baker said in an interview onboard one of Qatar Airways' 777 jets at the Paris Airshow on Monday.

"We have had a lot of cancellations, especially to the four countries that did this illegal blockade, but we have found new markets and this is our growth strategy," he said, adding passengers were returning to the carrier after initially being deterred when the boycott started.

He said Qatar was not the only country affected by the crisis.

"All these countries have families on either side of the borders, they have relatives, children, investments. Eventually, people will realize that the move they have done against my country was ill-thought out and ill-advised and that life has to come back to normal," he said.

Qatar is talking with the United Nations' aviation agency, ICAO, about the airspace rights' dispute, and Al Baker said he was disappointed with their actions thus far.

"I don't think they have moved enough, I don't think they have taken this matter very seriously," he said.

He said Qatar Airways had plenty of growth opportunities elsewhere, citing new routes opening this month to Dublin, Skopje and Sarajevo as examples.

"We are not going to defer any of our aircraft ... We are continuing our aircraft deliveries at the same pace as we are contractually obligated to do," he said, adding Qatar was in talks to add more freighter capacity.

Al Baker said Qatar Airways still wanted to buy a stake in Italian carrier Meridiana, though there were "a few things to iron out."

However, Qatar is not interested in struggling carrier Alitalia, which is in the process of seeking a buyer.

"We are not interested to look at the books because I know how it has been left behind by one of the airlines that was too keen to relaunch it and failed," he said.

Separately, Qatar plans to set up a full-service Indian carrier to fly domestic routes with around 100 narrowbody planes after the country opened up the airline industry to foreign investors.

Al Baker said an application would be made for an operating licence soon, without giving a more precise timeframe.

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter)

SEE ALSO: Qatar Airways CEO calls airspace blockade 'illegal' — but says most of its network isn't affected

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John Oliver: Why 'Trump needs to stop lying to coal miners'

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Coal John Oliver HBO final

On Sunday's "Last Week Tonight," host John Oliver delved into a topic that has been prominent in the news recently thanks to President Donald Trump: the coal industry.

Though Trump used coal as a reason for pulling out of the Paris climate agreement earlier this month, Oliver dedicated his longer segment to explaining why he believes Trump needs to start being honest with coal workers.

Oliver points out that though Trump supporters push the narrative that former President Barack Obama is the cause for the decline in coal jobs due to legislation under his administration, the fact is that coal mining has been in a decline for a decade.

This has to do with the drop in natural gas prices and growth in renewable energy. Then there's also the reality of the world we live in now when it comes to hard labor.

“The hard truth is even if consumption wasn’t declining, companies would still be cutting jobs as they are increasingly replacing miners with machines,” Oliver said.

The dilemma is that even though new energy jobs are on the rise, that's not happening in states that have been historically known for being coal country. And because of that, Oliver believes Trump needs to be more truthful to the mining community.

But there's a problem: He's got friends in high places in the world of coal.

His Secretary of Commerce is Wilbur Ross, founder of International Coal Group. And during Trump's campaign for president, one of his biggest supporters was Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy.

“If Trump really cares about miners, he would be putting a plan in place for their futures as mining continues its long-term decline, but he isn’t doing that,”  Oliver said. 

In fact, Oliver points out, Trump's new budget proposal would cut funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission, which helps revitalize communities affected by coal mining job losses. 

“Trump needs to stop lying to coal miners. We all do," Oliver said. "Stop telling them that their jobs are all coming back when they’re not, stop telling them coal is clean when it isn’t, and stop pretending that this isn’t an industry in the middle of a difficult, albeit necessary transition. An honest conversation about coal and its miners needs to be had.”

Watch John Oliver's segment on coal below:

 

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The new $500 Xbox makes games look better on all TVs — not just 4K TVs (MSFT)

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One of the buzzwords surrounding Microsoft's Xbox One X announcement was "4K," as the new console promises gaming in the coveted 4K resolution.

But the Xbox One X isn't just for those with 4K TVs.

Microsoft announced during its press event at E3 last week that the new Xbox One X will use a technique called "super-sampling" to make games on the Xbox One X look better than on an original Xbox One or Xbox One S if you have a 1080p TV.

Super-sampling essentially means that edges around in-game characters and objects will appear smoother, which should enhance the overall look of a game on a 1080p TV. With super-sampling, games can also look more detailed on a 1080p TV with an Xbox One X.

forza 7

Another benefit of using an Xbox One X is that games will load faster due to the console's sheer power. 

You can actually get an idea of what super-sampling will look like on the Xbox One X, as Sony's 4K-enabled PlayStation 4 Pro console also uses super-sampling to make games look better on 1080p TVs. Digital Foundry found that super-sampling made several games look better on 1080p TVs, especially those that had issues with jagged edges around in-game objects and characters.

With all that said, it's probably not worth upgrading to the Xbox One X if you already have an Xbox One or Xbox One S and a 1080p TV. With the price of the Xbox One and Xbox One S dropping dramatically over time, you probably wouldn't get much if you were to sell your old Xbox online to offset the Xbox One X's $500 price tag. For example, you can buy an Xbox One S that comes bundled with Minecraft for $200 for a limited time on eBay

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's Xbox One X 4K gaming console is $100 more than the PlayStation 4 Pro, but it's actually a good deal

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NOW WATCH: Microsoft is making it possible to play original Xbox games on the Xbox One

Snap shares surge on $100 million deal to make shows with Time Warner (SNAP, TWX)

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Snap NYSE Snapchat

Shares of Snap Inc. jumped nearly 3% on Monday following the news that the maker of Snapchat had entered an agreement to make original shows with Time Warner.

The deal means Time Warner will pay Snap $100 million to develop shows and advertise in the app over the next two years, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The partnership comes at a crucial time for Snap, whose shares sunk last week to its $17 IPO price. Tech giants like Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are all increasingly competing for original shows.

Snap typically broadcasts one show a day in its app under a "Shows" header. They all are five to 10 minutes and made in participation with networks like NBC, ABC, BBC, A&E, Discovery, Vice, and others. Shows have collectively drawn "audiences of over 8 million," Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said during the company's latest earnings call.

By the end of 2017, Snap aims to have two to three shows air in its app every day, a representative told Business Insider in May.

"This partnership is another exciting step as we continue to branch out into new genres, including scripted dramas, comedies, daily news shows, documentaries, and beyond," Snap's vice president of content, Nick Bell, said in a statement on Monday.

SEE ALSO: The world's biggest ad company plans to spend $200 million on Snapchat this year

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NOW WATCH: WPP CEO Sir Martin Sorrell on Snapchat becoming the 'third force' to Google and Facebook

The 'Great British Baking Show' is officially back

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great british bake off

The INSIDER Summary:

  • "The Great British Baking Show" is coming back with its fourth season in America Friday night on PBS.
  • The cooking show is unlike any American reality series.
  • The show is calm and the contestants are supportive of one another.
  • During these chaotic times, this wholesome cooking show is needed.


In the Divided States of America, where a volatile reality-show president is in the White House and even tragic events like mass shootings manage to ignite nasty arguments on social media, there is something particularly restorative about watching "The Great British Baking Show."

About ten minutes into the first episode of the fourth season to air in America, which debuts Friday night on PBS, I could feel the anxiety brought on by the day’s news start to slide away like lemony liquid running down the side of a drizzle cake.

This is technically a competition series designed to capture all the stress of attempting to assemble gingerbread houses and make Viennese whirls under tight deadlines. And it does capture that. But unlike a lot of American cooking shows — and, as evidenced by the current controversy swirling around "Bachelor in Paradise," reality shows in general — it takes place within such a supportive and mature atmosphere that watching it induces an immediate sense of calm. I’m not saying that if more people watched "The Great British Baking Show," world peace could be achieved. But I’m not not saying that either.

Great British Bake Off judges

The judges — culinary experts Mary Berry, who, sadly, won’t return after this season, and Paul Hollywood, the closest thing this show has to a Simon Cowell — are certainly not unfailingly polite. Both often offer harsh assessments of their charges’ work. But they are rarely nasty, and the contestants themselves, all amateur bakers who take the experience seriously, tend to buoy each other up more often than tear each other down.

When one wins a challenge or gets high marks from Hollywood and Berry, it’s not uncommon for him or her to get a thumbs-up or a “Well done” from a rival baker. And in the second episode of this season, when one baker, Louise, drops an entire sheet of freshly baked biscuits while pulling them out of the oven, fellow competitor Candice — who could pass, in a certain light, for Victoria Beckham — rushes over to ask if she’s okay, then cleans the mess. Isn’t this what we all should aspire to be: the kind of person who’s there to help pick up the biscuits?

Of course, this emphasis on communal spirit over interpersonal drama has always been core to "The Great British Baking Show." At the moment, it just happens to feel more valuable than ever. So does the sense that, whether it’s true or not, the events that transpire are organic and not being heightened for the sake of the camera.

great british bake off

During this season, which aired last year in the UK, regular viewers can expect to encounter all the usual Baking Show elements: a weekly series of challenges focused on different types of baked goods, from cakes to breads to botanically inspired concoctions; competitors who come across, without exception, as likable, decent humans; dashes of humor and encouraging pep talks from hosts Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc, for whom this is also the last season; and that huge wedding tent of a set that appears to have been set up in Lady Mary Crawley’s sprawling backyard.

PBS is wise to schedule "The Great British Baking Show" on Friday nights. At the end of a long, difficult week — and is any week not at least semi-trying these days? — the best possible therapy is to put up one’s feet, snap on the television, and watch a bunch of Brits demonstrate what it means to live up to that most British of slogans: “Keep Calm and Carry On With Your Jaffa Cakes.”

Great British Bake Off

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Seth Meyers investigates whether Trump is being investigated: 'Trump is desperate'

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In the “Closer Look" segment on Monday night’s ”Late Night,” host Seth Meyers investigated whether Donald Trump is being investigated for potential ties to Russia.

“Trump is desperate to talk about anything other than the investigation which has escalated so quickly that it seems like almost everyone around Trump is lawyering up,” Meyers said. “Things have gotten so bad that Trump’s lawyers have their own lawyers now. He’s got layers and layers of lawyers. And you need layers of lawyers when you’re a liar.”

Meyers said Trump has become “so transfixed by the investigation that he often insists, out of nowhere, that he did nothing wrong.” According to one report, the president has interrupted conversations unprompted by saying, “I’m not under investigation.”

“You know, like innocent people do,” Meyers said.

But then last week, Trump tweeted that he is under investigation — and that it’s a “witch hunt.”

That story seemed to change again when Jay Sekulow, a member of Trump’s legal team, appeared on Sunday news shows and tried to convince everyone that despite what the president tweeted, he is definitely not under investigation.

“So everyone around Trump is lawyering up,” Meyers said. “His staff can’t stop him from freaking out on Twitter, and he can’t seem to agree with his own legal team about whether he’s under investigation.”

SEE ALSO: 100 movies on Netflix that everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

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This 'Game of Thrones' map reveals the insane distance some characters travel

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Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Game of Thrones."

If you've only watched HBO's "Game of Thrones" adaptation, you might not have a clear grasp on the gigantic scope of George R.R. Martin's fictional universe. While on-location shoots in Ireland, Spain, Iceland, and other countries give a convincing geographic range, characters will often depart one castle and arrive at the next with no indication of how far they've really traveled.

So how big are the continents of Westeros and Essos?

Several fans have worked hard to createinsanely detailed maps, using a quote from the books as the basis for scaled distance. In "A Storm of Swords," Night's Watch brother Sam Tarly says the Wall is "a hundred leagues long." Since the Wall spans perfectly from one edge of Westeros to another, and Martin said one league equals three miles, we can use this to measure distances elsewhere.

We've created our own map and charted four of the longest and most interesting journeys from the first five seasons. Take a look below:

Insider_GoT Travel Map

Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish journeyed nearly 2,000 miles as his scheming brought him from King's Landing up to Winterfell. Then, on season five, Littlefinger traveled from Winterfell to King's Landing in the span of just two episodes. The estimated distance of this journey is about 1,500 miles (the equivalent of traveling from Maine all the way down to Florida), though the show makes it seem like a breeze.

Yara Greyjoy was traveling during virtually all of season four, heading from the Iron Islands to the Dreadfort on a rescue mission. Since this entire voyage happened offscreen, you may not have realized Yara was sailing around the entire continent of Westeros to get there.

Daenerys Targaryen spent the first six seasons trying to return to Westeros, and traveled nearly 5,000 miles in the wrong direction during the process. Starting in Pentos, she made her way east across Essos in order to gain power before finally setting sail for Westeros on the season six finale.

Tyrion Lannister, meanwhile, has gone farther than any other character. From the northern tip of Westeros all the way to Slaver's Bay, his total mileage comes in just shy of 6,500 miles. That's the equivalent of going from New York City to San Francisco and back. Only instead of driving or flying in a plane, he's doing most of it at the speed of a horse's trot. Tyrion is notorious for reading foreign books and studying languages — clearly his cultural knowledge is paying off as he survives traveling around the known world. 

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NOW WATCH: The 'Game of Thrones' characters have changed a lot — their costumes show how the've evolved

Trevor Noah says he's been stopped by American cops '8 to 10 times' in 6 years

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After calling out the NRA's lack of response to the fatal shooting of legal gun owner Philando Castile on Monday's "The Daily Show," host Trevor Noah continued to delve into Castile's death in a segment Tuesday night, adding a personal account of his interactions with police as a black man in the United States. 

Last week, the Minnesota cop who shot and killed Castile in July 2016 was acquitted of all charges.

Recently released and sickening dashcam footage of the shooting reveals Castile cooperating with a routine traffic stop and calmly informing the officer that he has a firearm. The officer then shoots Castile seven times, just over a minute after the traffic stop began.

In his segment, Noah discussed how Castile, a "model citizen," was stopped 49 times by cops before he was fatally shot. The "Daily Show" host then admitted that he has been stopped by police "at least eight to ten times" since he started living in America six years ago — a fact he attributes to a "state racism" that he believes is ingrained in American police forces. 

"Oftentimes in America, the conversation gets caught up in racism as it pertains to black and white," Noah said. "But I don't believe that that is the conversation... I believe that the police force is trained in such a way that it creates a state racism that's different."

Watch the segment below:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert and Trevor Noah praise the 'uniting' of Americans after the GOP shooting

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Here are all the movies leaving Netflix in July that you need to watch right now

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Working Girl

Netflix has released the titles that will be leaving its streaming service in July, so take a break from your tans and watch some great movies before they're gone.

There's some very worthy stuff you should consider: Mel Brooks’ classic “Blazing Saddles,” the late Adam West as the Dark Knight in a movie version of his popular “Batman” TV series from the '60s, and Melanie Griffith putting the moves on Harrison Ford (and facing off against Sigourney Weaver) in the '80s classic “Working Girl.”

Here's everything that's leaving Netflix in July (we've highlighted the titles we think you should watch in bold):

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the Han Solo movie directors being fired — and what happens next to the "Star Wars" spinoff

Leaving July 1

“Blazing Saddles”
“American Pie Presents: Band Camp”
“Flicka 2”
“9/11: Stories in Fragments”
“Secrets: The Sphinx”
“Batman”
“Working Girl”
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”
“An Unmarried Woman”
“Hello, Dolly!”
“MacGyver” (Seasons 1 - 7)
“Ghost Whisperer” (Seasons 1 - 5)
“Futurama” (Season 6)
“Day of the Kamikaze”
“Mystery Files: Hitler”
“Mystery Files: Leonardo da Vinci”
“Nazi Temple of Doom”
“The Hunt for Bin Laden”
“The Incredible Bionic Man”
“History in HD: The Last Bomb”
“Secrets: A Viking Map?”
“Secrets: Richard III Revealed”
“Shuttle Discovery's Last Mission”
“Titanic's Final Mystery”
“Samurai Headhunters”
“America's Secret D-Day Disaster”
“Black Wings”
“Blondie's New York”
“Bombs, Bullets and Fraud”
“Death Beach”
“Hip Hop: The Furious Force of Rhymes”
“American Pie Presents: Beta House”
“Hugo”
“American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile”
“Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging”
“While You Were Sleeping”
“Kate & Leopold”
“El Dorado”



Leaving 7/3/17

“The Last Samurai”
“Two Weeks Notice”



Leaving 7/6/17

“Los Heroes del Norte” (Seasons 1 - 2)



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How the most horrifying 'Game of Thrones' scene was shot: 'We wanted everyone to be incredibly shocked'

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game of thrones catherine stark red wedding

The Red Wedding is one of the most upsetting scenes to ever unfold on television and definitely one of the most upsetting things to ever happen on "Game of Thrones," a show filled with upsetting things. The Red Wedding aired four years ago in the ninth episode of season three, "The Rains of Castamere."

The scene on the HBO drama is remembered most (no matter how hard we try to forget) for all of the deaths, but what about all the work that went on behind the scenes to make such an important moment from George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" series captivating for audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with the books?

Business Insider recently talked to Robert McLachlan, a cinematographer who's worked on "Game of Thrones,""Westworld," and "Ray Donovan," about the challenges of shooting the Red Wedding as well as what it's like to work on such a dramatic and epic show. MacLachlan has also worked as the cinematographer on other huge "Game of Thrones" episodes including season five's "The Dance of Dragons" (Dany rides Drogon) and "Mother's Mercy" (Cersei's walk of atonement). He also worked on two episodes for the upcoming seventh season.

Carrie Wittmer: Was there any inspiration you used going into shooting "Game of Thrones"?

Robert McLachlan: My inspiration for it, more than anything, was more in the realm of fine art, especially depending on where you were in the "Game of Thrones" universe. For instance, in King's Landing in the hotter climates and Dorne and so forth, I'd really look to the Oriental painters and the very hot, sensuous feel that you got in those paintings. And then my lighting overall would've been influenced by the great Middle Ages or Renaissance painters, both in Northern Europe and in Holland and Italy. Whether consciously or unconsciously, I think the production designers and the set designers had that world in mind as well, and if you look at it you'll see a lot of the Eastern influences in the use of light and so forth. "Game of Thrones" is so damn dramatic that you don't have to look very far to find your inspiration, either visually or from a story standpoint.

Robert MacLachlan

Wittmer: "The Rains of Castamere" was the first episode you shot for "Games of Thrones." Did you realize how big the Red Wedding was when you agreed to come on the show?

McLachlan: I was aware that the Red Wedding was gonna be a big deal, and we wanted everyone to be incredibly shocked by it — those who hadn't read the books. And the nice thing about the way they approach the filming on that show is that it's not you do all your prep work in one block and then sit down and shoot like crazy for two or three weeks, like you do in most episodic television. Your schedule is sort of scattered throughout. So I had a lot of time to really chew on how I was going to approach it. The lighting, it's kind of built into the production design so that part was easy. But I also wanted to heighten it.

Wittmer: How did you heighten it?

McLachlan: I really, really didn't want to tip our hand to the viewers that anything bad was gonna happen, and quite the reverse: I wanted to make them think absolutely for sure they were gonna get the happy ending that everybody was really dying for. So I got the art department — with the blessing of the producers and director David Nutter — to overload the banquet hall with candelabras and torches so that it was, if not by Disney standards, certainly by "Game of Thrones" standards, very bright. 

Wittmer: You've worked on cable TV shows as well as network TV shows over the years. On "Game of Thrones," you're shooting in all these different locations around the world for such a big, devoted audience, and there are different people working on every episode. What's it like working on a show that's on such a grand scale?

McLachlan: Because there's so many different cinematographers who've come and gone on the show — I'm one of the few that's been there for multiple seasons in a row — one of the things they do is we're all handed iPads with frames from previous episodes categorized by set, with examples of how each cinematographer has approached that set. The way they organize the whole shoot, it's absolutely the best organized TV show I've ever been on. They're very good. And from the get-go, there's a culture of excellence that permeates everything where nobody will accept anything but the best. Whereas in television, most episodic TV, it's really about getting it done on time and in your tight schedule.

SEE ALSO: All the 'Game of Thrones' deaths, ranked from least tragic to most tragic

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