Tag Archives: Entertainment

Amanda Holden And Alan Carr’s Turn As Barbie And Allan Is Next Level Iconic

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With Halloween soon approaching, there’s undoubtedly going to be hordes of people taking costume inspiration from the year’s biggest film, Barbie.

However, we reckon they’re going to have a hard time beating the efforts of Amanda Holden and Alan Carr.

The pair really went all out with their outfits as they hosted the Attitude Awards together on Wednesday night.

Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda donned a pink-PVC dress and matching beret (camp) to transform into the character played by Margot Robbie in Greta Gerwig’s box office smash.

And rather than opt for the obvious by dressing up as Ryan Gosling’s Ken, Alan transformed into his Barbie namesake, Allan.

The pair, who earlier this year teamed up to front BBC renovation series The Italian Job, even performed an opening skit as the characters as they got proceedings underway at the Camden’s Roundhouse venue in London.

Amanda and Alan have recently finished filming a second series of their travel show, as they transform another dilapidated historic home that had been purchased for one Euro, which will then be sold off to raise money for Children in Need and Comic Relief.

She recently said of the season two: “I’m obviously absolutely delighted that Alan and I have been given a second series of a show that we created together.

“This time I’m considering ditching my nail extensions but I’ll certainly be keeping the lashes! I’ve got the Aperol Spritz on ice and I’m being fitted for a new boiler suit as we speak!”

She added: “I adore Alan and this job suits us both perfectly. The sweetest thing about it all is that we can continue to raise more money for charities that make a huge difference to the lives of so many.”

Alan agreed: “So excited to be returning to Italy with my good friend Amanda for more blood sweat and tiles. Can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and transform another Euro house. What could possible go wrong?!!”

The first series of Amanda and Alan’s Italian Job is available on BBC iPlayer now.

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So THAT’s Where Some Of Your Fave Simpsons Jokes Actually Come From

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“Y’ello? You’ll have to speak up, I’m wearing a towel” is what Homer says to the person calling him as he stands in his workplace in the episode “Bart Gets Famous” from season five of The Simpsons.

From there, this joke has been quoted widely and you can even buy t-shirts with the iconic phrase on it.

Until now, I thought this was just a silly gag, just another Homer-ism for the books but no, this joke is actually a callback to classic radio, thanks to the influence of legendary comedy writer John Swartzwelder.

Swartzwelder wrote 59 episodes of The Simpsons — more than any other writer in the show’s history —and it’s thought a huge part of his influence was old radio lines.

Benedict Townsend, a comedian and host of Scroll Deep, formerly known as Youtube News, discusses Swartzwelder’s radio influence on a recent video saying, “he was much older than a lot of The Simpsons writers, most of them were Harvard graduates who were like 23, like Conan O’Brien.”

He adds that Swartzwelder was in his 40s when he joined as a writer and his love of old-time radio comedy was what brought his wildly popular episodes to life.

The radio influence in classics Simpsons gags

Swartzwelder’s interest in vintage comedy brought us the iconic Homer vs. the First Amendment (one of Swartzwelder’s favourite episodes ever) episode which has a retro-vibe from the get-go as an old Prohibition law is enforced and Homer reinvents himself as the Beer Baron.

Even within that, though, the beloved character ‘Moleman’ says, “that’s not a knife, this is a knife” and proceeds to pull out a sword.

As he pulls it out, he starts to fall and says in his beloved warbly voice “oh, down I go”. Which is another callback to radio plays because of course, you don’t need to be told he’s falling down when you can see it.

As for the towel joke? It’s because when people with long hair would call into radio shows, they may have been in the middle of drying their hair and had a towel wrapped around it so they’d ask the hosts to speak up to ensure that they were heard through the towel.

The gag of course is that Homer is wearing a towel but not in a way that would affect his hearing.

Swartzwelder also takes credit for popularising the word “Meh”

“Meh” is a word with Yiddish origins but it was brought to screens around the world in 1994 by Swartzwelder. First used in the 1994 episode “Sideshow Bob Roberts” when a librarian reacts to Lisa’s surprise that voting records are not classified. It also appeared later in “Lisa’s Wedding” after Marge weaves the words “Hi Bart” on a loom to try to pique her son’s interest in weaving, to which he responds “meh”.

It’s been repeated frequently in the show since then and speaking to the New Yorker, Swartzwelder said, “I originally heard the word from Howie Krakow, my creative director at Huvis, Binzer & Churchill, in 1970 or 1971. He said it was the funniest word in the world.

“I don’t know when it was invented, or by who, but I got the impression it was already very old when Howie told it to me.”

Turns out, I’ve spent my whole life quoting John Swartzwelder.

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The First Reviews Of The Rolling Stones’ New Album Will Be Music To Every Fan’s Ears

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Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Miss You and Honky Tonk Woman are just some of the hits that spring to mind when you think of The Rolling Stones.

And now, the rockers are back with a new record… and it’s receiving glowing reviews across the board.

Titled Hackney Diamonds, the album comes 18 years after their last – A Bigger Bang (which, let’s face it, wasn’t their greatest attempt to smash the charts) – and is also their first release since the death of drummer Charlie Watts in 2021.

The album also features a supporting cast of famous faces, including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga.

So, ahead of Hackney Diamonds’ official release on Friday, here’s what critics are already saying about the Stones’ latest effort…

Ronnie Wood, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
Ronnie Wood, Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards

Dave Benett via Getty Images

“‘Let the old still believe that they’re young,’ Mick Jagger cries in a definitive Rolling Stones ethos that is delivered towards the end of Hackney Diamonds… And with that attitude, there’s no reason to believe it’ll be their last.

“In truth, the median age of its roll call belies the sheer vitality of the thing. [Keith] Richards and Ronnie Wood rip through gritty glam and blues rock riffs like guitarists half of half their ages, and rather than mutter reflective wisdom gleaned from a rock’n’roll life mid-winddown – a la Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan – [Mick] Jagger bawls and yowls about blurry nights, media intrusion and relationship ructions like an eternal A-list twentysomething.”

“The Stones have retained the essence of a bluesy bar band ever since, and therein lies their charm. They have never taken themselves too seriously. They have never tried to save the world. They’re simply here to show us a good time.

“Hackney Diamonds is a joy from beginning to end because it reminds us of the things we love about the Stones while still sounding like it belongs to the modern age.”

“A collection of bangers (old-school division) that nobody in their right mind had a right to expect in 2023, Hackney Diamonds isn’t just another new Stones album, but a vibrant and cohesive record — the first Stones album in ages you’ll want to crank more than once before filing away.

“Whether it’s a first-time Stones producer (Andrew Watt), bits of technological wizardry, or simply a desire to remind us why we cared about them in the first place, they haven’t sounded this brisk and focused in what feels like a half century.”

“It might reasonably be argued, Hackney Diamonds must be the best rock’n’roll album for 40 years, at least. Its dozen songs are jam-packed with Jagger swagger, Richards’ riffology, Woods’ twisty licks and aching Glimmer twins harmonies, bound together by tight rhythms, catchy melodies, snappy lyrics, dirty energy and flashes of the band’s trademark hair-raising flair…

“Hackney Diamonds is so full of life, so shot through with love and energy, only a fool would bet against them doing it again. The Stones roll on. All is indeed well in the rock’n’roll world.”

“The band finish with a nod to their roots in the blues by covering Muddy Waters’ Rolling Stone Blues. When Jagger and Richards first met as teenagers at Dartford railway station in 1961, Mick had a prized Muddy Waters LP in his hands, bonding with Keith over their shared musical tastes. Sixty-two years on, this affectionate cover brings the pair full circle, cementing a studio comeback that rolls back the years with astonishing aplomb.”

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