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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jacked dudes to fat cat: Rising comedian Zoltan Kaszas brings standup to Florida
Zoltan Kaszas says while growing up in Southern California he moved often and comedy was a way for him to adapt. "I was always the new kid with the weird name. I learned to make fun of it before anyone else did," said the comedian, whose "Death-Defying Comedy Tour' comes to six Florida cities for about a month beginning in mid-June. "With a lot of comedians, me included, it comes out of a way of survival and a way to belong.' His 15 Florida shows begin in Jacksonville and end in Naples. Kaszas in his standup often discusses growing up in a trailer park and being raised by his mom. It was at home and with relatives where he first learned to laugh. 'I grew up in a funny family," he said. And as a kid, he watched comedy specials with the first being Sinbad's 1993 "Afros and Bellbottoms" filmed at New York City's Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden. Kaszas also watched Comedy Central specials by comedians Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan and later, standup by Bill Burr, Louis C.K., and others. He launched his career, traveling across the U.S. and working smaller venues until six or seven years later when he landed a weeklong gig in Las Vegas. 'That's a long haul just to make it to that level," he said. "I felt I was getting one step closer to becoming a real working comedian. It's not an easy hill to climb.' His career was humming along and then his 2017 Dry Bar Comedy video "Cat Jokes" ― in which he discusses his overweight cat, Jessica ― went viral. The YouTube video has nearly 4 million views. In it, Kaszas discusses why he prefers cats to dogs. He said he knew something was up because two of his shows sold out ahead of time in Spokane, Washington. 'I had no idea," he said about the cat video. 'I didn't know what it meant to go viral. I wasn't even sure it was happening.' Kaszas said his wife, Emma Bassiri, compares his career to a steady business. 'You've had such nice incremental growth every few years," he said she tells him. "The hope is it's sustainable and I don't have to go back to working on a cruise ship or something.' Kaszas said he had 15,000 to 20,000 followers on Instagram but that ballooned after the Jessica the cat video. Today, he has nearly Instagram 600,000 followers and some 400,000 on TikTok. He's more popular than he's ever been. 'Shows are sold out, which is a new problem to have," he said. Kaszas also rolls out a few videos weekly of his standup and has a podcast, "This Week In Zoltan." 'Posting regularly is really what's important in social media," he said. For his standup, Kaszas will usually start by offering his view of the town he's in. For example, he pointed out how Off The Hook Comedy Club in Naples is in the same shopping plaza as a grocery store and a Ferrari probably will be parked in a handicapped spot outside the venue when he arrives for his mid-July shows. 'I try to keep my eyes open so I get to see what's going on, and every once in a while, I have an opinion on something,' he said about arriving in a town. He's also comfortable discussing current topics, whether it's Donald Trump, singer Katy Perry being chastised for spending 10 minutes in space, Bill Belichick's girlfriend or "jacked up" 50-year-old men ("Your skin is red, you look like you're about to explode!"). 'If I do anything political, I try to make it so anyone can laugh at it," Kaszas said. "There's not much fun if one side laughs.' Kaszas said he filmed a comedy special in Seattle in April 2025 and is excited about the project that could land on a streaming site, adding: "It's the nicest I've ever looked on camera.' In his upcoming Florida shows, he said, he'll surely share some jokes about the Sunshine State. 'That's the best part of seeing a live show," he said. "If you're just going to watch someone do their hour, you could just watch that on TV. "But if they're saying something special about their town, that's what makes the shows unique. It's exciting for people to come out and have a good time for something a little different." And he's not at all concerned about the rising humidity and temperatures as summer starts when he's touring Florida. 'I've got my shorts and Hawaiian shirt ready," he added. "I'm ready to party.' His Florida shows are: June 13-15 at the Comedy Zone in Jacksonville June 26-29 at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa June 29 at Funny Bone Comedy Club & Restaurant in Orlando July 9 at Improv Comedy Theatre in Miami July 10 at Improv Comedy Theatre in Dania Beach July 11-13 at Off The Hook Comedy Club in Naples. For tickets, visit Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@ and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Comedians to see in Florida include Zoltan Kaszas, how to buy tickets
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mississippi city where 'Sinners' is set has no movie theater, calls on cast to visit
Community leaders in a northwestern Mississippi city where Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" is based are petitioning for a public screening despite not having an operating movie theater. The horror box office smash follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by actor Michael B. Jordan, in the 1930s as the duo returns to Clarksdale, Mississippi, from Chicago to start a juke joint. Chaos ensues when unwelcome bloodthirsty guests disrupt their shindig. Although set in the small city, the movie was reportedly filmed in several locations in Louisiana. As Capital B News first reported, local activist Tyler Yarbrough of Clarksdale had to travel 80 miles to see the film twice, which the 26-year-old credited for capturing the essence of the Mississippi Delta. The movie theaters in his hometown, which has population of about 14,000 people as of 2023, have either closed or were transformed for other purposes, according to the report. Among them was the historically segregated Paramount Theater, which will serve as a creative arts community facility. Don't let them in!: What to know about the vampire invitation featured in 'Sinners' Yarbrough felt compelled to rally for Coogler, Jordan, and the "Sinners" cast to visit Clarksdale and collaborate on a public screening. His petition, titled "Open Letter to Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, and the Cast and Crew of Sinners to Visit Clarksdale," had nearly 4,000 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. The community was planning to shoot a video on May 2 to invite the crew. 'There needs to be a coming home to these Black creators who are making these million-dollar films and being connected with our folks on the ground," he told Capital B News. 'I think it's deeply important. And I think not only is it important for the folks who live here, but also for just Black America to like, really come home.' In addition to Paramount Theater, Yarbrough welcomed the crew to stop by other staples, including the "authentic" Red's Juke Joint and Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by Morgan Freeman. During his press tour, Coogler revealed that "Sinners" was inspired by his late Uncle James, who taught him about blues music and tales about his life in Mississippi. "That connection, and all the deep research, shines through. It's why the film doesn't just entertain; it feels lived-in, loved, and wrestled with," the petition stated. "Just as your uncle's Blues Music and making this film lit a fire in you, we believe a visit to Clarksdale from you could light an even bigger one for the next generation," the petition continued. "We are ready. We are waiting. And we would be proud to welcome you back to where it all began." Clarksdale is about 155 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi and about 80 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. USA TODAY reached out to Yarbrough and Coogler's team for comment. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clarksdale, Mississippi, which inspired 'Sinners,' asks cast to visit
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mississippi city where 'Sinners' is set has no movie theater, calls on cast to visit
Mississippi city where 'Sinners' is set has no movie theater, calls on cast to visit An open letter from the city of Clarksdale to Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan says that 'We are ready,' and had 4,000 signatures as of Thursday Show Caption Hide Caption 'Sinners': A vampire wants to crash Michael B. Jordan's party Cornbread (Omar Miller) isn't acting like his old self when trying to re-enter the party in Ryan Coogler's period horror movie "Sinners." Community leaders in a northwestern Mississippi city where Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" is based are petitioning for a public screening despite not having an operating movie theater. The horror box office smash follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack, both played by actor Michael B. Jordan, in the 1930s as the duo returns to Clarksdale, Mississippi, from Chicago to start a juke joint. Chaos ensues when unwelcome bloodthirsty guests disrupt their shindig. Although set in the small city, the movie was reportedly filmed in several locations in Louisiana. As Capital B News first reported, local activist Tyler Yarbrough of Clarksdale had to travel 80 miles to see the film twice, which the 26-year-old credited for capturing the essence of the Mississippi Delta. The movie theaters in his hometown, which has population of about 14,000 people as of 2023, have either closed or were transformed for other purposes, according to the report. Among them was the historically segregated Paramount Theater, which will serve as a creative arts community facility. Don't let them in!: What to know about the vampire invitation featured in 'Sinners' 'We are ready. We are waiting.' Yarbrough felt compelled to rally for Coogler, Jordan, and the "Sinners" cast to visit Clarksdale and collaborate on a public screening. His petition, titled "Open Letter to Ryan Coogler, Michael B. Jordan, and the Cast and Crew of Sinners to Visit Clarksdale," had nearly 4,000 signatures as of Thursday afternoon. The community was planning to shoot a video on May 2 to invite the crew. 'There needs to be a coming home to these Black creators who are making these million-dollar films and being connected with our folks on the ground," he told Capital B News. 'I think it's deeply important. And I think not only is it important for the folks who live here, but also for just Black America to like, really come home.' In addition to Paramount Theater, Yarbrough welcomed the crew to stop by other staples, including the "authentic" Red's Juke Joint and Ground Zero Blues Club, co-owned by Morgan Freeman. During his press tour, Coogler revealed that "Sinners" was inspired by his late Uncle James, who taught him about blues music and tales about his life in Mississippi. "That connection, and all the deep research, shines through. It's why the film doesn't just entertain; it feels lived-in, loved, and wrestled with," the petition stated. "Just as your uncle's Blues Music and making this film lit a fire in you, we believe a visit to Clarksdale from you could light an even bigger one for the next generation," the petition continued. "We are ready. We are waiting. And we would be proud to welcome you back to where it all began." Clarksdale is about 155 miles northwest of Jackson, Mississippi and about 80 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee. USA TODAY reached out to Yarbrough and Coogler's team for comment. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
US fought secret wars to reverse-engineer UFOs, shocking documentary unveils alien truth
For many years, Americans have sought answers to various unnatural phenomena in the last century. One of the most awaited approvals that citizens desire from the government is the truth behind aliens. The government has not provided answers to the people of the U.S. and the world regarding the secrets it holds, despite testimonies from several officials affirming that aliens do exist. However, an upcoming documentary, "The Age of Disclosure," promises to disrupt decades of secrecy surrounding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). Set to premiere during the opening weekend of the SXSW Film Festival at Austin's historic Paramount Theater, the film, directed and produced by Dan Farah, aims to unveil an 80-year cover-up regarding non-human intelligence and the covert efforts by major global powers to reverse-engineer extraterrestrial technology. The documentary features testimonies from 34 senior members of the U.S. government, military, and intelligence communities, all of whom claim direct knowledge of UAPs. Among them are high-ranking officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Mike Rounds, and Jim Clapper, the former Director of National Intelligence. The documentary also includes comments from former Department of Defense officials, NASA researchers, and military eyewitnesses, offering new perspectives. Experts featured in the film make definitive statements asserting the existence of non-human intelligence and the presence of unidentified craft that defy known human technology. Lue Elizondo, a former Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) member, stated in the trailer, "Humanity is not the only intelligence in the universe." Similar declarations came from astrophysicist Eric Davis, quantum physicist Hal Puthoff, and CIA veterans, further backing the documentary's central claims. According to the documentary, the U.S. government has conducted a secretive technological arms race with rival nations to recover and exploit non-human craft. "We learned that the U.S. government was involved in a long-running secret war with other nations to collect and reverse-engineer vehicles not made by humans," one expert said. Another warned of the geopolitical consequences: "The first country that cracks the code on this technology will be the leader for years to come." Beyond the military and strategic implications, "The Age of Disclosure" addresses the ethical concerns of removing such knowledge from the public. Several figures in the documentary highlight the dangers of an unchecked governmental apparatus that withholds paradigm-shifting discoveries. "It's not acceptable to have secret parts of government that no one ever sees," one official said. Another warned, "You better be careful about a government that doesn't trust its people because there's no telling what they'll pull on you." The documentary also explores the potential benefits of disclosing such knowledge. Technology derived from non-human sources could revolutionize clean energy and fundamentally alter the trajectory of human civilization. "You had information being locked away that could change the trajectory for species," one scientist remarked, while another said, "It has so many beneficial impacts, including clean energy." The release of "The Age of Disclosure" coincides with recent legislative efforts in the U.S. Senate to declassify government-held UAP knowledge. The UAP Disclosure Act was designed to compel the public release of such information. However, the act has faced significant resistance from vested interests and concerns over societal preparedness. "The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena," an expert argued. "The Age of Disclosure" challenges the status quo of governmental secrecy regarding extraterrestrial phenomena by compiling the testimonies of high-ranking officials, intelligence operatives, and scientific experts. As the trailer concludes, "The time has come."
NBC News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Roy Ayers, legendary ‘Everyone Loves the Sunshine' musician, dies at 84
Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist and musician behind 1976's album 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine,' has died. He was 84. The musical artist's family shared the news on Ayers' Facebook on March 5, expressing their 'great sadness.' 'It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4th, 2025 in New York City after a long illness,' the statement reads. 'He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed.' The statement noted that his family asks that people respect their privacy at this time. 'A celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming,' the message concluded. Born in Los Angeles in September 1940, Ayers grew up around a musical background and loved music from a young age. 'If I didn't have music I wouldn't even want to be here,' Ayers told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. 'It's like an escape when there is no escape. An escape for temporary moments.' He shared how when he was 5-years-old he received his first set of mallets from vibraphonist and percussionist Lionel Hampton while at the Paramount Theater. 'At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,' Ayers said at the time, adding that later he picked up the vibraphones at age 17. 'It's funny, I started playing vibes when I was 17 and I still love it. The only difference now is that I've turned the 17 around to 71,' Ayers told the outlet. With a career spanning over six decades, Ayers released his first album 'West Coast Vibes' in 1963, followed by records like 'Virgo Vibes' (1967) and 'Stoned Soul Picnic' (1968), among dozen others. Ayers became known as a pioneer in jazz-funk, with a slew of musicians sampling his music. He would go on to collaborate with R&B and hip-hop artists like Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, The Roots Mary J. Blige and Tyler, The Creator, among many others.
