Latest news with #TrumanShow
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jim Carrey slashes $10M off LA home but still no takers after admitting he's banking on Sonic sequels for cash
Jim Carrey is once again struggling to unload his lavish Los Angeles mansion after a recent deal fell through. The Truman Show star, 63, first listed the sprawling Brentwood estate in February 2023 for $28.9 million — nearly three decades after scooping it up for $3.8 million in 1994. A buyer reportedly came forward in December, agreeing to pay $19.8 million, slashing $10 million off the original asking price. Despite the drop, Carrey still stood to make a hefty profit — until the sale collapsed. Now, the five-bedroom, nine-bathroom spread is back on the market for $18.8 million after another $1 million price cut in May, per property records. The fresh discount comes on the heels of Carrey admitting his return to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise wasn't about passion — it was about the paycheck. The comedian, who once commanded $20 million per film and boasted an estimated $300 million net worth during his blockbuster heyday (Liar Liar, The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty), revealed that even Hollywood royalty has bills to pay. 'I came back to this universe 'cause, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch, and it's just... it's just... I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly,' he quipped at Sonic the Hedgehog 3's London premiere in December. But he insisted it wasn't entirely about the paycheck, as he was quick to add, 'At the same time, it had heart, and that's why I did it the first time. 'There was something beautiful about the heart of the piece.' Of course, he couldn't resist throwing in his signature humor, concluding, 'I hope it will bring families together and cure several diseases.' When he first listed his home for sale in February, he told The New York Post that he was ready for 'changes' in his life. 'For three decades it's been a sanctuary for me, but I don't spend a lot of time there now and I want someone else to enjoy it like I have,' he told the outlet in a statement. 'Cha cha cha cha ... Changes!' he added as he referenced the iconic David Bowie song. He bought it while he shot to fame starring in the hit movie Ace Venture: Pet Detective. The actor also owns a property in Maui, confirming in 2017 that he is a resident of the island after buying a home near the waterfront in Makena. Some of his art is even displayed in the local Wyland Gallery. His luxury car collection is rumored to have taken a bite out of his fortune as well. The comedian has owned several Mercedes, a Porshe Panamera and a Tesla, according to Supercarblondie. He's also shared stories of his travels to various corners of the globe, from humble trips to Buffalo, NY, to lavish getaways in London and awe-inspiring visits to Machu Picchu, Peru. Carrey's journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood icon began in the streets of Toronto, where he grew up. After leaving school in 1978 to help support his family, Carrey spent two years working as a janitor in a factory—far from the spotlight, but not for long. By age 15, he was already performing stand-up comedy in local Toronto clubs, and by 1979, he was earning a living as a comedian. At 19, Carrey took a leap of faith and moved to Hollywood, where he quickly immersed himself in both television and film. In 2004, he solidified his place in both countries by obtaining dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. In 1983, Carrey made his mark on Canadian television with a role in Introducing…Janet. The following year, he stepped onto the big screen in his feature film debut, Finders Keepers, before landing a leading role in Once Bitten (1985). But it was Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) that saw Carrey take on the quirky role of Wiploc, an intergalactic alien, cementing his place in the world of eccentric comedy. Carrey's first TV special, Jim Carrey: Unnatural Act (1991), earned rave reviews and opened the door to his breakout role on the sketch comedy series In Living Color, where his zany, larger-than-life persona became a household name. Interestingly, in 1985, Carrey made a daring and prescient decision: he wrote himself a check for $10 million for 'acting services rendered,' dated it ten years into the future, and kept it in his wallet as a symbol of his ambition. Remarkably, in November 1995, Carrey learned that he had been cast in Dumb and Dumber for exactly $10 million. In 2022, he announced his plans to retire from acting once and for all, claiming that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 would be his final film. 'It depends, if the angels bring some sort of script that's written in gold ink that says to me that it's gonna be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I'm taking a break,' he said at the time. At the Sonic 3 premiere, an interviewer from the Associated Press said to him: 'You said in a past interview that you'd come back if you got a script written in gold ink written by angels...?' As Carrey began to laugh he replied saying: 'That might've been hyperbole, yeah.' The Sonic series has been one of the most lucrative projects of his career, with the first two films grossing a combined $725m (£568m) worldwide. Meanwhile, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 grossed $492.16 million worldwide.
Scottish Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Star of iconic noughties Channel 4 show reveals plans to turn it into a movie
He will be coming to Glasgow BIG SCREEN PLOT Star of iconic noughties Channel 4 show reveals plans to turn it into a movie Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOM Joly hopes to turn Trigger Happy into a movie after taking the iconic TV show on tour. The popular show was last on TV in 2016, after an original three-series run from 2000 to 2002, when it became a cult classic. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Dom Joly wants to make his hit TV show into a movie Credit: PA 3 The show became a cult hit Credit: Alamy Hidden cameras followed him as he portrayed a number of hilarious characters – from a traffic warden to a giant snail and, of course, his iconic man on a giant mobile phone. Now he's heading to The Pavilion in Glasgow on October 9 as part of a 25th anniversary tour, where he'll show clips, give behind-the-scenes secrets and play pranks on the crowd. He said: 'It's just crazy to me. It feels like yesterday but weirdly my daughter was born in the year Trigger Happy was made, so she's like a physical embodiment of it.' And on the subject of a movie, Dom added: 'The concept is scenes with like 2,000 people in it. So if you liked Trigger Happy TV, come and be in the movie. 'It's quite a complicated thing and it scares people off. But who knows? Maybe we could make it happen.' We previously told how Dom wanted to bring his hit conspiracy tour to Scotland. The funnyman set out on a journey to explore the world's most bizarre conspiracy theories. He found out more about UFO hunters and flat earthers and even the bizarre theory that Finland isn't real. Dom said: 'I'm very happy to talk to people. But it's kind of one of the problems with conspiracy theories. 'If someone comes along they're always focused on a single issue. So they're obsessed with chemtrails and they have literally spent 15 years just studying this thing. Dom Joly creates hilarious comedy skit to highlight small business struggles 'You can't possibly argue and when you get the real single-issue conspiracy theorists, they're like religious zealots. I can say 'I don't agree with you, but I can't argue with you' and that's not very good for either side. 'There's also a geographical element to it. People in Scotland still talk to each other. Whereas a lot of conspiracists in America live almost entirely remote existences online so no one tells you you're talking s***e.' Talking about the Finland theory, he said: 'The conspiracy started off as a joke on Reddit and everyone knew it was a joke. "But 20 per cent of people took it seriously and the conspiracy is that in 1917 Russia and Japan invented a country called Finland and that it's actually just sea so that they could have the fishing rights. 'So they claim when I fly to Finland I'm landing in a remote part of either Sweden or Russia and that all four million inhabitants of Finland are crisis actors like a massive Truman Show."
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
At this rate I'll be in street wailing 'They've turned the refs against us'
Imagine, if you will, an alternate universe. Down is up. Cats living with dogs. Mass hysteria. In this dimension, Newton's laws are reversed; for every reaction, there is an equal action. Nails hit hammers, locks open that you've got your bearings in this richly-described dystopia, perhaps you can tell me why Toyosi Olusanya received a second yellow card from Grant Irvine at Fir Park on anger is all well and good, but there are only so many times Sportscene and KMI panel unanimity can be broadcast in your direction before it stops feeling vindicating - and starts feeling like your life is being filmed as the subject of some Truman Show that, at some point soon, we'll have the privilege of Willie Collum on YouTube letting us know it wasn't a yellow card or even a foul, I'm going to have to take steps to ensure I don't then march out into the street with an open cagoule and start telling all my neighbours they've turned the refs against about the rest of the game feels somewhat daft, but I'll soldier on in order to keep up Saints opened up a deserved two-goal lead, both from reasonable range at the feet of central midfielders, and finally looked to be forging a resounding victory over a side of similar fortunes this season. Killian Phillips, in particular, can be very proud of his acrobatic effort. Already popular for his relentless pressing and physical commitment, his increasing goal contribution gives plenty of cause for optimism when his move turns permanent in the in an all too familiar pattern, the opposition were allowed back in almost instantly and that deficit was halved by a similarly impressive Callum Slattery strike before half-time. Slattery was given the freedom of Lanarkshire once again in the second half and the Buddies were clawed back to level terms, where the scoreline players and fans alike have every right to complain about the second yellow for Olusanya.A bit more introspection is probably required as to why a two-goal lead was surrendered and no points have been taken from a pair of eminently winnable games at Fir Park this Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters, external
Middle East Eye
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Russia-Ukraine war: Should Europe still see the US as an ally?
The lengthy phone call last week between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their ensuing discussions on ending the Ukraine war, have understandably dominated global news in recent days. European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, are in a state of shock, especially after US Vice President JD Vance's speech at the Munich Security Conference. The credits are rolling on the Truman Show in which these leaders have been living for the last three years. The hard reality is emerging: the new US administration, while actively working to throw Palestinians under the bus, seems determined to do the same to Ukrainians. The biggest collateral political damage in this latest endeavour comprises Washington's European 'allies'. It is not normal for the Financial Times editorial board to ask the question: 'Is the US still an ally?' The US and Russia have agreed to talk about ending the war in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have already met to lay the groundwork for a future summit in Saudi Arabia, while failing to consult the EU and other Nato members. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Nato ministers had anticipated the bad news after the astonishing remarks in Brussels by the new US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, who said Nato membership for Ukraine was unrealistic, and doubled down by suggesting that Kyiv should abandon the idea of reclaiming all Russian-occupied territory. He then tripled down by noting that EU members willing to deploy troops to monitor the hypothetical ceasefire line agreed between Russia and Ukraine could not count on US military support. So, goodbye to Nato's often-invoked Article 5 on collective defence. In other words, the last chapter of the EU leaders' Truman Show consists of believing that Russia would accept their troops as 'impartial' monitors of a ceasefire line - the mother of all non-starters concerning a possible deal on Ukraine. Reddest line Whoever expected something different, as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas appears to have, is not living in the real world. In just a few days, three decades of US policy regarding Ukraine's potential membership in Nato, and the last three years aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia, have been upended. From now on, this approach by the US administration is going to be the norm, and not the exception. Vance's recent speeches have been unequivocal: you Europeans will continue to be subjugated. This turn of events vindicates those who urged caution in dealing with an issue that Russia - since the 1990s, and unequivocally since Putin's 2007 speech at the Munich Security Conference - has presented as the reddest of red lines. Russia-Ukraine war: European leaders need to wake up to Trump's peace plan Read More » The Biden administration and the EU rejected common sense by opting for policies that were detached from reality - even as western political and diplomatic elites have for decades strongly advised against Nato's eastward expansion. Having ignored the warning signals from Russia, contemptuously rejected Moscow's past diplomatic proposals, blindly followed a US-UK strategy aimed at defeating Russia, sabotaged the chance of a negotiated solution brokered by Turkey in 2022, expanded the conflict by arming Ukraine and allowing it to target Russian territory, applied heavy sanctions on Moscow that have spectacularly backfired, and put decades of global financial stability at risk by freezing hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian assets, European leaders are now discovering that all these efforts didn't even earn them a seat at the bargaining table. This the biggest political, economic and diplomatic disaster the EU has ever incurred, and it is well-encapsulated by the maxim: to err is human, but to persist is diabolical. At this stage, a reassessment of the so-called transatlantic relationship is long overdue. Since the end of the Cold War, has this relationship really promoted the interests of Europe? Reality check There is no doubt that during the long Cold War, European nations benefitted enormously from their alliance with the US, based on shared values and effective security and economic cooperation. Europe's renaissance after the cataclysmic Second World War owed much to this generous American commitment. But in the post-Cold-War era, the benefits of this partnership have been dubious. A reality check finds unequivocally that the main recent threats to Europe came not from its supposed enemies, but from its most important ally on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. US financial recklessness triggered the 2008 financial crisis, which had dramatic consequences globally and specifically within the EU, whose strict austerity policies have had lasting sociopolitical consequences. Meanwhile, endless US wars since 2001 have displaced more than 38 million people globally, fuelling Europe's migration crisis. There are no signs that the European leaders responsible for this epochal disaster are keen to radically shift their policies Would anyone seriously try to blame Russia for the 2008 global financial disaster, the massive international refugee crisis, or the deeply misguided concept of 'exporting democracy'? Could anyone honestly claim that the deterioration of the West's relationship with Russia since 2007 has been entirely ascribable to the evils of Putin? The 2014 Ukraine crisis, which led to the installation of a pro-western government, was followed by the Minsk agreements, which the West signed in bad faith. Reflecting on the first two decades of the 21st century, can anyone still seriously claim that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was unprovoked? This does not make the invasion legal or legitimate, but the same applies to far more numerous western military interventions elsewhere in the world since the 1990s. Harsh EU sanctions against Russia over the past several years have failed to bring Moscow to its knees. And yet, there are no signs that the European leaders responsible for this epochal disaster are keen to radically shift their policies. The summit hastily convened in Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday proves it. A second one planned for Wednesday does not sound promising, considering European divisions. If Europe is thus destined to irrelevance, it has done its best to deserve it. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Paranoid Elon Musk Says That USAID Has Been Constructing a False Reality Around Us
Elon Musk is making a wild new claim: that USAID — and untold other regions of the American federal government, apparently — has constructed a false, "Truman Show"-esque reality around us. Keyword: saying. It means nothing, and Musk — who's currently knee-deep in a digitally-driven power grab within the federal government — has offered no proof of the wild claim that we're living in an intentionally constructed false reality built by the foreign aid agency he's bragged about feeding into a "woodchipper." The United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, is America's primary provider of all foreign aid. It's a complex agency that does a lot of things, from treating and preventing the spread of disease to delivering food and medical supplies in war-torn or famine-stricken areas, to sometimes providing disaster relief. It also played a significant role in advancing democratic interests in post-Soviet-era Europe and battling Apartheid in South Africa. While USAID does a lot of good work, it's not exactly a charity: USAID is considered the soft arm of American foreign policy, working to advance American interests globally without the use or need for military force — in short, promulgating American influence and combatting that of adversaries like Russia and China. It's the friendlier face of the empire, basically. But according to Musk, USAID is bad. Evil, actually! Since forming the so-called Department of Government Efficiency and crashing the agency's headquarters, Musk has, without coherent evidence, characterized USAID as a "viper's nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America," and a "corrupt" and "criminal" organization. He's also made allegations, again without evidence, that USAID is corruptly pouring money into the pockets of politicians he disagrees with, among too many other paranoid claims to count. Real investigations into wrongdoing take time; there's no way that Musk and his crowd of boyish DOGE staffers — one of whom just resigned after his racist tweets were discovered, by the way — could have conducted a thorough, nonpartisan audit of USAID's records to determine large-scale and malicious criminality in a space of less than two weeks. Much of Musk's USAID ire appears to be stemming from one Mike Benz, a former State Department official from the first Trump Administration. Benz is a right-wing media influencer with a large following on X-formerly-Twitter, and was revealed by NBC News last year to be the person behind the online pseudonym "Frame Game," an account from which Benz engaged with and promoted antisemitic and white nationalist conspiracy theories, and said Adolf Hitler "actually had some decent points." (Benz later confirmed the account was his, claiming it was all actually an effort to "get people who hated Jews to stop hating Jews.") The former government official is also the driving force of a movement against what he refers to as the "Censorship Industrial Complex," which — successfully — targeted the Stanford Internet Observatory, a nonpartisan group that tracked misinformation narratives, with a particular focus on protecting election integrity. Benz, for his part, has been one of the more prominent voices in the alt-right online world's push against USAID. The former official notably railed against the agency during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" in December, and Musk has repeatedly and publicly engaged with Benz's anti-USAID X posts and theories since. One of those nutty theories, by the way? The outrageous declaration that USAID has somehow built and contained us in a simulation-like world. "I've been telling you guys forever that you've been living your whole in a carefully constructed USAID Truman Show," Benz wrote in a frenzied X post yesterday, "where none of the institutions you meet — from the media, to public health, to universities, to NGOs, to terrorists — are the institutions you think you are." This, apparently, spoke to Musk, who responded: "It's more than just USAID, but... yes." At the time of publishing this article, the posts have a combined near-50 million views. What does this even really mean? Who's to say! The web is currently awash with piles of USAID conspiracies that — if someone is attempting to provide any proof at all — are either affixed to out-of-context one-liners or galaxy-brained idiocy, as more influencers and even politicians pile on. It's tempting to just look away from bonkers outbursts like this, but the impacts have been real: USAID has halted operations worldwide. Clinical trials have been halted, food isn't being delivered, and a lot of people could genuinely die. And asked if he would go through with a pause on USAID operations, president Donald Trump said he would — and repeated similar threads spouted by the likes of Musk, referring to the agency as a cohort of "radical left lunatics," without any further support for the statement. (A spokesperson for his administration has later offered up some provocative-sounding USAID efforts that touched on various culture wars as reason for the halt, some of which were shown to be false.) USAID is surely one of the many forces — some quiet, some loud — that shape our world. But Musk's embracing of this preposterous 'Truman Show" theory seems to veer much further into Andrew Tate-esque "Matrix" rambling than any legitimate criticism or insight into the various factions of global power struggles. That said, if we look at the actual known facts, here, we do know one thing: USAID was investigating Starlink, the Musk-owned satellite internet provider under SpaceX, for its activities in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion. So maybe USAID was impacting Musk's reality — in a way a little too concrete for his liking, leading him to take refuge in these paranoid fantasies. That's the thing, though. Musk, equipped with a massive amount of both financial and cultural power, is building his own reality, as he often does, in real time. There's a chance that USAID's shuttering might be reversed in the courts. But in the meantime, real harm has already been done — real consequences, pulled largely out of thin air. "Do online conspiracy theories have any impact?" Georgetown University associate research professor Renée DiResta, a former Stanford Internet Observatory researcher and a frequent past target of Benz's rage, remarked yesterday in a rhetorical Bluesky post. "Do disinformation campaigns work?" More on Elon Musk: Official Warns That Elon Musk Is Poised to Kill "Thousands, If Not Hundreds of Thousands" of People
