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UPI
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Richard Kind: 'I love 'Poker Face.' I love Natasha. I love to work.'
1 of 4 | Rhea Perlman and Richard Kind can now be seen in Season 2 of "Poker Face." Photo courtesy of Peacock NEW YORK, May 30 (UPI) -- Only Murders in the Building, Mad About You and Spin City icon Richard Kind says guest starring on Poker Face was an easy "yes" for him. Airing Thursdays on Peacock, Season 2 of the mystery-of-the-week dramedy stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a human lie detector who helps solve crimes as she drifts from town to town. Kind's episode casts him as Jeffrey, the doting husband of Beatrix (Rhea Perlman), a mob boss who has been trying to kill Charlie. "They were paying me," Kind, 68, joked with UPI in a recent Zoom interview when asked why he took the guest spot. "I love Poker Face. I love Natasha. I love to work. I love Rhea and it's fun. It was a good role. It was a blast. I would rather have been an evil guy on the show, but I was very nice," he added. "I was a good guy." While Beatrix commits crimes to support them, Jeffrey stays at home, cooking and ironing, until he can't take the stress anymore and becomes a government informant. "I don't want to be involved in any of this," Kind said about Jeffrey's feelings toward Beatrix's business. "In fact, I really want to be oblivious to it all and that's where the comedy is." That's also why viewers may be shocked when Jeffrey's story-line goes in some unexpectedly violent directions. "In order to make twists and turns work, you have to be even more truthful, so that you're drawing the audience in," Kind said. "Taking the sincerity or taking the truth of what's in the script is always a challenge, so I really had to invest in that," he added. "First and foremost, he loves his wife. He really loves her and I think she loves him. He's caught between a rock and a hard place as far as what the rest of his life is going to be, but he does it for self-preservation and not to attack his wife or attack her world. ... He's just not happy and that's sort of sad for him." This isn't the first time Kind has worked with Perlman. The TV vets have known each other for years and previously co-starred in the 2000 Broadway play, The Allergist's Wife. "Tony Roberts preceded me in that role," Kind recalled. "Tony was a friend and he gave me a piece of advice, which actually was the best advice I ever heard as an actor -- not just for the role, but for all roles. He said: 'Love your wife. If you love her, the audience will love her, and the audience will love you.' And I took that to heart and I've kept it with, actually, a lot of roles that I've done since." Kind said he thinks Poker Face creator Rian Johnson is a "brilliant man" who has managed to capture the magic of those private detective shows from the 1970s and '80s that viewers seem so nostalgic for these days. "He probably loved stories like Columbo or Name of the Game or McMillan and Wife," Kind said, noting the protagonists of those shows often found themselves in crazy situations with guest stars playing "bigger-than-life people," just like they do in Poker Face. "I think that's a wonderful thing," Kind added. In addition to being a fixture in Pixar films, the actor was also a longtime Curb Your Enthusiasm cast member and recently served as the sidekick/announcer for Everybody's Live with John Mulaney. Always in demand, he is still having fun as an actor and has no plans to retire. "I live for my kids. I live for golf and I live for work. That's what I live for now. I have friends, too," Kind said. "Acting is all playing pretend. We play. it's a big sandbox," he explained. "Who wouldn't want to do this? I love it. I can't live without it. When people retire, a lot of them die, but work can keep you active and fun and give you a purpose. Do I like it? I adore it. I can't live without it. God forbid I should be unemployed, I'd still go do little plays for no money. I love it. Love it, love it, love it." Natasha Lyonne turns 46: a look back Natasha Lyonne arrives for the premiere of "The Grey Zone" in New York City on October 8, 2002. Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo
News18
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Pankaj Tripathi Replaces Paresh Rawal In Hera Pheri 3? Fans Say, 'Feels Off, But Next Best Choice'
Last Updated: An AI-generated image of Pankaj Tripathi as Paresh Rawal's character has gone viral. The fate of Hera Pheri 3 is in jeopardy after Paresh Rawal's abrupt exit from the film, causing Akshay Kumar to send a legal notice to the veteran actor. As fans await updates on the future of the beloved comedy franchise, they have reimaged Pankaj Tripathi as Paresh Rawal's iconic character, Baburao Ganpatrao Apte. An AI-generated image of Pankaj Tripathi as Baburao Apte has gone viral on social media, inciting mixed reactions from fans. Pankaj Tripathi is seen donning Baburao's signature hairstyle and thick glasses in the now-viral photo. Clad in a white dhoti and vest, the actor also sports the character's gold chain and bracelet. The post was shared with the caption, 'Can Pankaj Tripathi play Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri? The image has generated mixed reviews on Reddit. Have a look here: One person wrote, 'Pankaj Tripathi could bring something valuable to the role, but he wouldn't be a replacement, he'd be a reinvention. He'd probably make a good 'Babu Bhaiya' type character in a spin-off or reboot, but stepping into Paresh Rawal's shoes directly would feel off. Audiences would constantly compare them, and the charm of the original might get lost. So respectfully, no." Another person added, 'It's gonna be how it was for Robert Pattinson in Batman." A fan of the comedy franchise wrote, 'If Pankaj Tripathi is taken into the role and Paresh Rawal does not agree, then maybe they should give the movie a new flavour with a new name, role change or something. Pankaj Tripathi is a very good actor, and he can definitely reinvent the role as per his capabilities. Unfortunately, he cannot exactly copy Paresh's role." Another person commented, 'He can pull it off." Someone else commented, 'Not 100% but next best choice after Paresh Rawal." Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty previously expressed his shock upon learning about Rawal's exit from the film and said that Hera Pheri cannot happen without the veteran actor. Suniel Shetty told ANI, 'It cannot happen. 100 per cent cannot happen without Paresh Rawal. It can have a 1 per cent chance without me and Akshay, but 100% can't happen without Paresh ji. No, it doesn't. Raju and Shyam, if they're not hammered by Babu here, it doesn't work." 'A film becomes iconic when the audience remembers the characters. This is not Suniel, Akshay, and Paresh; it was Raju, Shyam, and Babu Rao. Nobody can replace those 3 characters," the actor told Zoom recently. As such, fans remain hopeful that Paresh Rawal will change his mind and return to the franchise. First Published:
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
In Punjab, parole must be deducted from total sentence, not actual term: HC
Chandigarh: Setting aside the Punjab govt formula of 2020, which excludes the period of parole of a convict from the actual sentence, the Punjab and Haryana high court has ruled that parole must be deducted from the total sentence, including remission, and not from the actual sentence. The HC was of the view that release of a prisoner on parole serves a specific purpose and is subject to conditions. "It goes unsaid that reformation and deterrence, especially in cases as severe as murder, must go hand in hand. It is mandatory to meet the minimum benchmark for actual sentences, in terms of the applicable policy, by serving that period in prison. Thus, the time spent on parole shall be deducted from the total sentence, as it also includes remissions earned during that period," the HC clarified. The HC further said that the formula prescribed in the meeting dated July 16, 2020, is held to be invalid, being in direct contravention of Section 3(3) of the Punjab Good Conduct of Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962. "It is directed that the parole period shall only be subtracted from the total sentence and not from the actual sentence. Actual sentence shall only mean the real time spent by a prisoner in the prison premises," the HC held. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No more boring Zoom lessons. Learn Hebrew differently! Citizen Cafe Book Now Undo Justice Harpreet Singh Brar passed these orders while hearing a petition filed by Rupinder Singh. He sought directions to quash the order dated Oct 30, 2024, passed by the Punjab govt through which the case of the petitioner for premature release was rejected. The petitioner was convicted and awarded life sentence by the sessions court Hoshiarpur on Aug 11, 2014, in a murder case registered in Garhshankar, Hoshiarpur in 2013. After completing the requisite sentence, the petitioner moved an application for premature release under the policy dated July 8, 1991. His counsel argued that the petitioner was in custody since 2013. The case of the petitioner falls under category 'C' of the applicable policy, which requires him to complete 10 years of actual sentence and 14 years of total sentence to be eligible for premature release. However, the petitioner already underwent over 10 years in actual custody and, including remission, completed over 14 years of sentence. The petitioner also enjoyed the concession of parole, which was wrongly deducted from the actual sentence as opposed to the total sentence, based on an incorrect interpretation of Section 3(3) of the Act of 1962. However, his plea was objected to by the state of Punjab on the grounds that the petitioner does not meet the condition of 10 years of actual sentence and 14 years of total sentence, as stipulated by the policy dated July 8, 1991. After hearing all the parties, the HC in its order released on Friday quashed the order dated Oct 30, 2024, passed by the Punjab govt and ordered reassessment of the case of petitioner by subtracting the parole availed by him from the total sentence and not from the actual sentence within four weeks.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Zoom Rises 8% in 3 Months: Here's Why You Should Buy the Stock Now
Zoom Communications, Inc. ZM shares have gained 7.6% in the trailing three months, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 index's return of 4.8% and 0.9%, respectively. The stock has also outperformed the Zacks Internet – Software industry's growth of 1.1% in the same time outperformance can be attributed to the company's accelerating AI-driven innovation, which is reshaping productivity workflows across enterprises. From the rapid adoption of Zoom AI Companion to multi-product deals with Global 2000 firms, Zoom's platform expansion and improved churn rates have reaffirmed investor confidence in its near-term growth trajectory. The share price rise does not tell the whole story. Let's delve deeper into two factors driving ZM's growth to understand why the stock is a buy now. Zoom faces competition from legacy platforms like Cisco Systems' CSCO Webex and bundled productivity suites, such as Microsoft's MSFT Teams and Alphabet's GOOGL Google Workspace. While Cisco Systems' Webex and Microsoft Teams offer video meetings, messaging and file sharing, Alphabet's Google Workspace integrates Meet with email, calendar, chat, and collaboration tools in a unified platform. Zoom Communications, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Zoom Communications, Inc. Quote To differentiate itself, Zoom is doubling down on AI innovation to enhance productivity and customer value. One of its key growth drivers in the fiscal first quarter was its expanding portfolio of AI-powered tools. Adoption of Zoom AI Companion grew nearly 40% quarter over quarter, with usage expanding beyond meeting summaries to include answering questions, scheduling, content creation and more. Raymond James, a U.S.-based financial services firm, recently announced that it is rolling out AI Companion meeting summaries firm-wide, highlighting the product's enterprise also began monetizing its AI offerings through Custom AI Companion, launched in the fiscal first quarter. Early feedback from Global 2000 trial customers has been positive, with particular interest in features like 'Bring Your Own Dictionary,' meeting summary templates, and Jira integration. Zoom's enterprise segment showed solid momentum in the fiscal first quarter, with enterprise revenues growing approximately 6% year over year and accounting for 60% of total revenues, up two percentage points from the prior year. The number of customers contributing more than $100,000 in trailing 12-month revenues rose 8% year over year, representing 32% of total revenues in the fiscal first wins underscore this momentum. The Boston Celtics upgraded to Zoom Workplace Enterprise Plus and adopted Zoom Phone and Workvivo. A leading financial institution signed a deal exceeding $1 million in ARR, consolidating its tech stack by replacing Microsoft Teams and other tools with Zoom's AI-first platform. For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Zoom expects total revenues between $1.195 billion and $1.2 billion. Revenues in constant currency are expected to be between $1.196 billion and $1.201 billion. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are anticipated to be between $1.36 and $1.37. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 2.96%. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $1.37 per share, suggesting a year-over-year decline of 1.44%.ZM beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 9.46%. Zoom has strengthened itself in a competitive market as an AI-first platform. Additionally, its solid momentum across the enterprise segment in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by continuous platform expansion, signals strong upside potential. ZM currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting a compelling entry point in the stock for investors now. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Zoom Communications, Inc. (ZM) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Vancouver Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Farce in legislature as B.C. Conservatives seek a provincial election over a blurred Zoom call
VICTORIA — The legislature descended briefly into farce this week in a dispute over a cabinet minister who blurred the background behind him while voting online on a key piece of legislation. Opposition leader John Rustad argued that 'blurgate' — as one of the New Democrats called it — was serious enough to have led to the defeat of the NDP government. The alleged infraction happened Wednesday night, as the New Democrats pushed through Bills 14 and 15, increasing the cabinet's power to fast-track approvals for energy projects and infrastructure. Several New Democrats exercised the option of casting their votes using the Zoom online platform. One who did so was Rick Glumac, the junior minister of state for trade and NDP MLA for Port Moody-Burquitlam. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. When Glumac voted in support of Bill 14 shortly after 7 p.m., he did so with a blurred background. When he voted on Bill 15 an hour later, he'd abandoned the blurring and changed to a clear background. The B.C. Conservatives pounced on the distinction, arguing that the blurring violated the guidelines for voting by Zoom issued by Speaker Raj Chouhan himself. 'A quiet, private location with good lighting should be selected,' said MLA Peter Milobar, quoting from the rule book. 'The backdrop must be neutral, free of political or partisan images or slogans. Zoom virtual backgrounds must not be applied. 'The only way to have a blurred background is by electronic means, which would be virtual,' Milobar continued. 'That is the only possible way the technology happens, for the minister of state for trade to have a blurred background on one vote and an hour later a clear background.' Then the Opposition pitch to Speaker Chouhan: 'We would ask for a reconsideration, based on the Speaker's own rules, that the minister of state for trade was not eligible to have his vote cast on Bill 14.' If Glumac's participation were disallowed, Bill 14 would have been defeated 46 votes to 45. The Speaker had already ruled that there was no specific rule against use of a blurred background. Now, pressed by the Conservatives, he did so explicitly a second time. 'The chair has already ruled on this issue earlier,' Chouhan advised the house. 'The chair does not consider a blurred background to be a virtual background.' The Conservatives protested angrily, whereupon the Speaker reminded the house: 'Members, no argument with the chair.' He was citing a rule adopted after the Solidarity protests against the 1980s Social Credit government. Those protests spilled over into the chamber and the house was paralyzed by constant challenges to the chair. Under the new rules adopted 40 years ago, challenges were no longer allowed: 'The Speaker delivers rulings through a statement to the house and the matter is no longer open for debate or discussion.' Following the current Speaker's warning, the Conservatives stormed out in protest. As they left, one of their number, Kelowna Mission MLA Gavin Dew, snarled an insult, which the Speaker took as a direct attack. 'The member for Kelowna-Mission has left by making a very disparaging remark to the chair,' ruled Chouhan. 'He will not be allowed to return to the chamber until he comes back and apologizes.' A half-hour later, Dew obtained permission to return and said, 'I made an inappropriate remark, and I withdraw.' Though not strictly an apology, it was sufficient for a Speaker determined to lower the temperature in the room. 'Thank you, member, you now have permission to sit,' said Chouhan. 'But I remind all members, you can disagree with each other but never question the chair's ruling (and) never be disrespectful to the chair.' The matter should have ended there, with the Conservatives cooling down and the house winding down for the night. But, next day, Rustad escalated the attack on Chouhan. 'He has seriously shaken our confidence in his ability to carry on with that job,' the Conservative leader told reporters. 'There is no mechanism that we can do, unfortunately, to be able to voice that displeasure in the confidence we have with the Speaker.' Yet with the house not scheduled to sit again until October, Opposition tempers should have cooled by then. NDP house leader Mike Farnworth dismissed the notion that the NDP could have fallen on the issue. There's a recognition in B.C. that governments aren't defeated by accident and the government always has the option of scheduling an explicit confidence motion to clarify the support of the house. The blurring was an 'accidental technicality,' argued Farnworth, not evidence that the minister was gallivanting where he had no business to be. 'He was clearly in a room in a house. 'Blurring is not a virtual background,' continued Farnworth. 'Maybe a member of the Opposition, sitting on a beach with half a coconut, with an umbrella in it and palm trees — that would be a virtual background.' That left only the hapless Glumac. He's toiled mostly in obscurity through his eight years in the legislature. After this week, he risks being remembered mainly as 'the blurred guy' at the centre of a ridiculous standoff. vpalmer@
