Don LaFontaine, the voice over artist behind every single trailer ever, has died at the age of 68. While we are not convinced that a Geico commercial is the best way in which to memorialize someone, we are convinced that this is a sad loss for Hollywood, and that production on big budget projects about deception and betrayal should stop work for 10 minutes today in honor of his passing.
Goodbye, Don LaFontaine. You're in heaven now, narrating miracle trailers for the angels.
We're not confused about our role in the world. We recognize that no one is waiting for the definitive Videogum obituary by which the families of the deceased can finally find closure, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones' accomplishments have been properly recognized and celebrated in the world. We also recognize that maybe we need to be better at this blogging thing (although that's like getting better at sadness) and start sticking closer to the news cycle every once in awhile. When it really counts. In any case, as late as this post may be, surely we can take a moment out of our busy Monday morning catching up on the weekend's trampoline accidents to bow our blogs in respect.
And how fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Estelle, after all she's been through! All you people care about is readers and making money off of her. SHE WAS A HUMAN. What you don't realize is that Estelle's making you all this money and all you do is write a bunch of crap about her. She hasn't performed on stage in years. Her song is called "Thank You For Being a Friend" for a reason, because all she wanted was to be friends, friends, FRIENDS, FRIENDS FRIENDS! LEAVE HER ALONE. You're lucky she ever performed for you bastards. LEAVE ESTELLE ALONE! Please. Perez Hilton talked about professionalism and said if Estelle was a professional she would have pulled it off no matter what. Speaking of professionalism, when is it professional to publicly BASH someone who's going through A HARD TIME? LEAVE Estelle ALONE, PLEASE. (crying) Leave Estelle Getty alone RIGHT NOW. I mean it. Anyone who has a problem with her you deal with me, because she's not well right now. (crying) Leave her alone.
Lifetime's tribute to the work of Estelle Getty is the new sadness.
This Friday, July 25, Lifetime Television will pay a special on-air and online tribute to Estelle Getty, who played the cantankerous "Sophia Petrillo" on the iconic comedy series "The Golden Girls." Ms. Getty passed away today at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 84.
From 12-5PM (ET/PT), Lifetime will air 10 episodes showcasing "Sophia" in all her blustering, sarcastic splendor, beginning with the show's pilot. The last episode at 4:30PM (ET/PT) will be the #1 favorite "Sophia episode" as decided through a vote of her legion of devoted fans at myLifetime.com.
I mean, it's a fitting tribute, I GUESS. And I do love that the last episode will air at 4:30 PM, giving everyone just enough time to change into their breathable nylon track suits and head over to the Sizzler for the Early Bird Special. But maybe there's a better way to honor a human life than a five hour run in the middle of the day on basic cable, especially since I just went to the website and it took me five minutes to find where to even vote for my favorite episode. That's five minutes that devoted Golden Girls fans could spend working on their Mah Jong game, or sending articles they clipped out of the local paper to their grandchild.
Estelle Getty, most famous for her role as Sophia on The Golden Girls, has died at the age of 84. Of course our hearts go out to her family, but also wait, what, she was only 84?! Wasn't she 84 back in 1985?
This is a sad way to end the day, but I just read that actor Don Davis died on June 29th. He was in a million things, which you can read about on Hollywood's blog, but he will be best remembered (by me) for his work as Major Garland Briggs.
Rest in Peace, Don Davis. You're probably up there threatening to send the angels to the military academy now.
The World's Ugliest Dog award went out on June 20 to a dog named Gus who is definitely ugly, so congratulations to everyone involved with that. You provided a clear goal, and you met that goal. But the event has become bittersweet ever since the passing of Sam, who was crowned World's Ugliest Dog for three years in a row (2003-2005), before going to heaven as all dogs do in 2006. Wait a second, that was two years ago. But we are still mourning the passing of this monster? Fair enough, I don't make the ugly dog rules.
So, to mark the occasion, Animal Planet created a touching memorial to Sam:
It's all fun and games until someone else tries this woman's escalator-spinning trick and immediately dies:
Have you watched so much viral video that you were expecting something bad to happen at the end? Until the first imitator gets escalator-owned, it's probably best to stay away from malls. Not. Even. Joking.
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