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First Episode of Heroes Season Three Screened at Comic-Con

BuzzSugar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:15:03 PDT

And I got to see it! The Comic-Con started off with executive producer Jeph Loeb profusely thanking all the loyal fans and all the Comic-Con attendees from a couple years ago for getting the word out about Heroes. The whole cast came onstage, followed by Tim Kring whose wrist was handcuffed to a metal briefcase, which he referred to as "a big giant thank you to all of you." The cheering was deafening (I should add that there were some die-hard fans who had camped out overnight to be first in the convention center for this panel; the crowd was enthusiastic, to put it mildly) as Kring pulled out a DVD which he said contained the whole first episode of the next season.

And I don't think I was too influenced by all the intense excitement generated by thousands of Heroes fans when I say that I was really impressed with the season premiere. The writing is just better, the pacing is exciting without being way too much stuff at a time, and there aren't like, 64 new heroes. I was sometimes frustrated with the last season, for various reasons, and this episode totally wiped the slate clean. In fact, I have a newly bolstered respect for Heroes. I really think they'll deliver an awesome season, if the premiere is any indication.

I won't reveal anything specific about the plot but if you want a tiny taste of what we got to see this morning,

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

The Muppets' Music Man Bret McKenzie on His Oscar Nod and Taking a Silly Job Seriously

Lindsay Miller — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:50:41 PST

Bret McKenzie is up for an exceedingly rare honor this year, with his ballad "Man or Muppet" earning one of just two nominations in the Oscars' best song category. I caught up with The Muppets' musical supervisor today at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank to chat about the awards attention and the unique experience of penning music for Kermit and company. The New Zealand native talked about fighting the temptation to use the word "motherfrogger" in his songwriting and the roundabout way he came on board The Muppets project in the first place. Bret - who previously was best known as one half of the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords - also shared his hopes of bringing FOC to the big screen. Check out our conversation below:

PopSugar: It's got to be an honor to be nominated for an Oscar, but also in a year when the Academy only bothered to nominate two songs.
Bret McKenzie: They barely nominated anyone! When I found out, it sounded like there'd been a mistake, and yeah, it's a huge honor. It's great and it's really exciting, and I'm not complaining that there's only two nominees the year I'm nominated. I mean, this is the best chance I'll have of winning an Oscar, ever. It couldn't have been better, unless there was just one nomination, and then it would be a very dull ceremony . . . There's a lot of legendary musicians - tunesmiths - in that list of possible nominations. So it's all very surreal to think that I got in ahead of Elton John.

PS: And Madonna. Those two had a little rivalry going on.
BM: I know. I got nervous about what Elton John's husband was going to say about me. It's crazy, and it's great for The Muppets film, because we're all really proud of the film and it wasn't ever really going to get a best actor. Hey, Jason's good, that's not what I mean, but Kermit, Miss Piggy - they can't win these awards - and comedies don't generally get recognized at these awards ceremonies, so it's kind of cool. It's almost like the film as a whole is being recognized with this category.

For more from our chat with Bret, including what he says about his plans for a Flight of the Conchords film, coaching Jason Segel, and the pressure he felt on the project, just

read more! PS: What was the biggest unexpected challenge for you writing music for the film? I know you talked about one draft of a song where you referred to a Muppet as a piece of felt and were told you couldn't do that. BM: Yeah. Little piece of felt, and you couldn't say things like motherfrogger, even though it's very tempting. There were lots of hard parts to it. The Muppets can't sing certain notes. They can't sing too high or the voice changes and doesn't sound like the right character. There were so many weird things. I spent hours recording penguins and rats, and what's weird is that it's such a silly job, but you have to take it very seriously. So I would be in the studio for days, maybe a whole day recording penguins, and then I'm like, "I'm not happy with how the penguins are sounding! Where's penguin four?" You know, getting demanding. "We lost penguin track four! I can't hear the penguin!" PS: I was watching the movie again last night and watching Jason Segel's performance of "Man or Muppet." Did you coach him on any of his rockstar moves? Because he pretty much nailed it. BM: He nailed it. That's my favorite moment in the film. When he buckles down in the rain, that was one of my favorite shots. I was so proud of what James [Bobin, the director] and those guys achieved, because I wasn't there on set, I just saw them syncing the video, and I was like, "Wow, guys. You nailed it." What we did do in the studio, as Jason and I had a technique where I would sing a line, and he'd watch me through the window, and then he'd sing it back. So we did this thing where, I was really into the drama of it. So, I was like, "Am I a Muppppettt?" [balling his hands into fists] And he'd be like, OK, record. "Am I a Muppppettt!" So we kind of worked together to get that style. PS: Did it shatter some of your childhood illusions to have the guy that does Miss Piggy's voice come work with you [in the recording studio]? BM: Yeah. Well, it wasn't Frank Oz. The guy Eric, who does it now, yeah. That was strange. And the day that we recorded Kermit the Frog doing "Rainbow Connection" - I was sort of pinching myself, because that was probably one of the real moments for me where I realized that my world had really changed. That I'd come from New Zealand, I'd grown up with Kermit the Frog, and now I was in Hollywood in a studio recording Kermit the Frog. It felt like worlds had collided. PS: Was there pressure knowing there was already this great catalog of Muppet songs? To try to add to that or top it in some way? BM: I knew I wouldn't top "Rainbow Connection," but I was very intimidated, but the way I worked on the job was it actually started with me just writing one song, so I didn't feel the pressure of writing the whole movie. I think it would have been different if I'd been hired from the outset to do all the music. So I wrote one, then another, and gradually wrote more and more, so that helped. PS: What song did you write first? BM: The opening song. That's the one they needed, that's the one James asked me to write first. The script was probably on a second draft, and they were in preproduction, so I came in quite late. And the way they were doing it was, they got 100s of demos submitted from all sorts of songwriters, and surprisingly - even though they got some really great people to do demos - people weren't quite hitting the right tone. The Muppet tone. I'd just come off the Conchords tour and I had some time, and James asked if I was interested in doing that opening song, because he had a kind of specific thing he needed from that song. He needed it to be really Muppet-y, that song, and he had a great idea for the whole town joining in, it starting off small and becoming a big musical number, and that came together really well. PS: Is this experience maybe something you want to bring to a Flight of the Conchords movie? BM: Yeah, exactly. Having done this movie now, we're in a much better place to do a Conchords film, because James is more experienced - well, we're all more experienced. Not specifically, but James Bobin - well, we're all very keen to do another studio musical, because I really enjoyed being able to do comedy musical numbers on such a grand scale, and I think next time, I really think it will just get better and better. Because it's such a fun genre, and we've done like 50 songs for TV now, and now The Muppets movie, and I feel like we've accidentally sort of become musical comedy experts. PS: What do you imagine Bret and Jemaine from Flight of the Conchords are up to these days, in their universe? BM: In the Lower East Side? That's a good question. I reckon they probably got a regular gig now. Like, at a Chinese restaurant. Photo courtesy Disney

A Reader Answers: Can Exercise Help With Migraines?

Fit Community — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:52:16 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wanted to know: can exercise help with migraines? She asked an expert and posted the answer in our Fit Community.

Today's post comes to us from special guest contributor and medical expert Paul Rizzoli, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School:

When you’re prone to migraines you’re forced to think through whether or not something you do will invite a headache into your life. Exercise is definitely one of those things. Should you skip a workout because you feel a migraine coming on? Or is it better to push through in the hopes a little sweat will make you feel better?

Most headache specialists recommend exercise and an increase in overall physical activity to their patients. However, to date, there’s skimpy evidence to support the idea that working out actually guards against migraine attacks. A few studies have shown that taking regular exercise can reduce the severity, though not the number of headaches.

Keep reading to see what studies say about exercise and migraine relief after the break!

Rewind: Hollywood Heads to the SAG Awards

BuzzSugar — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:05:00 PST

If you're not caught up with all the action from the SAG Awards, be sure to check out the full list of the winners, look through our favorite photos from the SAG Awards, and cast your vote on whether the winners deserved their trophies.
Oscar buzz is all around. Check out actresses who have swept award season in the past and this year's nominees past projects that were not necessarily Oscar-worthy.
Love is in the air! See how a few of our favorite TV shows are spending Valentine's Day.
True Blood hunk Ryan Kwanten is coming to New Girl. Click through a few cute pictures from the upcoming episode.
We can't get enough of The Hunger Games over here. We loved the second trailer and these new photos from The Hunger Games. To top it off, it's time to welcome you to District Sugar! Find out how you can win a trip to The Hunger Games premiere.
Trailer time! Check out Cillian Murphy in Red Lights, Henry Cavill in The Cold Light of Day, and Julianne Moore in Game Change, starring as Sarah Palin.
We went through the highs and lows in January entertainment and shared what we're excited to watch this month. Take a minute to tell us which of these February movie releases you're most excited to see.
Get the inside scoop on what happened at Sundance with our interview with New Girl's Jake Johnson and our interview with the adorable Alison Brie.

Get Excited For Banana Republic's Second Mad Men Collection

Chi Diem Chau — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:00:57 PST

Banana Republic has just announced its second Mad Men collection, designed by the show's costume designer, Janie Bryant. The Spring collection debuts online and in stores on March 1 - just 24 days before the highly anticipated season premiere on March 25! Only one photo has been revealed from the campaign, but we do know that the line will feature over 40 retro-inspired pieces. Think cardigans, knee-length skirts, sheath dresses, and floral blouses. To get you excited for what's to come, check out some Mad Men style from season four in the slideshow now.

Photo courtesy of AMC

Save Thousands Just By Itemizing Deductions

LearnVest — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:15:01 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Though we all groan about having to pay taxes, the government is nice enough not to tax us on the full amount of our earnings.

There are two big buckets of deductions the government gives us: the first is called above the line, and the second is called below the line, which we’ll cover here. (The “line” these deductions refer to is a literal line on your 1040 form for the Adjusted Gross Income.)

Below the Line Deductions

Below the line deductions come in two types: one is called the standard deduction, and the second is called itemized deductions.

The Standard Deduction

The standard deduction is an amount of income that the government will not tax any taxpayer on. Most people take the standard deduction on their returns, which is worth anywhere from $5,800 to $11,600, and opt out of the whole process of itemizing. It’s as simple as saying, “I’m a single person (or married filing singly or married filing jointly), and yes, I would like the standard deduction.” For some people, this is just fine. After all, that’s a lot of money, and taking just the standard deduction makes your taxes simpler and faster. What’s not to like?

Check out the chart below to find out what the standard deduction is for your filing status.

From Cool to Sweet, 4 Valentine's Day Lipstick Looks to Suit Your Mood

Jaime Richards — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:57:15 PST

There are only a select few holidays where going vampy is typically deemed socially appropriate. Halloween comes to mind instantly, but Valentine's Day might be a close second. And while a vampy lip color might not be for you this Valentine's Day, there are other ways you can create a mood with a simple switch of color. "Experiment with reds and pinks in different textures, like glossy, creamy, opaque, or sheer," advises Mark celebrity makeup artist Mai Quynh. To see her top selections for setting a tone that's either sweet, sexy, edgy, or vampy, just keep reading.

Know Your Techniques: Mince

Camilla Salem — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:28:45 PST

Mincing garlic is one of those very important kitchen skills that takes some practice to master. The good news is that once you've got the technique down, it's like second nature and it makes throwing together recipes much quicker and more enjoyable. Less precise than a brunoise, a mince is simply a very fine chop, and it can be done to several vegetables. Its purpose is to give flavor to the dish without adding significant texture. I've chosen to demonstrate using garlic, as many recipes call for minced garlic to start.

Start with a whole clove of garlic on a cutting board.

Using the side of a chef's knife, smash the garlic and the peel should easily come off. Cut off the tip and discard.

Keep reading for more!

How Social Media Can Help You Score That Dream Job

Emily Co — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:28:47 PST

When you think you've exhausted all your job options, the worst thing to do is to wait it out. There are always ways to get to where you want to be, and you just need to think outside of the box. Even just a single tweet might be the trick you need to get the job of your dreams.

Companies are now interested in more than just your résumé. They are also sizing up your LinkedIn accounts, video profiles, and presence on other social-media platforms. In fact, there are plenty of people who have successfully tried social-media-savvy ways to get a job when the traditional route has failed. One example is Matthew Epstein, a job hunter who invested $3,000 in a flashy website and video to capture the attention of Google. Through his campaign (that went viral), he managed to score interviews with Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as capture the media attention of CNN and TechCrunch. He did, in the end, land a job of his dreams, although it wasn't a Google job. Hanna Phan, a freelance presentation consultant, is another person who got a job through social-media efforts - she created a 90-second slideshow with SlideRocket and tweeted it to the firm's CEO. The head of the company was impressed, and she received a job offer.

If you want social media to be part of your job-hunting arsenal, keep these tips in mind:

Don't be the jack of all trades: Don't spread yourself too thin and try to hop onto every social-media bandwagon. Instead, channel your energy toward three or four platforms and try to develop them as best you can. Choose from accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, and YouTube, to name a few.
Be creative: A ton of people are on Twitter and Facebook, so you need to think of ways to separate yourself from the others. You can brainstorm unique angles and ideas with friends and look at past examples of what people have done. Perhaps you can come up with a YouTube video or a Tumblr blog that will go viral and capture people's attention. Think of current events and how you can capitalize on them.
Don't be a pest: Finally, you need to be cautious of bugging people on the web. Be smart about how you reach out to people, and don't keep bothering them if you don't hear a response.