<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ee1df26da8118e5f79c085-1200-924/twitter-dick-costolo-16.jpg" border="0" alt="twitter dick costolo"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Years before he became Twitter's chief executive, Dick Costolo was a professional comedian, <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0206-twitter-costolo-20110206,0,2960609.story">performing improv comedy</a> as part of the famous Second City comedy troupe, which boasts <a href="http://www.wikiwand.com/en/List_of_alumni_of_the_Second_City">alums</a> like Mike Myers, Stephen Colbert, and Tiny Fey. Costolo even worked with Steve Carell at Second City, briefly.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/magazine/dick-costolo-thinks-its-ok-to-never-tweet.html?smid=tw-nytmag&amp;_r=1">recent interview</a> with New York Times tech columnist Farhad Manjoo, Costolo mentioned how all of his comedy experience impacts his qualities as a CEO.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"One of the things that you're always trying to make sure you really pay attention to in improv is being in the moment and listening," he said. "When I was first learning the trade, one of the things that folks at Second City used to always say was 'Be in this moment.' That's one of the things I tell my new managers. The notion of 'Yes, and' in improvisation is, I think, important in any sort of discussion."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In improv, saying "yes, and" to your scene partners is taught as a valuable concept to help move scenes forward: You're never supposed to object outright to any person's idea on stage, because the scene won't go anywhere if nothing happens.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">By saying "yes" and then "and" to push those ideas forward, you'll arrive at places that are totally unexpected; similarly, Costolo is saying he doesn't shut himself off from any sort of discussion at Twitter, because nurturing ideas, even if they initially sound trivial, engenders positivity in the workplace and motivates his teams to think creatively.</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/magazine/dick-costolo-thinks-its-ok-to-never-tweet.html?smid=tw-nytmag&amp;_r=1">Check out Costolo's whole interview over at The New York Times</a>.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/patrick-stewart-never-tweet-when-youve-been-drinking-2013-11">Patrick Stewart's Only Rule For Using Twitter</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="M5cXF4ZzomGIp_KQW16oj3unh0ot7cnT" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'M5cXF4ZzomGIp_KQW16oj3unh0ot7cnT',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Twitter's CEO used to be a professional comedian - here's how improv comedy helped him be a better leader

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5307865e6bb3f7ed6114771a-2400/baby-boomer-small-business-owner-shop-happy-working.jpg" border="0" alt="baby boomer small business owner shop happy working" data-mce-source="AP" /></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Anyone can come up with award-winning, money-making business ideas.</li><li>Business Insider tapped 10 entrepreneurs, founders, small business owners, and CEOs for their tips for imagining up the next big thing.</li><li>Their advice includes solving a problem that interests you, building off an already successful idea, improving upon a product, and using your hobbies as inspiration.</li><li>They also recommended keeping an eye out for social trends and journaling.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/prime?module=article&amp;area=summary">Click here for more BI Prime stories.</a></li></ul><p>At first glance, the three startups Max Krohn founded - <a href="https://www.sparknotes.com/">SparkNotes</a>, <a href="https://www.okcupid.com/">OKCupid</a>, and <a href="https://keybase.io/">Keybase</a> - might seem worlds apart. But according to Krohn, each company helped to generate the idea for the next.</p><p>Krohn - who is now the CEO and founder of Keybase, an end-to-end encryption service - and his partners Sam Yagan, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin developed SparkNotes as an online alternative to CliffNotes in 1999 while they were students at Harvard. </p><p>"We thought we could produce study guides cheaply and wouldn't have to update them much," Krohn said. "We were basically iterating over things to work on and then stumbled upon that idea and thought it was worth attempting." </p><p>They originally started developing an online site for casual dating because other dating sites like Match.com seemed too serious for college students, but when they started getting traction on SparkNotes they put their online dating app on the backburner. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddc5cebfd9db2742c2f5f93-925/max krohn headshot.jpg" border="0" alt="Max Krohn" data-mce-source="Max Krohn" data-mce-caption="Max Krohn." /></div></div></div></p><p>"We were always interested in matching people," he said. Eventually, SparkMatch became an intern project at SparkNotes. </p><p>Later on they turned it into its own site - OKCupid - in 2003 after selling SparkNotes to Iturf Inc. in 2000 (the company was sold a second time to Barnes and Nobles for $3.5 million, Krohn said). </p><p>"We came back to our half-baked product that almost worked and then reimagined the idea," Krohn said. OKCupid started out as SparkMatch, a site where registered users could take personality tests and then contact each other based on their test results. Initially, OKCupid was advertised to SparkNotes users because the online study guides attracted the same demographic and many SparkNote customers had used that beta version of SparkMatch. In 2010, OKCupid was (ironically) <a href="https://www.iac.com/media-room/press-releases/iacs-matchcom-acquires-okcupid">sold for over $50 million to IAC</a>, the owner of Match.com.</p><p>Around the time that OKCupid was sold, it dawned on Krohn and his partners that people using apps - like OKCupid - were giving up a lot of personal data and trusting companies to protect it. "We started with that insight and thought about how to build a company to protect data," he said. Thus Keybase was born.</p><p>Coming up with award-winning, money-making business ideas like Krohn did (three times!) isn't something only certain people can accomplish. Anyone can do it - if they follow these tips, courtesy of expert founders and business owners.</p><h1>Solve a problem that interests or bothers you</h1><p>Most entrepreneurs admit that their ideas were born out of problems they encountered or saw others struggle with. For example, Jason Brown, the CEO of <a href="https://www.meettally.com/">Tally</a>, said the idea to create a personal finance app that helps customers pay off their credit cards was inspired by his childhood. Tally currently manages nearly half a billion dollars of consumer credit card debt. </p><p>"Growing up, there was a good amount of financial stress and anxiety," said Brown. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d9fa81dcc4a0a438a4a70c8-2400/jason brown tally.jpg" border="0" alt="Jason Brown TALLY" data-mce-source="Courtesy of Jason Brown" data-mce-caption="Jason Brown, CEO and cofounder of Tally." /></div></div></div></p><p>That memory of his family's financial burdens was always in the back of his mind. Then Brown noticed how automation was becoming more prevalent, and he wondered what role automation would play in the next 20 years. He combined those two thoughts and came up with the idea to create an intelligent banking service that could take the emotional burden out of managing finances. </p><p>Brown said that his formula for coming up with winning ideas is to consider what interests you, look for a big trend shaping our human experience, and then think about how that trend intersects with your interests. </p><p>"My cofounder and I decided to try to find the widest unsolved problem first," Brown said. "That's why we zeroed in on credit card debt. <a href="https://www.meettally.com/blog/credit-card-anxiety-new-norm/">Two-thirds of people with credit card debt have anxiety</a> triggered by their debt. We wanted to focus on the emotional experience people have with their money."</p><h1>Build off of an already successful idea</h1><p>One of the easiest ways to come up with new business ideas is to leverage an already existing venture, much like TV studios spin off of their most popular TV shows and turn them into movies, merchandise, and other offerings to grow their audience.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddc645efd9db26cec63d8d7-1560/leeron.jpg" border="0" alt="Leeron Cohen" data-mce-source="Leeron Cohen" data-mce-caption="Leeron Cohen." /></div></div></div></p><p>"Serial entrepreneurs are always thinking about how to spin off an already successful idea into another thriving business model," explained Leeron Cohen, cofounder and CEO of <a href="https://www.lamediagrp.com/">LA Media Group</a>, a digital marketing agency in Hollywood, FL, <a href="https://clipsgarage.com/">Clips Garage</a>, a video, photo, and illustration library, and <a href="https://www.countlesscreatives.com/">Countless Creatives</a>, a custom video and graphic design studio. </p><p>This is exactly what Cohen did when developing his three businesses. He started with LA Media Group, and after seeing the success of that company spun off The Clips Garage to help businesses with videography and photography, and then created Countless Creatives to provide businesses with graphic design support.</p><h1>Improve a product</h1><p>Gary Nealon, who grew his company <a href="https://www.thertastore.com/kitchen-cabinets/rta-kitchen-cabinets.html">RTA Cabinet Store</a> to $40 million before exiting, recommended thinking critically about the products you're currently using - and considering why you use them, if you're satisfied with them, and whether they could be improved. He also suggested reading product reviews. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddc5d3ffd9db26beb7f81d8-2400/gary nealon headshot 2.jpg" border="0" alt="Gary Nealon" data-mce-source="Gary Nealon" data-mce-caption="Gary Nealon." /></div></div></div></p><p>"Are people commonly reporting issues and problems that you could solve?" he asked. Then make a better version. This is the strategy Nealon employed when he developed his ready-to-assemble, customizable kitchen cabinets, providing home-improvement aficionados another option for remodeling their kitchens. </p><p>It's important to remember that your business ideas don't necessarily have to be groundbreaking. "You don't need a revolutionary idea or disruptive patentable technology to launch a business," said Jon Richards, cofounder of <a href="https://www.nomatic.com/">Nomatic.com</a>, a travel accessories company. "You just need to be able to do something better, faster, or cheaper than everyone else." </p><p>Richards and his cousin Jacob Durham entered the travel accessories business by designing an innovative slim wallet that gives users easy access to their four most-used credit cards via a pull tab. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddd59cdfd9db24e39270ea8-551/about us jon pic.jpg" border="0" alt="Jon Richards" data-mce-source="Jon Richards" data-mce-caption="Jon Richards." /></div></div></div></p><p>And you don't need to re-invent a product as long as you solve a long-standing, common problem with it, said Miguel Madrid, founder and CEO of Perk Apparel, an online men's apparel company. </p><p>"It's about pointing out the problem in a customer's life, how your product will solve that problem, and how they'll be the hero of their own story by purchasing your product," he said. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddd59abfd9db242262736dc-2400/miguel madrid.jpg" border="0" alt="miguel madrid" data-mce-source="Miguel Madrid" data-mce-caption="Miguel Madrid." /></div></div></div></p><p>The idea to start Perk Apparel came to Madrid after trying on his first pair of expensive underwear. He liked how they felt, but he didn't want to spend $300 stocking up on underwear. "Perk was born as an elevated basics brand for busy men who need reliable, all-day comfort," said Madrid, who runs a lean, three-person operation with over $100,000 in monthly sales. </p><h1>Look out for social trends</h1><p>Elizabeth Babinski - who is the founder of <a href="https://lizraeweddings.com/">Liz Rae Weddings</a>, an agency offering nondenominational ministers who create unique wedding ceremonies, Vows Well Traveled, an agency that plans elopement vacations, and Storytelling for Digital Nomads, an online storytelling course - pays "close attention to social media, specifically Facebook groups, to find new ideas or aspects people complain about." </p><p>"A lot of people don't realize that social trends and business opportunities are actually deeply intertwined," said Peter Yared, the former CTO and CIO of CBS Interactive and a seven-time founder with more than $500 million in exits to companies such as Sun, Oracle, and VMware. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5cd92568021b4c2cb945c682-600/peter-600.jpg" border="0" alt="peter 600" data-mce-source="InCountry" data-mce-caption="Peter Yared, six-time tech startup founder" /></div></div></div></p><p>For instance, Yared developed Sapho, which was acquired by software company <a href="https://www.citrix.com/">Citrix</a> for $225 million, based on the social trend that millennials prefer to use an app for daily tasks. Sapho allows employees to file expense reports or request time off via app rather than through legacy time-and-attendance software. </p><p>Transpond, a business platform for creating quizzes and sweepstakes to engage customers, was based on Yared's 2007 observation that consumers enjoyed sharing content with friends over Facebook. Transpond was eventually acquired by Webtrends and renamed "Webtrends Social," and then acquired by Oracle.</p><h1>Use your hobbies as inspiration</h1><p>Robert Wray, currently the founder of ecommerce company <a href="https://www.whitebox.co/">Whitebox</a>, advised that aspiring business owners dive into their hobbies for inspiration. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddd72dffd9db25f1b402195-1065/rob wray.jpg" border="0" alt="Robert Wray" data-mce-source="Robert Wray" data-mce-caption="Robert Wray." /></div></div></div></p><p>"Patterns will emerge if you think through the lens of what businesses could exist" to support that hobby, he explained. Plus, this ensures you actually enjoy working on your idea. His first company, Mp3car, a forum and ecommerce store that sold hard-to-find electronic parts, was developed from Wray's interest in listening to digital audio in his car before the advent of streaming services. </p><h1>Whenever something comes to mind, write it down</h1><p>Some entrepreneurs look inward for ideas. Babinski develops hers through daily journaling. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ddc5d75fd9db27465694244-427/dsc04937.jpg" border="0" alt="Elizabeth Babinski" data-mce-source="Elizabeth Babinski" data-mce-caption="Elizabeth Babinski." /></div></div></div></p><p>"I'll review the journal entries weekly to comb through frustration points, things I noticed, or other items that stick out to find solutions," she said. Her idea for Liz Rae Weddings stemmed from her experience as a wedding officiant. She didn't like how she was treated by other vendors when she arrived at weddings and decided she wanted to be more involved in the vision for the weddings she officiated.  </p><p>Mike Myer, the founder and CEO of <a href="https://goquiq.com/">Quiq</a>, a text messaging platform for businesses, keeps a running list of ideas on his phone as they pop into his head and then finds time to sit down and rank the list in order of viable business ideas. </p><p>"Let the ideas find you as you go about your life and current career," he said.  "Be inquisitive and open minded and, over time, the ideas will appear."</p>

Want to come up with the next SparkNotes? Here's how its creator - and 9 other successful entrepreneurs - got their ideas.

<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong><keyword id="101437" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jay-Leno">Jay Leno</keyword></strong> resumed his jabs at <keyword id="5601" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="NBC">NBC</keyword> Wednesday night. After noting </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">that NBC's "The Voice" and "Revolution" performed well for the network, he joked: </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"You know what that means? Between Easter and Passover, this is truly the season of miracles. We’re number two! </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And I've been saying that for the last week, that NBC is a big number two."</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: left;">              <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=n34365"></iframe></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Forbes rundown of the wealthiest artists in hip-hop reveals </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/03/27/the-forbes-five-hip-hops-wealthiest-artists-2013/" target="_blank"><strong>Diddy</strong> is the wealthiest rapper with</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/03/27/the-forbes-five-hip-hops-wealthiest-artists-2013/" target="_blank"> $580 million in the bank</a>. <strong>Jay-Z</strong> is in second place, with $475 million;<strong> Dr. Dre</strong> is third with $350 million; <strong>Birdman</strong> is fourth with $150 million; and <strong>50 Cent</strong> rounds out the top five with $125 million.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Joseph Gordon-Levitt</strong> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6fqJt3mm6I" target="_blank">announced he'll be launching a new variety show</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> based off his social media platform for artists and filmmakers, </span><a href="http://www.hitrecord.org/" target="_blank">HitRecord</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">. It will air on new <keyword id="6357922" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Television">television</keyword> channel Pivot launching this summer.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">The Academy has </span><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-myers-dana-carvey-waynes-431470" target="_blank">staged a "Wayne's World" reunion</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">. </span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Mike Myers</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> will join his former co-star </span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Dana Carvey</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">, producer </span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Lorne Michaels</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> and director </span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Penelope Spheeris</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> for a panel discussion and screening of "</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Wayne's World"</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.</span></li>
<li><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Lyle Lovett</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> is </span><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fash-track/lyle-lovett-launches-mens-shirt-431383" target="_blank">launching a men's western shirt line</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> to debut in fall 2013.</span></li>
<li><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Angelina Jolie</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> denies claims (prompted by a gold band on her ring finger) that </span><a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20686036,00.html" target="_blank">she and <strong>Brad Pitt</strong> are secretly married</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></li>
<li><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Olivia Wilde</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> and </span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">Jason Sudeikis</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2300296/Olivia-Wilde-Jason-Sudeikis-spend-day-Disneyland-starring-eyes.html" target="_blank">hammed it up at Disneyland</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">"I'm not ashamed of my body," said six-months-pregnant</span><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> Kim Kardashian</strong><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"> while </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2300046/Kim-Kardashian-proudly-displays-pregnancy-curves-bejewelled-figure-hugging-dress-says-ashamed-body.html" target="_blank">wearing a body-hugging dress that showed off her baby bump</a><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></li>
</ul>

Jay Leno Resumes Jabs At NBC In Opening Monologue - Here's Today's Buzz

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5465cd8269beddd477bdaeeb-835-626/michelle-phan-8.png" border="0" alt="Michelle Phan"><p class="source"><span>YouTube</span></p><p class="caption">YouTube star Michelle Phan has shared her tips for social media success.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning. The weekend is almost upon us, but before we get there, here's your chance to read up on the most important <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword> stories today.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-ranks-top-25-uk-universities-for-marketing-jobs-2014-11">These are the top 25 universities to go to in the UK if you want a job in marketing.</a></strong> The London School of Economics tops the list, according to LinkedIn's rankings. </p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>2. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mike-myers-sears-commercial-2014-11">Mike Myers is the star of a silly ad campaign for Sears.</a></strong> He features in the commercial alongside his brother who has worked at the store for more than 30 years. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong>3. </strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/social-media-tips-from-youtube-star-michelle-phan-2014-11"><strong>YouTube superstar Michelle Phan has shared her tips for building a social media brand.</strong></a> She advises people to choose a platform with a strong community, claim your name and keep consistent, create content that's fresh, make a schedule and engage with your followers. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>4. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/swarovski-craiglist-marketing-push-2014-11">These mysterious Craigslist "Missing Connections" posts were actually ads for luxury crystal brand Swarovski.</a></strong> The brand hoped the low-key marketing approach would help dispel the myth that Swarovski jewelry is only for "red carpet moments" and other special occasions.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>5. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ebay-programmatic-native-advertising-2014-11">EBay is creating mobile native ad formats that could be traded programmatically next year.</a></strong> The company says it is exploring "native programmatic at scale."</span></p>
<p class="p2"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">6. </span></strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1321830/aviva-cmo-amanda-mackenzie-work-richard-curtis-two-year-education-project"><strong>High profile marketer Amanda Mackenzie, the CMO of insurance firm Aviva is taking a two year secondment to work with film director Richard Curtis on a UN development project, Marketing Magazine reports.</strong></a> Mackenzie will work with Curtis on a global education program and will be responsible for developing a global marketing campaign to drive public awareness. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>7. <a href="http://adage.com/article/media/viacom-ad-revenue-falls-transformers-movie-soars/295852/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social">Viacom has become the latest media company to suffer from the soft ad market, AdAge reports</a></strong><a href="http://adage.com/article/media/viacom-ad-revenue-falls-transformers-movie-soars/295852/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=Twitter&amp;utm_medium=Social">.</a> The MTV and Comedy Central owner said ad sales declined in the US during its most recent quarter, partly because traditional ratings are failing to account for the new ways viewers consume content. </span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>8. <a href="http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/why-tech-brands-are-suddenly-love-billboards-and-subway-ads-161408">Adweek digs into why tech brands are suddenly "in love" with billboard and subway ads.</a></strong> Companies including Facebook, Foursquare and Box have all recently jumped on the trend towards old-school ads.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>9. <a href="http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/11/updating-our-terms-and-policies-helping-you-understand-how-facebook-works-and-how-to-control-your-information/">Facebook has updated the look of its terms and privacy policies, the company announced in a blog post.</a></strong> Not much has changed policy-wise (bar the inclusion of more information about payments and location targeting) but the redesign is aimed at getting users to understand and control the types of ads they see.</span></p>
<p class="p2"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">1<strong>0. <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/238147/mozilla-cuts-first-brand-deals-with-groupm-cvs-w.html">Web browser and software developer Mozilla has cut its first deal with major advertisers, MediaPost reports.</a></strong> Group M's Mindshare unit, its client CVS health, travel site Booking.com and The Weinstein Co. are all testing Mozilla's first ad format, "Tiles," which appear on the Firefox browser home screen.</span></p>

The 10 Things In Advertising You Need To Know Today

<p>The <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/festival" target="_blank">Tribeca Film Festival</a> starts this week in New York City.</p>
<p class="p1">More than 100 movies will be screened during the two-week event from April 16-27 along with 55 world premieres.</p>
<p class="p1">Tickets went on sale to the general public Monday.</p>
<p class="p1">If you're in NYC and are trying to figure out what to see, th<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ese are the films we're looking forward to the most.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">1. "Palo Alto"</strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d67c26bb3f7001f6bbaa8-1200-600/emma-roberts-palo-alto.jpg" border="0" alt="emma roberts palo alto" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/press-center/tribeca-film/palo-alto-still">Palo Alto via Tribeca Film Festival</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/532089ccc07f5df7d200020b-palo-alto" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>:</strong> Emma Roberts plays April, a levelheaded, intelligent, and spirited young woman who finds herself attracted to introspective artist Teddy (Jack Kilmer), whose buddy Fred's (Nat Wolff) destructive nihilism brings Teddy down with him. When her soccer coach (James Franco) comes onto her, April's world begins to spiral out of her control.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Who's in it: </strong>James Franco, Emma Roberts, Val Kilmer, Chris Messina<strong><br />Why to see it:</strong> The film is Gia Coppola's  - niece of Sofia Coppola - debut feature film and is based on Franco's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Palo-Alto-Stories-James-Franco/dp/B005OHTSLG" target="_blank">short stories</a> of the same name.<br /><br />Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/532089ccc07f5df7d200020b-palo-alto" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>2. "Third Person"</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d6b9decad04ee456481f5-710-355/third-person.jpg" border="0" alt="third person" width="800" /><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Classics</span></p></div><p></p></div><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/tribeca_cms_production/uploads/document/document/534d2806a955fccb33000001/THIRD_PERSON_SPC_Press_Kit_D1_04142014.pdf" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>: </strong>"Three stories set in cities known for romance-New York, Rome, and Paris-take raw and personal twists as the characters grapple with the difficulties of modern relationships. From the on-again, off-again relationship of a recently separated man and his mistress, to a mother accused of attempting to kill her own child, the tribulations of everyday life wax and wane for each of the individuals."</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Who's in it: </strong>Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, James Franco, Olivia Wilde, Adrien Brody,  Maria Bello, and <span>Kim Basinger</span><br /><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Why to see it: </strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Not only does the film have a ton of star power, </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"Third Person" is directed by Paul Haggis who won two Academy Awards for "Million Dollar Baby" and "Crash."<br /><br />Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208b95c07f5df7d2000a5c-third-person" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>3. "Every Secret Thing"</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image"><a title_source="Every Secret Thing" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d6f7569beddf14e106b06-960/every-secret-thing.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d6f7569beddf14e106b06-850-425/every-secret-thing.jpg" border="0" alt="every secret thing" /></a><p class="source"><span>Every Secret Thing</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208b78c07f5df7d20009dc-every-secret-thing" target="_blank">Synopsis</a></strong>: "One clear summer day in a Baltimore suburb, a baby goes missing from her front porch. Two young girls serve seven years for the crime and are released into a town that hasn't fully forgiven or forgotten. Soon, another child is missing, and two detectives are called in to investigate the mystery in a community where everyone seems to have a secret."</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Who's in it:</strong> Diane Lane, Elizabeth Banks, Dakota Fanning<br /><strong>Why to see it: </strong>The film comes from Amy Berg whose 2006 documentary "Deliver Us from Evil" was nominated for an Oscar.<br /><br />Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208b78c07f5df7d20009dc-every-secret-thing" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>4. "5 to 7"</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d8130eab8ea2368e334e3-980-490/5-to-7-tribeca-film-festival.jpg" border="0" alt="5 to 7 tribeca film festival" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/tribeca_cms_production/uploads/film/photo_1/53208a57c07f5df7d20004fe/large_5to7_web_1.jpg">5 to 7 courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208a57c07f5df7d20004fe-5-to-7" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>: </strong>"Outside the Manhattan St. Regis Hotel, aspiring young writer Brian (Anton Yelchin) first meets Arielle (Bérénice Marlohe), the sophisticated wife of a French Diplomat. Though she's older, married, and the mother of two, Brian can't help but be drawn to her and the two begin a cinq-a-sept affair. It's a clash with his traditional values and his parents (Frank Langella and Glenn Close) can barely handle the news, but Brian couldn't be more smitten. As the two fall deeper in love, Brian begins to wish for more than just the hours of five to seven and soon the two must face the most significant decision of their lives."</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong>Who's in it:</strong> Anton Yelchin, Berénice Marloh, Frank Langella, and Glenn Close<br /><strong>Why to see it: </strong>While the love story features Oscar-nominated actors Close and Langella, director Victor Levin is a co-executive producer on "Mad Men" and has been nominated for 4 Emmys. </span></p>
<p class="p1">Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208a57c07f5df7d20004fe-5-to-7" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>5. "Boulevard"</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d8f3f69bedd2c47106b12-980-490/boulevard-robin-williams.jpg" border="0" alt="boulevard robin williams" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/tribeca_cms_production/uploads/film/photo_1/53208ac9c07f5df7d20006d9/large_boulevard_web_1.jpg">Boulevard courtesy Tribeca Film Festival</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208ac9c07f5df7d20006d9-boulevard" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>: </strong>"What starts as an aimless drive down an unfamiliar street turns into a life-altering decision for the curious Nolan Mack (Robin Williams). For many years, Nolan and his wife Joy (Kathy Baker) have embraced their marriage as a convenient distraction from facing reality. When he meets a troubled young man named Leo (Roberto Aguire) on his drive home, Nolan finds himself breaking from the confines of his old life."</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Who's in it: </strong>Robin Williams, Kathy Baker, Bob Odenkirk<strong><br /></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Why to see it: </strong>It's not too often you see Williams outside of a comedic role. Director Dito Montiel's last film, "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance. </p>
<p class="p1">Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208ac9c07f5df7d20006d9-boulevard" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>6. "The Bachelor Weekend"<br /><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d71b66bb3f7ea3f6bbaaa-1200-600/the-bachelor-weekend-1.jpg" border="0" alt="the bachelor weekend" /><p class="source"><span>The Bachelor Weekend courtesy Tribeca Film Festival</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/tribeca_cms_production/uploads/document/document/534956757de2ffd5e2000003/The_Bachelor_Weekend_Press_Notes_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>: </strong>"A very modern groom-to-be reluctantly agrees to a bachelor weekend with his urbane friends, wild camping in the great outdoors of the west of Ireland. To their horror they are joined by the bride's unpredictable brother, an alpha male known as "The Machine" whose explosive personality and wild leadership takes them on a journey they'll never forget."</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Who's in it: </strong>Andrew Scott, Brian Gleeson, Amy Huberman<strong><br /></strong><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">Why to see it:</strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Think "Bridesmaids" for men. If you tune into "Sherlock," you'll recognize Scott who plays Jim Moriarty on the BBC series, and he's enough to sell us over on this comedy.</span></p>
<p class="p1">Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/532089a4c07f5df7d200014e-bachelor-weekend" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><strong>7. "Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon"<br /><br /><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53286ebeb57ce982ad00020c-supermensch-the-legend-of" target="_blank"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d7f7a6bb3f79b6d6bbab0-980-490/supermensch-1.jpg" border="0" alt="supermensch" /><p class="source"><span>Supermensch courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival</span></p></a></div><p></p></div></div>Synopsis:</strong> "Mike Myers brings a comic touch to documenting the astounding career of consummate Hollywood insider Shep Gordon. Making playful use of archival footage, new interviews, and his own close relationship with the legendary talent manager, Myers reveals a man who has embraced his dualities: a hard-driving dealmaker who wants everyone to be happy and a rock 'n' roll hedonist who yearns for a family."<strong><br /></strong></p>
<p class="p1"><strong>Why to see it: </strong>This film not only marks Mike Myer's directorial debut, but also gives an inside look at Gordon who has worked with artists in the music industry and helped create the idea of the "celebrity chef." </p>
<p class="p1"><strong>8. "This Time Next Year"</strong></p>
<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d7a9d69bedd6279106b0a-980-490/this-time-next-year.jpg" border="0" alt="this time next year" /><p class="source"><span>This Time Next Year courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><strong><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208b8fc07f5df7d2000a36-this-time-next-year" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>: </strong>The documentary follows the residents of Long Beach Island, New Jersey for the year after Hurricane Sandy. </p>
<p class="p1">Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208b8fc07f5df7d2000a36-this-time-next-year" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p class="p1"><span><strong>9. 1971</strong><br /><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/534d63eeeab8eafd7fe334e6-1016-508/1971-tribeca-film-festival.jpg" border="0" alt="1971 tribeca film festival" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.1971film.com/">1971</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><br /></span></p>
<p class="p1"><strong><a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208a7fc07f5df7d20005a0-1971" target="_blank">Synopsis</a>:</strong> "On March 8, 1971 eight ordinary citizens broke into an FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, a town just outside Philadelphia, took hundreds of secret files, and shared them with the public. In doing so, they uncovered the FBI's vast and illegal regime of spying and intimidation of Americans exercising their First Amendment rights."</p>
<p class="p1">Check out movie times <a href="http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/53208a7fc07f5df7d20005a0-1971" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

9 Movies We Can't Wait To See At The Tribeca Film Festival

<p></p>
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div>
<div class="image on-image">
<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54c13e2469bedde5749135d1-1200-600/johnny-depp-mortdecai-1.jpg" border="0" alt="johnny depp mortdecai"><p class="source"><span>Lionsgate</span></p>
</img></div>
<p></p>
</div></div>Johnny Depp has a new movie out this weekend, "Mortdecai," and it's sounding like a giant bust.
<p>You may have seen a few TV ads or billboards for the flick like this one featuring Depp as a mustachioed Brit.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div>
<div class="image on-image">
<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54c13e34ecad04370d9135d1-3900-5850/mortdecai-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="mortdecai poster"><p class="source"><span>Lionsgate</span></p>
</img></div>
<p></p>
</div></div>
<p>... or this one with Gwyneth Paltrow also strangely sporting a mustache.</p>
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div>
<div class="image on-image">
<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54c13e33eab8eaec599135d0-1200-2000/mortdecai-gywneth-paltrow.jpg" border="0" alt="mortdecai gywneth paltrow" style="line-height: 1.5em;"><p class="source"><span>Lionsgate</span></p>
</img></div>
<p></p>
</div></div>
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">However, you probably don't know much else about the film other than actors&#xa0;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Paltrow, Olivia Munn, and Ewan McGregor are also along for the ride.&#xa0;</span>
<p>The film, about an&#xa0;art dealer (Depp) searching for a stolen painting, hasn't screened for many US critics yet, but it's currently tracking low for the weekend.&#xa0;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">BoxOffice.com is calling for the film to make <a href="http://pro.boxoffice.com/statistics/long_term_predictions?w=1">$8.5 million opening weekend</a>.&#xa0;</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The Lionsgate picture cost an </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"></span><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-preview-american-sniper-765687">estimated $60 million</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></p>
<p>In other words, aside from "Into the Woods," it's more than likely this will be Depp's fifth box-office bomb in a row.</p>
<p><strong>Here's what critics are saying:</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=138765">Empire</a>&#xa0;is having fun with puns calling the film "somewhat&#xa0;mortifying":&#xa0;</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>Very close to disastrous, there's an unavoidable feeling that Gwyneth Paltrow and co. are having much more fun than you are, what?</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.thewrap.com/mortdecai-review-johnny-depp-gwyneth-paltrow-ewan-mcgregor/">The Wrap</a>:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">On the heels of "The Lone Ranger" and "Dark Shadows," it appears that Depp has turned himself into Mike Myers - not the "Austin Powers" Myers, the "Love Guru" Myers.&#xa0;<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br /></span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.timeout.com/london/film/mortdecai">Time Out</a>:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>As the plot ties itself in ever more uninteresting knots, a nagging question remains: who is 'Mortdecai' for? It's not thrilling enough for the multiplex crowd and not funny enough to work as out-and-out comedy.&#xa0;</span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><span>It's hard to escape the suspicion that the only people sure to enjoy 'Mortdecai' are Depp, Paltrow and perhaps Tim Burton and Madonna.</span></span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11362124/The-10-Worst-Jokes-in-Mortdecai.html">The Telegraph</a>&#xa0;calls the movie "psychotically unfunny" and suggests it could be in early contention for the worst film of the year.</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">This is comfortably the actor's worst film since&#xa0;<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/7369337/Alice-in-Wonderland-full-review.html" target="_blank">Alice in Wonderland</a>, and even dedicated fans will find their hearts shrivelling up like week-old party balloons at its all-pervading air of clenched desperation.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a622650/mortdecai-review-johnny-depp-dons-a-moustache-to-act-the-fool.html#~p27fOyfeGGpPbA">Digital Spy</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">:</span></strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span><em>Mortdecai</em><span>, the film, is neither satire nor spoof, instead getting caught uncomfortably in a place where the butt of the joke is difficult to pinpoint. And it seems the star of the film is hiding as well behind those carefully teased whiskers, apparently having tired of the whole acting thing and decided to act the fool instead.</span></span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/film-review-mortdecai-1201410426/">Variety</a>:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">A perky but obstinately unfunny heist caper with a hero irksome enough to make any happily mustachioed man reconsider his life choices.</p>
<p>On the flip side, Forbes's Scott Mendelson is among the few to suggest it's not as terribly awful as everyone is making it out to seem.&#xa0;</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/01/22/review-johnny-depps-mortdecai-is-surprisingly-not-terrible/2/">Via Forbes</a>:</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>significantly less-terrible than expected, to the point where it does indeed reach the level of "not bad." That may be damning with faint praise, but after an oddly off-putting campaign that highlighted the allegedly "hilarious" lead character,&#xa0;zero buzz going into Friday's release, and a utter lack of official press screenings, it is with a spring in my step that I inform you that the new Johnny Depp vehicle is… fine?</span></p>
<p>That's not saying much, but if you're a fan of Depp, who has played numerous iterations of delightfully odd characters over the years, maybe you'll sort of appreciate his performance. We're holding our breath.</p>
<p>Check out a trailer for the film below:</p>
<div><div>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Fi7SXfdfGtw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div></div>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">&#xa0;</span></p>

Johnny Depp's New Movie 'Mortdecai' Is Getting Terrible Reviews

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/525d769969beddde18df33d5-1200-924/gravity-behind-the-scenes-sandra-bullock-george-clooney-alfonso-cuaron-5.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="gravity behind the scenes sandra bullock george clooney alfonso cuaron" width="480" /><p class="source"><a href="http://gravitymovie.warnerbros.com/index.html">Murdo Macleod</a></p><p class="caption">"<keyword id="87920" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gravity">Gravity</keyword>" director Alfonso Cuarón initially wanted Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. in the roles that eventually went to Sandra Bullock and George Clooney.</p></div><p></p></div>"Gravity" may be a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-gravity-smashed-box-office-records-this-weekend-2013-10" target="_blank">huge success at the box office</a>, but director Alfonso Cuarón didn't initially envision Sandra Bullock and George Clooney in the film's lead roles.</p>
<p>Instead, Cuarón was <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2010/10/natalie_portman_floats_away_fr.html" target="_blank">hoping for Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr.</a> <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When Jolie passed, Natalie Portman was </span><a href="http://www.vulture.com/2010/10/natalie_portman_floats_away_fr.html" target="_blank">offered the role</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. We all know who ended up getting the gigs.</span></p>
<p>But <keyword id="233630" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Casting">casting</keyword> swaps in Hollywood are nothing new. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In fact, many of this year's biggest movies initially had different <keyword id="6354465" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="actors">actors</keyword> attached.</span></p>
<p>See who could have starred in your favorite films, according to <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/stars-almost-cast-in-the-years-biggest-movies.html" target="_blank">Vulture</a>:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"Oz, the Great and Powerful":</strong></a></p>
<p>Robert Downey Jr. was initially signed on but dropped out over creative differences with director Sam Raimi.</p>
<p>Raimi then <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oz-great-powerful-disneys-200-424526" target="_blank">tried to cast Johnny Depp</a>, but he was committed to "The Lone Ranger."</p>
<p>James Franco eventually got the role as the wizard, and the actor was able to command a $7 million paycheck for filling-in last-minute.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"Man of Steel":</strong></a></p>
<p><span>According to director Zack Snyder, the "Superman" role </span><a href="http://screenrant.com/joe-manganiello-superman-batman-true-blood-benm-182958/" target="_blank">came down to</a><span> "</span>True Blood"<span> star Joe Manganiello and eventual winner Henry Cavill. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"Iron Man 3":</strong></a></p>
<p><span><span>Jessica Chastain was offered the role of scientist Maya Hansen, <span>but when she dropped out of talks in order to honor her commitment to the indie drama "</span>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby<span>," actress Rebecca Hall filled the role. </span></span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"The Wolverine":</strong></a></p>
<p>Jessica Biel reportedly <a href="http://www.hitfix.com/news/jessica-biel-says-her-role-as-viper-in-wolverine-film-isnt-a-done-deal-watch" target="_blank">couldn't reach a deal</a> to play villainess, Viper, so was replaced by a virtually unknown Russian actress named Svetlana Khodchenkova.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408101/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank"><strong>"Star Trek Into Darkness":</strong></a></p>
<p>Director <span>J.J. Abrams initially wanted Be<span><span>nicio Del Toro to play character "Khan," </span><a href="http://www.vulture.com/2011/12/benicio-del-toro-star-trek-sequel-khan.html" target="_blank">but the actor proved too expensive</a>. Actors <span>Edgar Ramirez and Jordi Molla auditioned for the role, but it ultimately went to <span>Benedict Cumberbatch.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837703/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"The Fifth Estate":</strong></a></p>
<p>Benedict Cumberbatch wasn't director <span>Bill Condon's top pick to play Julian Assange in the upcoming WikiLeaks movie. Condon first <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2012/07/jeremy-renner-bourne-legacy-julian-assange.html" target="_blank">hoped Jeremy Renner would take the role</a>.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392214/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"Prisoners":</strong></a></p>
<p><span><span>Director Bryan Singer first cast <span>Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in the lead roles, but the package quickly fell apart and Hugh Jackman <span>and Jake Gyllenhaal stepped in.</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong>"The Butler":</strong></a></p>
<p>Director Lee Daniels had Hugh Jackman lined up to play  John F. Kennedy, with Mila Kunis as his Jackie. After both actors fell out, the director went after Matthew McConaughey and Minka Kelly to replace them, but McConaughey dropped out to film "Dallas Buyers Club." Thanks to a <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/james-marsden-on-x-men-rumors.html" target="_blank">chance encounter running into each other on the street</a>, <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Daniels cast James Marsden in the role just </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">a week and a half before the JFK scenes needed to be shot. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245492/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"This Is the End":</span></strong></a></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"Two years before we brought [the script] to anybody else, we brought it to Daniel Radcliffe and he rejected it because it was shitty, it wasn't good enough," co-director Evan Goldberg <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/daniel-radcliffe-is-the-secret-hero-of-seth-rogens-new-movie">explained</a> to Buzzfeed. After editing the script, James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Emma Watson, Rihanna, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1245492/" target="_blank">many others</a> signed on.</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">"Her":</a></strong></p>
<p><span>Actress Samantha Morton filmed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spike-jonze-explains-the-inspiration-behind-her-2013-9" target="_blank">Spike Jonze's "Her"</a> as the Siri-like voice that Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with, but after the film wrapped, Jonze <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/06/spike-jonze-replaced-samantha-morton-with-scarjo.html" target="_blank">subbed in</a> Scarlett Johansson's smoky voice instead. </span></p>
<p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank"><strong><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty":</span></strong></a></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Over the last decade, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Mike Myers, and Owen Wilson were among the actors who expressed interest in the lead role of the upcoming indie film. But after Sacha Baron Cohen exited the project in 2010, Ben Stiller came onboard to direct and star, and the project finally came together.</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">To see other casting decisions that didn't see the light of day, read <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2013/10/stars-almost-cast-in-the-years-biggest-movies.html" target="_blank">more on Vulture here &gt;</a></span></p>

11 Of This Year's Biggest Films Almost Starred Someone Else

The 25 Funniest SNL Cast Members Of All Time, Ranked

<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/562e2922dd089548478b456c-2448-3264/cryonics4.jpg" alt="Cryonics" data-mce-source="Zoltan Istvan"><p class="source"><span>Zoltan Istvan</span></p><p class="caption">A mannequin in party ice in the Alcor transport container. This container is used for training and demonstration purposes.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Over 100,000 people die each day globally. Why&#xa0;don't more of us consider cryonics&#xa0;<span>-&#xa0;</span><span>the practice of freezing the clinically dead in the hopes of bringing them back to life at a later date&#xa0;</span><span>-&#xa0;</span>as a way to avoid death? </span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span class="s1">As part of my 2016 US <a href="http://www.zoltanistvan.com/"><span class="s2">Presidential</span></a> campaign representing the transhumanist party,&#xa0;&#xa0;I had a chance to stop in at&#xa0;<a href="http://www.alcor.org/"><span class="s2">Alcor</span></a></span><span class="s3"> Life Extension Foundation,&#xa0;</span><span class="s1">t<span>he world's best-known&#xa0;cryonics facility, to find out.</span></span></span></p><p class="p1">You've probably seen cryonics<span>&#xa0;</span>before. Hollywood loves to use it in movies. Mike Myers (as Austin Powers), Woody Allen, and Mel Gibson are just some examples of people who have been "frozen" on the big screen.&#xa0;</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span>Cryonics - and the field of life extension - has also been in the news a lot lately. A recent </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/13/us/cancer-immortality-cryogenics.html?_r=0"><span class="s2"><em>New York Times</em></span></a><span> article featuring an Alcor patient generated <a href="http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2015/09/ny_times_sounds_cautionary_note_on_selfdecapitation_freezing_of_brain.html">discussion</a> across the <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/what-happens-to-body-when-frozen-with-cyronics-2015-9">Internet</a>.</span></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Most cryonicists would not call frozen patients <em>dead</em>. They say patients are temporarily beyond the help of modern medicine, and that cryonics is the final attempt to provide&#xa0;emergency healthcare. Cryonics, they argue, is actually&#xa0;saving&#xa0;a patient by buying them time for science to catch up to the point where they can be revived. </span><span class="s1">&#xa0;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Death is not a moment, but a process, where an individual goes from a state of health, through many steps which end up becoming irreversible by modern means. It is not an absolute event. It is almost entirely dependent on the skills and means of the rescuer, and as we know, those skills and means improve over time," says Christine Gaspar, a RN and President of Cryonics Society of Canada and CEO Biostasis Canada.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">I visited Alcor&#xa0;<span>while traveling cross-country&#xa0;</span><span>aboard my&#xa0;</span><span class="s2"><a href="http://www.techinsider.io/presidential-candidate-zoltan-istvan-gets-an-rfid-chip-implant-2015-9">Immortality Bus</a>&#xa0;(a campaign bus that resembles a coffin).&#xa0;</span></span><span class="s1">&#xa0;Dr. Max More, a philosopher and the CEO of Alcor, gave me and my <a href="http://www.transhumanistparty.org/"><span class="s2">Transhumanist Party</span></a> volunteers a private tour at the nonprofit's&#xa0;Scottsdale, Arizona facility.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Check it out in this&#xa0;video from Roen Horn:</span>&#xa0;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XlVN28d2sfw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></p><p class="embed-spacer"><span class="s1">One thing that struck me about Alcor was its size. It's not a small shop housing a few dead people in big steel tubes. It's a giant medical facility, complete with offices, surgical bays, laboratories, conference rooms, and of course, a large, highly secured hall for the cryonic tanks, known as&#xa0;dewars.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55ddf090dd089578028b4612-2045-1534/zoltan%20istvan%20flag%20edited.jpg" alt="Zoltan Istvan flag edited" data-mce-source="Lisa Memmel"><p class="source"><span>Lisa Memmel</span></p><p class="caption">Zoltan Istvan.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>More oversees many of the cryonics procedures, and has a medical and scientific advisory board to look after&#xa0;operations. His team includes medical doctors, paramedics, and surgeons. 138 patients have been placed in cryonic suspension at Alcor so far.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span>Among these patients are baseball legend Ted Williams, transhumanism advocate </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM-2030">FM-2030</a><span>, and James H. Bedford, PhD., the first patient to be cryopreserved back in 1967.</span></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"FM-2030 is a good friend of mine," More tells&#xa0;me.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">That comment made me wonder about the immense challenges and commitment of being responsible - literally -for the existence of one's good friends. It seems overwhelming, but More, a fit 51-year-old, is up to the challenge. He is a steward for the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zoltan-istvan/the-culture-of-transhuman_b_7022406.html"><span class="s2">transhumanist</span></a> community - overseeing the bodies of friends and their families as they grow too old for science to help them. He acts as their guardian, advocate, and spokesman.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The process of cryonics begins with signing up for the service and gaining membership at Alcor or one of the&#xa0;other few cryonics facilities in existence. Ideally, a patient dies&#xa0;near a cryonics facility, so that they can be&#xa0;immediately cooled and prepared.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/562e2922dd089548478b456d-3264-2448/cryonics5.jpg" alt="cryonics" data-mce-source="Zoltan Istvan"><p class="source"><span>Zoltan Istvan</span></p><p class="caption">The surgery room where deceased patients are prepared for freezing. The box with blue cover is for neuro patients and their heads.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This is the ideal condition for&#xa0;diffusing cryoprotectants in the brain:&#xa0;Cooling the patient down to liquid nitrogen temperatures in the most controlled method possible, so that brain neurons containing&#xa0;memories and (hopefully)&#xa0;identity can be protected and preserved.</span></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Many cryonicists wear "dog tags" or other identifying jewelry that show they require cryopreservation immediately after pronouncement of death - and medical professionals are supposed to respond to that. Dr. More told me one person even had instructions tattooed on himself so that they could be easily seen. Patients that aren't transported to a cryonics facility within a few hours of death are thought to not be preserved in ideal conditions.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Patients are placed in a bath of ice for transport and infused with chemicals to help preserve their cells and tissue structures in a process called vitrification. This, hopefully, eliminates the formation of ice crystals that can puncture cell walls and destroy the cells themselves. Later, either the&#xa0;head or whole body (depending on the preference of the patient) is transferred into a giant dewar filled with liquid nitrogen. Preserving just your&#xa0;head at Alcor is about half the price of the body, coming in around <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140821-i-will-be-frozen-when-i-die"><span class="s2">$80,000</span></a> plus minimal annual fees.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"></span><span class="s1">The science at Alcor and in cryonics is constantly improving, according to&#xa0;More. He tells me the new techniques they've been using the in the last 10 years are better at staving&#xa0;off <a href="http://bigthink.com/videos/why-cryogenics-is-bogus">the ice crystals</a> that scientists suggest might lead to damage of the brain.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/562e2922dd089548478b456e-3264-2448/cryonics3.jpg" alt="cryonics" data-mce-source="Zoltan Istvan"><p class="source"><span>Zoltan Istvan</span></p><p class="caption">View from Alcor's conference room into the cryonic holding bay.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Some experts believe that patients could be revived in as&#xa0;little as 50 years, though there is no definitive way to prove this.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">When I first began my <a href="http://www.immortalitybus.com/"><span class="s2">Immortality Bus</span></a> tour, I considered transforming the bus into a cryonics dewar to raise attention to life extension issues. But so&#xa0;few people knew about cryonics that the bus's effect on the public would be muted. So I chose to make my bus look like a coffin, and most people get it right away.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Because I'm in excellent health, and cryonics is expensive, I haven't signed up yet. However, More told me that <a href="http://www.cryonics.org/resources/life-insurance">life insurance</a> can help provide financial means to get the cryonics procedure done. Now I'm set on signing up for cryonics before my presidential campaign ends, in hopes of bringing attention to this small but potentially life-changing industry.&#xa0;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">When I asked More why more people don't sign up for cryonics, he shrugged and said, "I don't really know. You would think everyone that likes living would be interested in this. But so far few people have signed up."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"></span><span class="s1">As an aspiring politician, I advocate for government policy that specifically protects citizens'&#xa0;lifespans. Today, cryonics is the only hands-on treatment I know of that has a shot a preserving the lives and minds of the people we love. If people could become more comfortable with the idea of cryonics as&#xa0;emergency medicine rather than simply&#xa0;"freezing the dead," then I think it might become a much larger industry.</span></p><p class="p1"><strong><em><span class="s1">Zoltan Istvan is a futurist, 2016 <a href="http://www.transhumanistparty.org/ZoltanIstvan.html">US Presidential Candidate</a> of the </span>Transhumanist Party, and author of <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/%22http://www.amazon.com/The-Transhumanist-Wager-Zoltan-Istvan-ebook/?tag=TIsafetynet-20">The Transhumanist Wager</a>.</em></strong></p><div class="margin-top popular-video"></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/overpopulation-consequences-facts-economy-environment-2015-10">8 scary facts about a world with 11 billion people</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="hyb21ndzrNHSlpnWIHm951ej97E1rkqo" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'hyb21ndzrNHSlpnWIHm951ej97E1rkqo',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

I visited a facility where dead people are frozen so they can be revived later

<p>There are a million hilarious comedians out there, but few stand the test of time. </p>
<p>Crowdsourced rankings website <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/comedians?utm_expid=16418821-74.kx5mwUF0QMSLa0beNzIqgQ.0">Ranker</a> came up with a list of the funniest people of all time. They asked users to vote on the funniest comedians, actors, and producers who've built careers on making people laugh. Over 150,000 people voted. Below are the top 25.</p>
<h3>1. Robin Williams</h3>
<h3><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f6736da81117221a58d3-1200-600/robin-williams-54.jpg" border="0" alt="robin williams"><p class="source"><span>Kevin Winter/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></h3>
<p>Though he tragically passed away at age 63, Williams will be eternally remembered for his roles in hit films both comedic and dramatic, including "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Good Will Hunting," "Dead Poet's Society," and "Aladdin." Williams also created a solid stand-up catalog throughout his career, showcasing his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQX3eQroMgk">signature improvisational style</a>. </p>
<h3>2. Will Ferrell</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f6bfeab8ea205198c8a5-1200-600/will-ferrell-anchorman-2-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Will Ferrell, Anchorman 2"><p class="source"><span>Cindy Ord/Getty Images </span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Ferrell is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8OxKx6zKkQ">kind of a big deal</a> - especially considering his uproarious performances in now-classic comedies such as "Anchorman," "Elf," and "Step Brothers." Ferrell also gained fame and followers from his 10-year run on "Saturday Night Live," where he kept fans asking for <a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145">more cowbell</a>.<a href="http://www.hulu.com/watch/536145"><br /></a></p>
<h3>3. Bill Murray</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f711eab8ea095698c89a-1200-600/bill-murray-9.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Murray"><p class="source"><span>Frazer Harrison/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Best known for his roles in "Ghostbusters," "Groundhog Day," and "Caddyshack," Murray got his start on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 70s. Later on, Murray became one of Wes Anderson's go-to actors, starring in several of his films, including "Moonrise Kingdom," "Rushmore," and "The Royal Tenenbaums."</p>
<h3>4. Jim Carrey</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f74f6da8110c291a58d4-1200-600/liar-liar-jim-carrey-netflix-7.png" border="0" alt="liar liar jim carrey netflix"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Liar_Liar/1152469?trkid=7203170">Netflix/"Liar Liar"</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Known for his over-the-top facial expressions and rubber-like body movements, Carrey made a name for himself with breakout hits "Dumb &amp; Dumber" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Though he's taken on more serious roles - and even won a Golden Globe for his performance in "The Truman Show" - Carrey can always be counted on for a laugh. </p>
<h3>5. Steve Martin</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d41f6bb3f7e038bd40e7-1200-600/steve-martin-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Steve Martin"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-steve-martin-attends-the-backstage-at-the-geffen-news-photo/480138093">Getty</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Though he's recognized as a movie star these days, Martin got his start writing for TV shows and in stand-up, where he perfected his trademark absurdist brand of comedy and performed for sold-out arenas. His signature style also kept audiences laughing through hit films such as "All of Me," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," and "The Jerk."</p>
<h3>6. Eddie Murphy</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f79269bedd426c7f378c-1200-600/eddie-murphy-14.jpg" border="0" alt="Eddie Murphy"><p class="source"><span>Kevin Winter/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>The Brooklyn-born comedian first rose to fame as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" in the early '80s, where he perfected his signature impersonations, taking on the personas of Bill Cosby and Muhammad Ali, among others. Murphy's film career is also nothing to laugh at as he starred in hits "Beverly Hills Cop," "Trading Places," and "Coming to America."</p>
<h3>7. George Carlin</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d4c36da8114008d0360a-1200-600/george-carlin.jpg" border="0" alt="George Carlin"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/comedian-george-carlin-attending-25th-annual-grammy-awards-news-photo/76319043">Getty Images</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Few comedians can claim their antics made it all the way to Supreme Court, but Carlin's "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" sketch became the central to FCC v. Pacifica Foundation case after the profanity-heavy routine was played on the radio. That wasn't the only controversy the late comedian caused - he was widely known for his risqué humor and willingness to take on hot topics.</p>
<h3>8. Richard Pryor </h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54bea4a26da811e32d62170e-1200-600/richard-pryor.jpg" border="0" alt="Richard Pryor"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>One of the most respected comedians of all time, Pryor gained fame for his provocative stand-up routines, where he often used profanity and wasn't afraid to delve into controversial topics like race. The late comedian also had a healthy film career, starring in movies such as "Brewster's Millions," "Stir Crazy," and "Harlem Nights."</p>
<h3>9. Bill Cosby</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f7e66bb3f757397f378a-1200-600/bill-cosby-51.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Cosby"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Watchf-Associated-Press-Domestic-News-Entertain-/00b1737733d24b4683081a1294df38b7/22/0">Associated Press</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Despite recent scandals, Cosby's longtime career in stand-up and television still makes comedic history. In addition to the eponymous "The Cosby Show," he also created "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" and "Cosby," and cultivated a successful career in stand-up. </p>
<h3>10. Leslie Nielsen</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d564ecad04a67bce645b-1200-600/leslie-nielsen.jpg" border="0" alt="Leslie Nielsen"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-comedian-leslie-nielson-attends-the-9th-annual-news-photo/85670285">Getty Images</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Don't call him <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA">Shirley</a> - despite starting his 60-year career as a dramatic actor, Nielsen cemented his name as a comedy legend through his deadpan delivery in roles such as Dr. Rumack on "Airplane!" and Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun." In fact, "Airplane!" is often referred to as the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/9525372/Airplane-funniest-film-ever-research-finds.html">funniest movie ever</a>. Nielsen passed away in 2010.</p>
<h3>11. Steve Carell</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f82369beddd6697f378d-800-400/steve-carrell-1.jpg" border="0" alt="steve carrell"><p class="source"><span>Todd Williamson/AP</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Widely recognized as the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS6rLnFLEuo">World's Best Boss</a>" Michael Scott on the American version of "The Office," Carell is also one of the world's greatest comedians, known for his roles in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Anchorman," and "Little Miss Sunshine." </p>
<h3>12. Chris Farley</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f84369bedd096b7f378b-1200-600/chris-farley-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Chris Farley"><p class="source"><span>Steve.Granitz/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Despite a tragically young death at 33, Farley packed a lifetime of laughs into his career, with a long-running stint on Saturday Night Live, as well as a solid lineup of movies. Farley starred in now-classic hits such as "Tommy Boy" and "Wayne's World."</p>
<h3>13. John Belushi</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/53f6243769bedd0f7cf34f7b-1200-600/john-belushi-animal-house-screenshot-3.jpg" border="0" alt="John Belushi, Animal House screenshot"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw03mtr6uOg">YouTube/Rodolfo Tobias</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>One of the first cast members on "Saturday Night Live," Belushi kept audiences laughing with his loud, energetic performances, which propelled him to a successful movie career before his untimely death at age 33. Today he is best recognized for his roles in "The Blues Brothers" and "Animal House," the latter of which is immortalized through posters plastered across every college dorm in the country. </p>
<h3>14. Mel Brooks</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f894eab8ea325b98c898-906-453/mel-brooks-1.png" border="0" alt="Mel Brooks"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Unlike his counterparts on this list, Brooks brought us humor from behind the camera, writing and directing classic hits such as "Spaceballs," "Blazing Saddles," and "The Producers," the latter winning him an Oscar for best screenplay. Brooks is also one of few people in Hollywood to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, <em>and</em> Tony.</p>
<h3>15. John Candy</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d5e16bb3f7593cbd40e9-1200-632/john-candy.jpg" border="0" alt="John Candy"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/actor-john-candy-attends-60th-annual-academy-awards-on-news-photo/83298552">Getty Images</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Like many great comedians, Candy got his start touring with Second City comedy troupe, where he grabbed audiences' attention with his wit and dry humor. After his breakthrough role in "Splash," opposite Tom Hanks, Candy cemented his place in comedy history with starring roles in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck" before a heart attack took his life at age 43.</p>
<h3>16. Chris Rock</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f8d76bb3f7103d7f3788-1200-632/chris-rock-thumbnail-2.jpg" border="0" alt="chris rock thumbnail"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&amp;language=en-US&amp;family=editorial&amp;assetType=image&amp;agreementtypes=ed&amp;p=chris+rock">Kevin Winter/Getty Images</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Like his mentor Eddie Murphy, joining the cast of "Saturday Night Live" proved a jumping-off point for Rock's career. Post-SNL, Rock starred in HBO's "Bring in the Pain," which earned him two Emmy awards. He's since built a solid stand-up career and created multiple TV shows, including "The Chris Rock Show" and "Everybody Hates Chris."</p>
<h3>17. Lucille Ball</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f8f96bb3f7e8387f378d-1000-500/lucille-ball-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Lucille Ball"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images/Mondadori Portfolio</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Ball made a career out of her role as the clumsy-yet-lovable Lucy Ricardo on "I Love Lucy." The show ran for six years, before spinning off into "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour," which ran for three more seasons. Ball also starred in "Yours, Mine and Ours" and "The Facts of Life." She died in 1989.</p>
<h3>18. Mike Myers</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f91d6bb3f7193a7f3788-1200-600/mike-myers-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Mike Myers"><p class="source"><span>Jason Kempin/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Another "Saturday Night Live" alum, Myers took his popular "Wayne's World" skit to the big screen with two movies by the same name. He's also the face of the "Austin Powers" franchise and the voice of Shrek. </p>
<h3>19. Tina Fey</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f96e6bb3f70a3d7f378a-1200-600/tina-fey-golden-globe-awards-3.jpg" border="0" alt="tina fey golden globe awards"><p class="source"><span>Jason Merritt/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Tina Fey is everywhere these days - and for good reason. After getting her break on "Saturday Night Live" in the mid '90s, Fey went on to create and star in "30 Rock," which was nominated for a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5846729/Tina-Fey-series-30-Rock-sets-Emmy-nominations-record.html">record-breaking 22 Emmys</a> in 2009, and won for outstanding comedy. She also wrote and starred in "Mean Girls" - and if you haven't seen it, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VF06kEKGUk">you can't sit with us</a>.<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> </span></p>
<h3>20. Jerry Seinfeld</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f9c86da81104391a58d1-957-478/jerry-seinfeld-2-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Jerry Seinfeld 2"><p class="source"><span>Photo by John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation/AP Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Seinfeld's eponymous show turned the sitcom world on its head with his "show about nothing" concept that became a ratings behemoth in the '90s. Throughout its tenure, "Seinfeld" was nominated for a slew of awards and took home several Primetime Emmys. The show also spawned a horde of popular catchphrases, including "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CKyWu87W78">yada, yada, yada</a>" and "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGAyQAkXajg">not that there's anything wrong with that</a>." </p>
<h3>21. Dan Aykroyd</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6f9efeab8ea285c98c89f-1200-632/dan-aykroyd-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Dan aykroyd"><p class="source"><span>Mathis Weinand</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>As part of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live," Aykroyd created several memorable characters including Beldar, an alien father who inspired the film "Coneheads" and Elwood Blues, half of the Blues Brothers duo opposite John Belushi. He's also recognized for his roles in hit comedies such as "Trading Places" and "Ghostbusters."</p>
<h3>22. Chevy Chase</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6fa1369bedd87767f378a-1200-600/chevy-chase-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Chevy Chase"><p class="source"><span>John Shearer/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Chase got his start as a writer and actor on "Saturday Night Live," where his deadpan humor made him a breakout star. He left SNL after a single season and went on to star in classic films such as "Caddyshack," "Fletch," and "National Lampoon's Vacation."</p>
<h3>23. John Cleese</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d6e76bb3f7f247bd40e9-1200-600/john-cleese.jpg" border="0" alt="John Cleese"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/john-cleese-debuts-his-book-so-anyway-at-miami-news-photo/459568348">Getty Images</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Though he originally aspired to become a professional athlete, Cleese turned to comedy as a way to make friends as a kid. After college, he helped develop "Monty Python's Flying Circus," which threw audiences for a loop with its absurd plots and unconventional punchlines. Cleese left the show after three seasons, but returned to work on later releases, including "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "Life of Brian."</p>
<h3>24. Zach Galifianakis</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b6fa3aeab8ea336298c898-1184-592/zach-galifianakis.png" border="0" alt=" Zach Galifianakis"><p class="source"><span>Kevin Winter/Staff</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Best recognized as oddball Alan from "The Hangover," Galifianakis has already had a rich career in comedy. In addition to the "Hangover" franchise, he appeared in "Due Date" and "The Campaign," and hosts the "Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis" web series on Funny or Die.</p>
<h3>25. Phil Hartman</h3>
<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54b7d765ecad043503ce645f-1200-600/phil-hartman-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Phil Hartman"><p class="source"><span>Ron Galella/Getty Images</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>
<p>Hartman is best remembered for his time on "Saturday Night Live," where his celebrity impressions and deadpan delivery kept fans laughing for eight seasons. He was also a long-running guest star on "The Simpsons" and helped create the character Pee-wee Herman. Tragically, Hartman garnered national attention when he was murdered by his wife in 1998.</p>

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