Latest news with #EdAsner
New York Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
An Uproar as CBS Cancels Stephen Colbert
To the Editor: Re 'CBS Canceling 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' After Next Season' (news article, July 17): In 1969, CBS canceled the top-rated variety series 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.' While the network claimed that it was because of a contractual issue, most Americans saw it as a response to the show's criticism of the Vietnam War. In 1982, amid controversy over the actor Ed Asner's political activism, particularly his criticism of President Ronald Reagan's policies in El Salvador, CBS canceled Mr. Asner's show 'Lou Grant.' The network cited a declining ratings as a reason. Now CBS has canceled Stephen Colbert. Anyone who buys the financial reasons for that move is naïve. Paul ParkOttawa To the Editor: We all saw the handwriting on the wall — as I see it, CBS caved to President Trump and so Stephen Colbert would have to go. Yes, it was a financial decision — money over democratic values — but the price will ultimately be devastating. Protest in its most potent form, satire, will not be tolerated by a man who has no sense of humor and who has vowed to destroy anyone who disagrees with him. It is heartbreaking and more significant than the loss of one late-night host. President Trump is systematically putting out the lights of freedom in America, beginning with freedom of expression. Susan SheltonFalmouth, Mass. To the Editor: The end of 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' marks a poignant moment not only for American viewers but also for audiences worldwide. Here in Canada, we were fortunate to enjoy the program on major networks, with many of us eagerly tuning in for its distinctive blend of political satire and lighthearted comedy. As Mr. Colbert noted after the announcement, the show was the daily creation of a dedicated team of more than 200 people. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Do humour and laughter benefit your health?
Almost everybody enjoys humour and likes a good laugh. We find humour relaxing, which reduces stress; therefore, most people tend to believe that humour is good for our general health. But the scientific evidence that humour is beneficial to our general health is not very robust. This question is reviewed by Gil Greengros in the Psychologist recently and his paper is illuminating. Norman Cousins (1915-1990) was a well-known US liberal political journalist and author. He developed a bad case of painful connective tissue disease plus ankylosing spondylitis with a very low probability (1/500) of recovery. Cousins followed all conventional medical advice for the treatment of the disease but supplemented this with a novel treatment – he took large doses of vitamin C and indulged in self-induced bursts of laughter every day by watching comic films. READ MORE He told his story in his 1979 book Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient. Actor Ed Asner starred in a 1984 TV film based on this book. Cousin's book launched a laughter/humour/therapy movement that is still with us today. Norman Cousins recovered from his illness, but the account in his book is anecdotal, not a scientific study In Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins claimed laughter had an analgesic effect on him: 'I made the joyous discovery that 10 minutes of genuine belly laughter had an anaesthetic effect that would give me at least two hours of painless sleep.' Cousins recovered from his illness, but the account in his book is anecdotal, not a scientific study, and doesn't prove that humour/laughter played a significant part in effecting his cure. His acute arthritic condition may have just subsided slowly and naturally. Greengros points out that scientific studies of the relationship between humour and general health have been plagued by problems such as small sample size and confounding variables, with the result that few firm conclusions can be drawn. There is some evidence that your mood can boost the immune system, eg watching funny films boosts immunity and reduces allergic reactions compared to non-humorous controls. But this effect is not exclusive to humour and can also be induced by listening to classical music or by sad feelings. Some people claim the physical activity involved in hearty laughter is itself a powerful aerobic exercise, producing health benefits Do professional comedians live longer or have better general health than other professionals? Studies have shown that comedians and comedy writers die younger than actors and other professionals who aren't comic entertainers. But uncontrolled-for factors such as unhealthy lifestyle confound such studies. Some people claim the physical activity involved in hearty laughter is itself a powerful aerobic exercise, producing health benefits. Claims have been made that several minutes of robust laughter is equivalent to the aerobic work of exercising 10-15 minutes on the rowing machine. However, careful studies have demonstrated that normal laughter is equivalent only to very light exercise, such as playing cards. Indian doctor Modan Karice founded the first Yoga Laughter Club in 1995, where people come to laugh as much as possible, even in the absence of humorous stimulation, aiming to stimulate good health and induce happiness. Studies have failed to produce convincing evidence that this significantly promotes better physical/mental health Possibly the best evidence for a therapeutic effect of humour on health is the capacity to reduce pain. Only genuine laughter is effective because only this emotional change releases the endorphins that relieve pain – deliberately exercising the muscular action of laughing alone doesn't work. There is strong evidence that humour benefits mental health by lowering stress. The ability to make other people laugh is a very attractive trait This analgesic effect is temporary. Cousins's laughter gave him two hours' relief, although he said that, if he then had another genuine bout of laughter, he got further relief. It should also be noted that other forms of neural stimulation, such as relaxing music or listening to lectures, have the same effect. So, evidence to date that humour promotes general health is weak. On the other hand, there is strong evidence that humour benefits mental health by lowering stress. The ability to make other people laugh is a very attractive trait and laughter generally is very enjoyable. Greengros sensibly advises that we should all enjoy humour and welcome it as one of the good things in life. Let me finish with a little joke to cheer you up and, perhaps, give you a little physical boost also. What did the Tibetan monk say when he saw the face of Jesus in a tub of margarine? 'I can't believe it's not Buddha'. William Reville is an emeritus professor of Biochemistry at UCC
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Bewitched' Star, 61, Turns Heads in Birthday Selfie
'Bewitched' Star, 61, Turns Heads in Birthday Selfie originally appeared on Parade. Bewitchedstar Erin Murphy turned 61 on June 17. The actress, who portrayed Tabitha Stephens on the hit sitcom, shared a selfie on Instagram to mark her special day. "Rise & shine, it's my birthday! This is 61," Murphy captioned her post. Many fans wished Murphy a happy birthday in the comments section of her post. "Happy birthday! You look amazing," one person wrote. "Happy birthday. You are simply gorgeous," someone else said. "Well happy bday Tabitha!!!" a third comment read. "Happy birthday Erin, you are a very beautiful woman, just like when you were 20 years old. Beauty has always been with you," a fourth Instagram user added. Days before her birthday, Murphy shared that she'd made it to the final table at the Ed Asner Celebrity Poker Tournament. "Happiness is going into the final table with the most chips! The empty seat next to me is where I knocked out Beth Broderick from Sabrina the Teenaged Witch! TV witches can't always stick together," Murphy captioned a post on June 15. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Murphy first joined the Bewitched cast in its second season alongside her twin sister, Diane Murphy, who also turned 61 on June 17. Eventually, Erin continued on in the role on her own and played Tabitha until the series ended in 1972. Following her time on Bewitched, Murphy went on to star in a handful of shows, including The Comeback Kids in 2014 and Life Interrupted, a TV movie that was released in 2017. 'Bewitched' Star, 61, Turns Heads in Birthday Selfie first appeared on Parade on Jun 18, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
News.com.au
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Dick Van Dyke reveals ‘curse' of nearing 100
The Mary Poppins star, who turns 100 in December this year, admitted he's had to say goodbye to lots of loved ones. During a recent Q&A with People magazine with his wife, Arlene Silver, Dick reflected on longtime pal Ed Asner's death in 2021 before their remake of The Odd Couple could come to fruition. 'That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends. He's outlived everybody," Silver chimed in. "That's the curse of living to almost 100'. 'Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain," Van Dyke acknowledged.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Dick Van Dyke reveals 'curse' of nearing 100
The Mary Poppins star, who turns 100 in December this year, admitted he's had to say goodbye to lots of loved ones. During a recent Q&A with People magazine with his wife, Arlene Silver, Dick reflected on longtime pal Ed Asner's death in 2021 before their remake of The Odd Couple could come to fruition. 'That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends. He's outlived everybody," Silver chimed in. "That's the curse of living to almost 100'. 'Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain," Van Dyke acknowledged.
