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Theeeeere's Johnny! 5 Memorable Moments from The Tonight Show

Sixteen years ago today, Johnny Carson ended his 30-year run as the King of Late Night Television. Johnny's relaxed manner and casual interviewing style made him a trusted friend to many Americans, and was the sole reason that many families purchased a second TV (for the bedroom, since The Tonight Show didn't wrap up until 1:00AM EST). Ask Dave, Conan, Jay, et al, who their mentor and inspiration was, and the answer is always the same: Johnny Carson. Here are just a few examples of what made... READ ON

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10 Awesome Indiana Jones Facts

Twenty-seven years after we saw the first installment of the Indiana Jones series, the fourth movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opens nationwide tomorrow. In honor of the occasion, we'll take a look at all the movies and tell you some stories you may not know about the Indy franchise. Raiders of the Lost Ark... READ ON

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6 Flicks That Drove Crazies to Kill

Just as the literature-inspired shooters of the 70s and 80s were probably crazy long before they picked up a copy of Catcher on the Rye, the psychos who claim a movie drove them to kill were probably psycho long before screening Psycho. (But hey, you never know.) These are six films that supposedly pushed people over the edge. 1. William Friedkin's BUG This creepy but not entirely successful 2006 psycho-thriller about paranoia and insect infestations was directed by William Friedkin, most famous for... READ ON

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A Brief History of Jeans

On this date in 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a patent for the process of putting rivets in pants, and modern jeans were born. But that's not the whole... READ ON

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The Quick 10: 10 People Killed in Duels

I hope you guys like today's Quick 10, because if you don't, I may be forced to challenge you to a duel. Although the only type of duel I could hope to best anyone at would be a Guitar Hero or Rock Band duel. Still. Consider yourself warned. 10 People Killed in... READ ON

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Why Doesn't Spaghetti Break in Half?

If this isn't a question you've been pondering on pasta night, do a little experiment with me. Go to the kitchen, grab a piece of dried spaghetti and, one hand on each end, bend it until it breaks. If you thought it was going to snap into two clean pieces, and you're halfway through the box and it still hasn't happened yet, you're not alone. A piece of uncooked spaghetti rarely breaks in half, and usually breaks into three or more pieces instead, with several small pieces... READ ON

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7 Memorable Commencement Addresses

Complaining about your commencement speaker is a time-honored tradition. This year, students at several institutions have bemoaned their schools' selections, including Harvard (J.K. Rowling), the University of Georgia (Clarence Thomas) and Northwestern Law (Jerry Springer). And it's not just college students. Karl Rove was recently disinvited to speak at Choate—an elite Connecticut boarding school—after students threatened a walkout. Most speeches end up being conversational tidbits ("So,... READ ON

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4 Infomercial Superstars (and Where They Came From)

I've discussed the various products hawked on late night TV in a previous column; this week takes an in-depth look at some of those personalities who've invaded our living rooms with such regularity that they feel like family. 1. Mike Levey has an "Amazing Discovery" Mike Levey graduated from college with a degree in electrical engineering, but after a stint as an advertising copywriter, he discovered that his true love was sales. He founded Direct Response Television in 1988, and a year... READ ON

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3 Bubbles That Burst

Like many young people, I'm gradually coming to terms with the sad fact that I won't be able to retire at 25 with the fabulous wealth I accumulated through shrewd sports card speculation in the late 80s and early 90s. While it's disappointing to learn that one can't trade his stack of Harold Miner rookie cards for a new car, there's some small solace in knowing that you weren't the only person to be caught in a bubble. (At least be thankful that you had baseball... READ ON