#tom stade

[oldshowbiz]

The CBC Television series Comics! was a late night stand-up series that showcased a different Toronto-based comedian for 30 minutes each week.

For viewers who lived outside Toronto, the program was their first exposure to comedians like Harland Williams, Caroline Rhea, Russell Peters, Chris Finn, Tom Stade, and Bonnie McFarlane.

[malibuzz]

Mali vs Guinée-Bissau: Match Crucial pour la CAN 2025 - Analyse et Compositions

Ce vendredi 11 octobre 2024, le Mali affronte la Guinée-Bissau au Stade du 26 Mars de Bamako, dans un match crucial pour les qualifications à la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations (CAN) 2025. Ce duel, qui débutera à 21h00 (heure locale), est déterminant pour les deux équipes qui luttent pour une place qualificative dans le groupe I.Le Mali, dirigé par Tom Saintfiet, est actuellement deuxième dans le…

[wordsonamission]

Remember the Tom Cruise Paris Olympics closing ceremony stunts that were so fun, with him doing a series of stunts to pass hosting duties from Paris to LA?

He wasn't paid for any of it.

He took time it took to plan the stunts (and insist, naturally, that he do them himself), found time while filming MI to fly from London to LA and back in essentially one big shooting day, and insisted on a redo when one drop didn't look cool enough. Then he was live in Paris for the final night.

This crazy man just wanted some enrichment and to promote the film industry (and himself).

Say what you will about the man, but that's real dedication to the craft

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I listened to the Taskmaster audiobook Absolute Casserole a couple of weeks ago, and I enjoyed that. I must admit I wasn't too excited when they first announced it - Taskmaster's widespread efforts to capitalize on their recent success, including cash grabs like this book, were inevitable but still a bit annoying, I find. And I figured, I don't need a buy a book to get Taskmaster stats. I have my personal spreadsheets for that.

But I listened to the audiobook anyway, and I ended up enjoying it. The little recaps were fun, and I did enjoy some of the stats. Though I have to object to one stat in which they claimed that Australia has a 3/3 winning record for Taskmaster champions (3 players, 3 champions), while Canada is 2/2 (2 players, 2 champions). I have made posts before about how Canada and Australia are tied on this, with two players on UK Taskmaster each, and in both cases, their players have a 100% winning record. Sarah Kendall and SamCam from Australia, Katherine Ryan and Mae Martin from Canada.

The Absolute Casserole book acknowledges this, but tries to argue that Morgana Robinson is Australian, so they're actually 3/3. And that's no fair. According to Wikipedia, Morgana Robinson moved to the UK when she was three years old. Come on. You can't count her toward the Aussie stats.

This matters, of course, because I have been looking forward to seeing who pulls ahead first in the Canada vs. Australia on UK Taskmaster battle. Unfortunately the Aussies do have a far better reserve team than we do, as their next comedian to be cast in the UK will be someone cool and capable like Adam Hills or Bec Hill or Lou Wall or something (I don't actually know who the next Aussie on UK TM will be, but I bet it'll be someone with a barrier for a last name), while Canada's reserve team is more... look, I think Phil Nichol is very very funny, but he doesn't seem like a person who'd have the cross-section of required skills to win a trophy for the Canadians. Tom Stade. Craig Campbell. Bobby Mair. Tony Law. Stewart Francis. I'm pretty sure Glenn Wool's moved back to this side of the ocean. John Hastings definitely has. But still, Canada's reserve team, of comedians who live/work in the UK but have not been cast on Taskmaster before - we're definitely not as strong as the Aussie reserve team. I'm not sure why it is that besides Katherine Ryan and Mae Martin, apparently all Canadian comedians who move to the UK are middle-aged white guys who seem like they might have difficulty getting dressed by themselves in the morning, and definitely don't seem competent to count eggs faster than Felicity Ward.

Anyway though, I had no idea the Taskmaster book has declared that the Aussies are ahead. I did not think of Morgana Robinson as Australian.

Also, none of that was the reason I've made this post. The actual reason I've made this post is to say that, while the book was largely a cash grab that basically printed out a Taskmaster statistician's Twitter feed, it did have new information in the form of tidbits from the original version of Taskmaster, the live Edinburgh Festival show. And while the Edinburgh stuff was the only genuinely new information in the book (besides the fact that apparently Morgana Robinson was born in Australia), if you combine all the Edinburgh tidbits that were scattered throughout the book, they add up to about 45 minutes, which is a pretty decent chunk of time. The reason I know that is that I decide do exactly that and make this compilation:

That audio file is just all the Edinburgh-based chapters of the audiobook, and I recommend listening to it for any Taskmaster fans who've not bothered with the entire book, because those are the parts where you'll learn information that you couldn't get just by re-watching the show. Some of it was stuff I already knew, some of it was new to me. Some of it was stuff I'd previously pieced together, but it was nice to have it all laid out there. And Alex reads out a bunch of his old emails, which is quite a cool primary source of about the inception of Taskmaster.

My main takeaway from this is that, as I've said before, Josie Long should be owed a spot on that TV show. For being the only live champion who's not been on the TV show yet (to be fair there's only one other champion, who's Mike Wozniak), and for being the only woman in the very boys-filled boys club that was Alex Horne's friends circa 2010.

This book also confirmed the story that I had heard before, but still find funny, that basically, Taskmaster exists because Alex Horne was jealous of Tim Key winning the Perrier Award. Who says that focus on awards isn't good for the entertainment industry?

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

I've talked about this before 😊

Tom Cruise jumps into the Stade de France to collect the Olympic flag for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the #Paris2024 closing ceremony 🪂🤩

#Paris2024 @tomcruise #closingceremony #OlympicGames #Paris @eurosport #tntsports #tomcruise

Posted 11th August 2024

RIDE THE MOTORBIKE! This was Tom Cruise's participation in the closing ceremony of the Olympics #París2024

📸Jamie Squire/Getty Images

[herrlindemann]

Rammstein, Stade de France, 22.07.2023 / Photos by Tom Weber on Facebook.

[amoramtnr]

Tom and Alexa at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France 20th October (source: Purepeople)

[jayadaseo]

Tom Cruise Makes A Bold Descent From Stadium Roof In Olympic Finale

Tom Cruise, the famous Hollywood actor, stunned the crowd at the Paris 2024 Olympics closing ceremony on Sunday night. He made a dramatic entrance, descending from the roof of the Stade de France on a wire, wearing his signature leather jacket and gloves.

As the “Mission: Impossible” star lowered himself into the stadium, spectators couldn’t contain their excitement. The moment was made even more special by a live guitar performance from singer H.E.R.

The closing ceremony also marked the official handover of the Olympics to Los Angeles, the host city for 2028. In a pre-recorded video, Cruise was seen traveling through Paris before heading to the U.S., where he made his way to the iconic Hollywood sign and unfurled the Olympic flag. The ceremony ended with Paris bidding a heartfelt farewell as this year’s host city.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach praised the Paris Games, calling them “sensational.” In his closing remarks, he lauded the athletes for their “simply amazing” performances, highlighting how they embodied the spirit of peace and unity throughout the event. “You inspired us all and made us believe in a better world,” Bach said.

During the ceremony, Cruise also took the Olympic flag from American gymnast Simone Biles, a star of the Paris Games. The crowd then watched in awe as Cruise rode away on a motorbike.

[darkangel1791]

Tom Cruise's Olympics Closing Ceremony Stunt Wasn't Applauded by Everyone on Social Media

Kristyn Burtt Mon, August 12, 2024

SheKnows Yahoo News

Article and my view on Tom Cruise and Scientology below

Tom Cruise gave the Closing Ceremony at the Paris Olympics a very Hollywood ending when he rappelled down from the top of Stade de France and into the crowd of athletes. It seemed like a picture-perfect ending to the European games as they handed it off to Los Angeles, that is sure to add a touch of Hollywood sparkle in 2028. However, not everyone was pleased with the A-list star’s presence.

Social media jumped into the conversation with mentions of Cruise’s controversial ties to Scientology, which is considered a cult in France. “How does Tom Cruise manage to be held in highest public esteem when he is a leading player in Scientology?!?! I don’t get it at all. Just remarkable,” one user on X questioned the 62-year-old star’s presence at the event. Another account added, “I love how America just acts like Tom Cruise isn’t like the icon of Scientology.” Then, of course, there are his issues with his ex-wives, Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes.

The social media critic pointed out, “I’m sorry. Tom Cruise stole his adopted children from Nichole Kidman because she didn’t want anything to do with Scientology and his 2nd wife had to plan an escape from the marriage to protect her child from Scientology. THIS is who we chose to represent LA 2028 Olympics?” Even though they forgot Cruise’s first wife, Mimi Rogers, whom he did not have a family with, the point is well taken.

Still, Cruise was a huge presence during the two weeks of the Paris Games. He was seen at gymnastics events and taking selfies with fans — Cruise was doing what he does best, being a movie star. The tousle of the hair, the hop on the motorcycle with the Olympics flag — that’s all Cruise. And that moment became about him, not the athletes who spent the last two weeks competing their hearts out on the field or in the swimming pool. They didn’t seem to mind as they hugged him, grabbed video, and screamed at the mere sight of him.

And the warning was there all along. Le Parisien noted that the Church of Scientology was “more visible than ever” at the games. They built a new headquarters in April very close to the State de France and “deployed a major communication campaign during the Olympics.” The move makes Cruise’s presence seem a little more sinister because, as TMZ reported, the Closing Ceremony stunt was his idea. But we have to ask: Was it really the Church of Scientology’s idea? It makes you wonder.

<^**^><*><*^**^><*><^**^>

When I saw Interview with the Vampire the film (1994) I knew nothing about Tom Cruise beyond the movies he had done. In reading about him after IWTVTF I was under the impression that he was still a Roman Catholic, and I don't think I even knew what Scientology, but it wasn't considered a religion. When Going Clear was released in 2015, I had a new understanding of Scientology, and an instant change in my feeling for Tom Cruise. (Though I still love the film and I still love that Lestat, I now love 3 different Lestats).

Scientology horrified, but intrigued me and I have watched many more documentaries as well as Leah Remini's series.

I have a hate for Scientology that burns with the heat of a thousand suns, and at least 200 of those suns are my hate for Tom Cruise alone.

I have no idea why people still see his movies. I have no idea why he is still invited on talk shows/chat shows. His popularity at this point just baffles me.

So when he does shit like this, I tend to post it. If you don't want to see it block the tags scientology and tomcruisescientologist.

[head-post]

Last day of the Paris Olympics: closing ceremony, no Romanian PM, flag bearers

After weeks of intense competition, international athletes are set to say “au revoir” at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games on Sunday, 11 August.

Romania’s Prime Minister will not be in attendance

Marcel Ciolacu will not attend the final ceremony. He was not pleased with the way the women’s gymnastics individual event ended. After the competition, Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu and spectators thought she was winning the bronze medal. She and her coaches even raised their country’s flag and started celebrating. Meanwhile, US gymnast Jordan Chilis’ coaches appealed to the judges, which was successful. This raised Chilis’ score by 0.1 points, which was enough to knock Barbosa out of third place.

Closing Ceremony

In contrast to the rather ambitious, controversial and caused a lot of misunderstandings and nuances of the opening ceremony, the closing ceremony will follow a more traditional path. First, the head of the host nation’s state enters along with the president of the International Olympic Committee. Then the national anthem of the host country is played or sung as the host country’s flag is raised. Other traditional elements include a parade of flags, a parade of athletes and the handing over of the Olympic flag to the representative of the host city four years later.

The closing ceremony takes place at the Stade de France stadium, north of Paris, where the rugby and track and field events took place. The ceremony will include several traditional elements, among them final medal presentations, a parade of athletes and the handover of the Olympic flag to Los Angeles for the 2028 Games. The stadium has hosted several events during the Games, including record-breaking track races and a historic first leg for the US women’s rugby team.

The artistic director of the event is Thomas Jolly, the man responsible for the unique opening ceremony, however many details are secret, but Jolly has indeed offered something of a sneak preview, stating the ceremony will be a visual, very choreographed, very acrobatic show with an operatic dimension. In addition, viewers can expect to see over 100 acrobats and aerial performers, and the closing ceremony should also feature big-name musicians.

Since the United States, in the face of Los Angelas, will take on the role of the next host for the 2028 Olympics, Tom Cruise, who is currently in Europe on a film shoot, is set to play the lead role in the closing ceremony. He is due to perform an impressive sequence of stunts to mark the passage of the Games from Paris to Los Angeles, which will feature the passing of the Olympic flag from one city to the other. The cast list will see Californian A-list performers Billie Eilish and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing from Los Angeles.

US Team flag bearers

Swimmer Katie Ledecky and rower Nick Mead will be the flag bearers during the closing ceremony. Ledecky is the most decorated female Olympian of all time, winning her 14th medal after running the 800m freestyle on August 3. She won the gold medal in the event, securing her ninth gold overall. Mead won the gold medal along with teammates Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady and Justin Best in the men’s rowing event. It was the first time since 1960 the US team won the tournament, CBS News reported.

Last day of the Olympic Games: Results

The United States, one gold behind China in the battle at the top of the medals table, can add another when they face Italy in the women’s volleyball final.

The US women’s basketball team is chasing a historic eighth consecutive gold against French rivals fuelled by the “love” of their fans. US women have won basketball gold at the last seven Olympic Games, starting with Atlanta in 1996.

Weightlifting concludes with the battle to become the strongest woman at the Games in the over-81kg category, led by China’s world record holder Li Wenwen.

Old rivals Serbia and Croatia meet for gold in men’s water polo in what could be a feisty affair.

Four golds have yet to be decided in track cycling, while the title could be taken in the modern pentathlon.

In the men’s handball final, Germany are in their first gold medal match in 20 years, where they will meet Denmark, who are in their third consecutive final.

The Danes were champions in Rio 2016 but finished runners-up to France in Tokyo three years ago.

Read more HERE

[ceevee5]

Imagine if this guy rappelled from the roof of the Stade de France to the field … takes the Olympic flag for Los Angeles … then he unmasks as Tom Cruise.

feel like pure shit just want them back

[onlinenews24-7]

Dakota Johnson's velvet thigh-slit Gucci gown is offering Tom Ford Energy for SNL's post

By the time you were living under a rock throughout the weekend, you probably saw that Saturday night Live Celebrated its 50th anniversary with a star-staded special episode and event in New York City. Sabarina Carpenter Gaya off-key (any way), best RiderThe past and currently joined the forces on the stage, and Kate McCinone’s prestigious “Close Encounter” sketch was brought back after 10 years…

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

Stade de France 🇫🇷

Tom Cruise was spotted in the streets of Paris for a sequence that should be broadcast during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, and not for Mission Impossible. Tom will be the star of the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games on August 11th at Stade de France in Paris. Probably he will drive with his motorbike the Olympic flag into the stadium to be greeted by the mayor of Los Angeles, the host city of the next Games in 2028.

📹 @eliechocron_

#tomcruise @tomcruise #OlympicGames #Paris

Posted 9th May 2024

[cimhon]

PARIS. 2. première partie (Tom).

Pour compléter le portrait de ces deux énergumènes une anecdote, entre autre, fera  l’affaire. Johan, n’était jamais reparti après ce week-end de déménagement et il occupa toute l’année au milieu de la pièce à vivre - la seule pièce vivable de l'appartement - un vieux canapé portefeuille Ikéa dont la couleur jaune-pisse était auréolée de taches, témoignages anciens de tous les culs qui s’y étaient assis nus lors d’été trop chauds. Tom quant à lui, était directeur d’une grande surface située dans la CUB bordelaise. Il avait commencé à bosser à 17ans et s’il était arrivé jusque là, c’était grâce à un travail acharné, efforts qu’il expurgeait à présent en tapant chaque week-end sur la gueule de tout ce qui lui paraissait être plus grand que lui.

Tom revint régulièrement à Paris passer du temps avec ses potes. Et je vous jure que l’ambiance n’était alors ni aux visites touristiques ni aux brunchs. Mode qui-vive activé, La Mythe et Nico devaient garder leurs quatre yeux bien ouverts pour se préparer aux situations délicates que créaient  leur deux potes, presque quelquefois sans le vouloir.

Un samedi de vendanges de Montmartre, ils étaient réunis et ils décidèrent d’aller flâner sur la butte. Quelle bonne idée! L’endroit, rempli de cathos de tous âges, de badauds et de flics (tout ce qu’ils adoraient), était peu praticable: ça piétinait, ça chouinait, ça se frottait. Parfait pour se tendre doucement mais sûrement. De plus, nos amis, qui n’étaient pas à jeun en arrivant, s’arrêtèrent à chaque stand qui vendait de l’alcool. En descendant les marches de la Butte, et après plusieurs provocations, jusque là gentilles, adressées, pour la plupart, à des scouts habillés de shorts en cuirs qui devaient leur gratter fort la jointure entre les couilles et les cuisses ou à des porte-drapeaux de la manif pour tous, Tom eut l’excellente idée de lancer un coup de pied circulaire dans le vide. mouvement très aléatoire, sans intention de faire mal ni de toucher quoi ou qui que ce soit. Pourquoi? 

On aurait pu croire en l’ayant vu faire qu’il avait dérapé sur une pierre irrégulière de ces abrupts escaliers: les agitations anarchiques de son corps ne traduisaient que sa maladresse. Malheureux hasard ou non: son talon atterrit pile au milieu du front d’une vieille bonne soeur qui, deux marches derrière lui, défilait avec un groupe de fachos bretons. Le coup la fit tituber, plus par surprise qu'à cause la molle violence avec laquelle il avait été asséné. Cependant, et comme ils avaient déjà accumulé les petites outrances - ben ouais, la butte, c’est pas le sacré-coeur! C’est la Commune! -  après s’être rapidement excusés, ils préférèrent quitter ces défilés bigots pour redescendre rapidement vers Pigalle.

Sur le chemin, un ami de Nico, artiste electro, l’appela et lui proposa une soirée: « dans un ancien show-room, ça va être trop cool, je peux vous mettre sur la liste! ». 

Ils prirent le métro, ni une ni deux mais à quatre avec au moins un mec de trop: le Tom, qui tournait déjà en hélice dans sa tête depuis le début de l’après midi. Ces heures décrites ici, La Mythe ne s’en rappelait qu'en tableaux animés, une suite de sketches absurdes dont l’évocation écrite ne rendait que peu ce qu’ils avaient éreinté de la réalité.

Dans la ligne 2 bondée, il devait être 19h à présent, Tom eut une nouvelle bonne idée: il se mit cul nu et frotta sa raie contre une barre métallique en mimant des gestes de pole-dance qu’il maîtrisait apparemment aussi bien que les jumping back-kick. Passés les premiers rires que déclenchèrent chez les usagers la surprise etla bonhommie et l'ardeur manifestes qui imbibaient sa gestuelle , on sauta le stade de la lassitude pour arriver instantanément à la scandalisation. Putain! Le mec pressait son anus contre un métal chromé sur lequel des milliers de gens posaient leurs mains chaque jour. Je pense que de toutes les personnes qui assistèrent à la scène, aucune ne s’est plus jamais tenue à une barre Alstom. Personne ne pouvait ignorer la folie réelle, affichée comme un avertissement, qui gisait au fond de ses yeux rieurs, endormie mais prête à sauter à la gorge, et qui lui permettait de traverser ces situations sans trop d’encombre.

Au sortir du métro, ils s’arrêtèrent dans un sex-shop car Tom voulait absolument du poppers et, comme plus, c’est toujours mieux, il en acheta une douzaine de flacons. Ca n’avait aucun sens. Seule la surenchère était guide dorénavant, ce qui ne laissait présager rien de bon quant à la suite de la soirée. Il n’était pas plus tard que 20h. 

Arrivés à l’adresse indiquée par l’artiste, ils prirent le temps de fumer une cigarette. Une courte pause. Tous les quatre mode infernal activé. Avec des intensités différentes, peut-être. Pour en être sûr, il aurait fallu pouvoir, bien au de la de l’empathie, habiter l’autre. Il fallait se calmer deux secondes, était-ce encore possible? Dans la queue dense du couloir qui montait en colimaçon jusqu’à la soirée, l’apparence des invités, casual très chic, ne les surprit pas mais La Mythe sut que cette journée d'esclandre allait suivre son cours. Nico, qui avait un talent social sûr et une gueule de jeune premier alliée à un grand corps musculeux, ouvrait la marche. Derrière lui: Johan, calme encore, La Mythe puis Tom.

Un videur leur ouvrit. Le mec avait été embauché pour une soirée d’anniversaire! Pour eux cela finissait de tout dire de l’endroit où ils se trouvaient, des gens qui le peuplaient. Le physio, un grand et gros noir s’appelait, et je vous jure que je ne l’invente pas, Hercule.

Nico et Johan passèrent sans encombre le seuil de la porte pour s'enfoncer et disparaître dans un intérieur brumeux, bruyant et pailleté . Tom gouaillait et avait un oeil qui disait merde à l’autre. Entre l’alcool de la journée, le poppers, la folie visible, bien sûr que même s’il avait fermé sa gueule, un vigile aveugle lui aurait refusé l’accès de la salle d’attente des urgences de La Riboisière. 

Bref, lui et La Mythe n'eurent le temps que de faire un pas dans l’appartement avant que l’hôte dont c’était l’anniversaire hurle: « Hercuuuuuuule ». Ils furent donc retenus par le colosse, le temps de vérifier qu’ils étaient bien sur la liste. Ils n’y étaient pas. La Mythe donna le nom du pote qui aurait du les y inscrire, on lui rétorqua qu’on ne le connaissait pas. Johan et Nico étaient hors de vue et Tom piaffait d’énervement derrière lui. La Mythe se retourna pour signifier sa résignation à Tom mais il ne fut pas assez rapide. Dans un geste paternaliste, Hercule avait déjà entouré d'un immense bras les épaules de son ami, se baissant un peu trop. Avec cette attitude d'apaisement qui poliment compensait la puissance émanant de son corps, et d'une voix douce, il dit: "il va falloir y aller. messieurs". Erreur. Tom, lui, ne dit rien. D'un coup de tête parfaitement ajusté, il lui cassa le nez. Hercule tituba, visage en sang, la meuf de l’anniversaire cria, une petite foule s’agglutina - ah le sang et les cris!-  Tom s’enfuit dans l’escalier et La Mythe en profita pour s’introduire dans la soirée à la recherche de ses potes pour les informer de la situation et les rapatrier vers la sortie.

Il vit alors Johan qui piochait olives et cacahuètes à droite à gauche et qui les jetait au hasard sur des gens trop bien habillés. Excédé, quelqu’un lui fit enfin une réflexion. Johan regarda La Mythe en souriant, il saisit à pleine poignée un morceau de pièce montée crémeuse qui trônait sur un table à proximité et l’expédia sur l’excédé. Il le rata mais pu souiller la très belle robe d'une fille qui se tenait à coté.

La Mythe eut besoin de respirer et se dirigea vers la cuisine, qu'il pensait pouvoir etre un refuge. Là, devant le frigo ouvert, regorgeant de pâtisseries, un individu à genoux se goinfrait en hurlant « et ouais, je suis boulimique! Et alors!!!!! ». C’était lui qui les avait invités et avait oublié de faire figurer leurs noms sur la liste…