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Richard Simmons, a fitness guru who mixed laughs and sweat, dies at 76
Fitness guru Richard Simmons has died at age 76. Los Angeles police and fire officials say they responded to a home where a man was declared dead. The Associated Press matched the address and age with Simmons through public records. Simmons was a court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who shared his hard-won weight loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime “Richard Simmons Show" and through many other outlets.
James Sikking, star of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'Doogie Howser, MD,' dies at 90
James Sikking of “Hill Street Blues” has died at 90. His publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement Sunday evening that Sikking died of complications from dementia. Born in Los Angeles, Sikking played a hardened and at times quirky police lieutenant on the revolutionary police procedural and the titular character's kindhearted dad on “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for “Hill Street Blues” in 1984. He also starred in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” and several other television shows and movies before largely retiring. He continued to do charity events.
COLUMN: Englewood Chamber is your community connection
The Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce serves as a vital bridge between local businesses, government entities, residents and visitors, fostering a robust environment for economic growth and community development.
Booming Turkish TV drama industry captures hearts and boosts tourism
Turkey has emerged as a leading exporter of television dramas, bolstering the nation’s international image and drawing millions of viewers and tourists to its historical and cultural sites which are backdrops to many of the shows. Their success has fueled a burgeoning billion-dollar industry. Experts say the industry is also greatly enhancing Turkey’s soft power on a global scale. A leading analytics firm says the global demand for Turkish series increased by 184% between 2020 and 2023. Markets include the United States, Canada, Greece, India and Pakistan. Haley Uganadi, the founder of a fan platform called “Dizilah,” says the appeal of the dramas comes from themes that focus on family, friendship, and love.
Shannen Doherty, ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star, dies at 53
The "Beverly Hills, 90210" star whose life and career were roiled by tabloid stories, Shannen Doherty has died at 53. Doherty's publicist said the actor died Saturday following years with breast cancer. Catapulted to fame as Brenda in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” she worked in big-screen films including "Mallrats" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and in TV movies including "A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story," in which she played the "Gone with the Wind" author. Doherty co-starred with Holly Marie Combs and Alyssa Milano in the series “Charmed” from 1998-2001; appeared in the “90210” sequel series seven years later and competed on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010.
2024 is not 1968
The presidential nominating conventions every four years are political events, but they are also media events. Since the advent of television, Democratic and Republican national convention organizers have sought to tightly stage-manage their gatherings for home viewers, and they’ve often succeeded.
Billboards seek to reunite decades-old kids’ drawings with their now-grown creators
ORLANDO — The two Sanford, Florida, students used crayons to draw self portraits, then turned their artwork over to Crayola, the famous art-supply company, which 20 years ago was collecting kids’ drawings to display in galleries across the country.
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