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7 things you never knew about M*A*S*H

<p>Did you know <em>M*A*S*H</em> ran more than three times longer than the actual Korean War? It may have graced our screens for 11 years, but you might not know all there is to know about the classic TV series, <em>M*A*S*H</em>.</p> <ol> <li><strong>No one wanted a laugh track</strong> – Despite pleas from the show’s producers, the network (CBS) went ahead and added in canned laughter. You might have noticed the laugh track growing quieter and quieter as the years progressed, and in the UK, the laugh track was removed entirely.</li> <li><strong>CBS banned an “unpatriotic” episode</strong> – An idea for an episode was shot down by the network for being “unpatriotic”. It involved soldiers standing outside in the freezing cold to make themselves sick enough to be sent home – a tactic actually used during the war.</li> <li><strong>The writers got back at complaining cast members</strong> – If ever an actor complained about their script (or asked for changes), the writing team would change the script to make it “parka weather”, making the cast swelter in jackets through days in excess of 32°C on their Florida film set.</li> <li><strong>Patients were named after sports teams</strong> – After running out of names for patients visiting the hospital, the writers turned to baseball teams. In season six, four Marines are named after California Angels infielders, while in season seven, they named patients after the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers.</li> <li><strong><em>M*A*S*H</em> hosted some big-name stars</strong> – Guest appearances on the show include Ron Howard, Leslie Nielsen, Patrick Swayze, Laurence Fishburne and Rita Wilson.</li> <li><strong>The series finale broke records</strong> – The two-and-a-half-hour 1983 series finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” was watched by a staggering 121.6 million people in the US alone – back then, that was 77 per cent of households with TV sets. It remains the most-watched episode of a TV show in US history.</li> <li><strong>The time capsule didn’t stay buried long</strong> – In the series’ second-last episode, the <em>M*A*S*H</em> gang bury a time capsule. When the show wrapped up, the land used as the show’s set was sold, and a construction worker found the capsule just months later. After getting in contact with Alan Alda to return it, Alda told the worker he could keep it.</li> </ol> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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"40 years ago today": Alan Alda celebrates MASH milestone

<p>Alan Alda has celebrated the 40th anniversary of the iconic <em>M*A*S*H</em> (<em>MASH</em>) season finale. </p> <p>The series, which ran on CBS from 1972 to 1983, totalled an impressive 11 seasons with 251 episodes - all of which Alan Alda appeared in as the memorable Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce. However, his credits weren’t limited to just acting, with Alda dabbling in some crew work during his time on the show. </p> <p>And it was Alda himself who wrote and directed the series finale, titled ‘Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen’. The episode ran for two-and-a-half hours, set a ratings record that many consider to be near impossible to beat, and reportedly still holds the title of being the most watched scripted television show episode of all time. In the US alone, over 60% of households tuned in to see the lives of the <em>MASH</em> unit change at the end of the Korean War. </p> <p>Now, 40 years after the episode went to air, Alda has looked back on the milestone, taking to Twitter to celebrate. Alda didn’t so much as have to mention the show’s title, with the show’s legacy doing the work for him. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">40 years ago today. ⌛️❤️</p> <p>— Alan Alda (@alanalda) <a href="https://twitter.com/alanalda/status/1630617599116558369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>In Alda’s replies, and on social media in general, a screengrab from the episode began to circulate - the word ‘goodbye’ spelled out in rocks on a small hillside - and fans proved eager to reflect and celebrate with him. </p> <p>“40 years ago today we got back 30 min of our Sunday night. I would gladly give 30 min of any night to watch the magnificent writings &amp; acting of that <em>MASH</em> unit again,” wrote one fan, before going on to thank those involved in the production. </p> <p>“<em>MASH</em> is one of my comfort shows and still brings me joy, laughter, and tears no matter how many times I’ve seen an episode,” said another, “thank you.” </p> <p>“Ended before I was even born, yet it's still one of my all-time favorite shows!” shared one fan too young to have caught the original run, but was thrilled to join in on the reminiscing, “I'm even in the middle of a rewatch at the moment!” </p> <p>“When I was a kid, I watched the show with my dad - usually as an excuse to stay up a little bit later and spend time with him,” someone else shared, “I wouldn't trade that for anything. This past summer, I watched it again with my son. Still perfect.”</p> <p>“It was shown later in the year here in the UK,” one fan told Alda, “my dad recorded it on our newly rented VCR. To this day he’s never watched the last episode as he never wanted it to end.”</p> <p>And for those seeking a return to <em>MASH </em>themselves, publicist Danny Deraney shared an emotional clip from the finale to celebrate the occasion, while citing the show’s ratings success. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">40 years ago today, MASH aired its final episode. </p> <p>The episode, directed and Co-written by <a href="https://twitter.com/alanalda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@alanalda</a>, became the most watched television program in history.</p> <p>"Goodbye, Farewell, Amen." <a href="https://t.co/a0Qv252oCj">pic.twitter.com/a0Qv252oCj</a></p> <p>— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) <a href="https://twitter.com/DannyDeraney/status/1630661000834990081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter, Getty</em></p>

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Body of kidnapped heiress found

<p dir="ltr">The body of missing heiress Eliza Fletcher has been found dumped in Memphis four days after she was violently snatched during an early morning run, Tennessee police confirmed on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The deceased victim that was located yesterday in the 1600 block of Victor (Street, south of Memphis’ CBD) has been identified as 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher,” Memphis Police Department <a href="https://twitter.com/MEM_PoliceDept/status/1567147974462939139" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <em><a href="https://nypost.com/2022/09/06/police-confirm-body-found-in-memphis-is-eliza-fletcher/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a></em>, Fletcher’s suspected killer and kidnapper, Cleotha Abston, 38, has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree murder in perpetration of kidnapping, in addition to a charge of especially aggravated kidnapping laid against her on Saturday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Authorities found the body of the mother-of-two at 5.07pm on Monday in an area near to where police say Absten was seen clearing out a vehicle seen in the surveillance footage of Fletcher’s abduction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Abston, who has previously served 20 years in prison for violent kidnapping, had refused to reveal where Fletcher was, police said at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">His brother was among those who reported that Abston was acting “strange” and scrubbing his clothes in the hours after the abduction, according to an affidavit.</p> <p dir="ltr">After police released images of Fletcher during her 4am run around the University of Memphis on Friday, it was later revealed that the car she was forced into had been trawling the area at least 24 minutes before she ran through.</p> <p dir="ltr">Surveillance footage showed an SUV pulled up ahead of her, with a man getting out and running “aggressively toward” Fletcher before forcing her into the backseat.</p> <p dir="ltr">“During this abduction, there appeared to be a struggle,” the affidavit said, adding that Fletcher likely “suffered serious injury”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her husband, Richard Fletcher, raised the alarm at 7am.</p> <p dir="ltr">Abston quickly became the prime suspect after a pair of shoes left at the scene returned his DNA when tested.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-57720813-7fff-75f0-54e7-2d89765f74c6"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The 34-year-old was the granddaughter of a late Memphis billionaire.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The New York Post</em></p>

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Qantas reports huge loss but even bigger revenue

<p dir="ltr">Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has announced a whopping $1.9 billion loss for the 2022 Financial Year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following almost two years of next to no flights due to the Covid pandemic, Mr Joyce explained that flights are “all full” as they push to get them out of storage.</p> <p dir="ltr">He however revealed that despite air travel resuming, his company has faced a devastating loss but quite an impressive revenue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The Group had an underlying loss before tax of almost $1.9 billion, and a statutory loss before tax of just under $1.2 billion,” Mr Joyce said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That brings our total losses since the start of the pandemic to more than $7 billion and takes lost revenue to more than $25 billion.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To put that in perspective, on a statutory basis, COVID cost us more money in the past three years than we made in the five years before that.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The fact we’ve been able to steer through this is remarkable. And now that we are through it, things are improving even faster than we expected.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Joyce then noted the frustration felt by flyers due to delayed and cancelled flights, lost luggage, and labour shortage.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that they are working toward improving customers’ experience as leisure flying soared to 125 per cent of pre-Covid levels and business travel to 90 per cent. </p> <p dir="ltr">“As many of you have probably experienced, strong travel demand has also brought some difficulties,” he continued. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We knew the recovery was coming and we were ready for the restart. What we weren’t ready for – after 18 months of COVID being suppressed – was such high levels of community transmission and the sick leave that followed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The rebound in travel demand also coincided with a massive labour shortage. Of course, that shortage has been more acute in aviation because of how many people left the industry during two very uncertain years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All of this resulted in well-publicised problems: long queues, delayed flights and misplaced bags.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was incredibly tough for our people and deeply frustrating for our passengers. It simply wasn’t good enough, and for that, we have apologised.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Joyce revealed that the company has hired more than 1,500 staff since April, with more new recruits to come in the next few months.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re reducing our domestic flying – in part – to give us more buffer. We are rostering more crew across fewer flights, which means we can better cover sick leave that is averaging almost 50 per cent above normal,” he continued.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’re also investing more in technology, including an upgrade to our airport kiosks and bag drop facilities, as well as new scanners at boarding gates.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Alan Fletcher's post-Neighbours career change

<p>The highly-anticipated <em>Neighbours </em>finale drew in an <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/ratings-revealed-for-neighbours-finale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian audience</a> of almost one million viewers, and many more overseas. </p> <p>Now, <em>Neighbours </em>royalty Alan Fletcher has revealed a major career change.</p> <p>The 65-year-old actor, who played Dr Karl Kennedy for 27 years after joining the cast in 1994, is now considering an interesting choice in career. </p> <p>Alan told Magic Radio’s Breakfast Show, “Now that I’ve finished <em>Neighbours</em>, I’m thinking about actually going into medicine.”</p> <p>The Perth-born TV star added he had always tried to keep his personal life separate from his on-screen persona, but was now having a change of heart.</p> <p>“While I’ve been on <em>Neighbours</em>, I religiously don’t give medical advice, because I’m really worried of the authorities tracking me down,” he joked.</p> <p>His drastic career news comes after fellow <em>Neighbours </em>castmate Ryan Moloney, who had played Jarrod “Toadie” Rebecchi on the show since 1995, revealed <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/neighbours-star-reveals-next-big-career-step" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his own change</a> away from the small screen.</p> <p>The 42-year-old actor said he was planning to settle into post-<em>Neighbours </em>life as a humble tradie.</p> <p>“I’m not ruling anything out,” Moloney told The Daily Telegraph. “I’m doing civil construction course which is about driving excavators and building roads.”</p> <p>He added, “I like playing with those kinds of machines. I like doing earthworks, all that kind of manual labour stuff."</p> <p>“That’s where I’m at, but who knows where it’s all going to end up?”</p> <p>After 37 years and 8903 episodes, <em>Neighbours </em>finally drew to a close in a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/i-m-not-crying-you-re-crying-viewers-react-to-neighbours-finale" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tear-jerking finale</a> last week.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Why Sky News has been banned from YouTube

<p>The Sky News Australia YouTube channel has 1.85 million subscribers and had posted several videos which denied the existence of Covid-19 or encouraged people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to prevent it or treat it. YouTube stated these videos violated its medical misinformation policies.</p> <p>YouTube imposed the ban last Thursday, the day after the <em>Daily Telegraph</em> ended Alan Jones’s regular column after there had been controversy about his Covid-19 commentary where he called the New South Wales chief health officer, Kerry Chant, a village idiot on his Sky News program.</p> <p>The <em>Guardian Australia</em> reported that News Corp informed them the termination of Jones’s column did not mean the company does not support the broadcaster.</p> <p>The ban by YouTube will impact the revenue Sky News’s earns from Google, which started when News Corp signed a partnership with Google in February under the media bargaining code.</p> <p>The ban from YouTube was revealed on the same day as Sky launched a new free-to-air channel Sky News Regional across regional Australia.</p> <p>The channel carries all the Sky After Dark commentators, including Andrew Bolt, Peta Credlin and Jones, as well as a new three-hour breakfast show.</p> <p>Videos from Sky News that did not violate policies and were posted before Thursday are still online. If an organisation is banned – or issued a strike such as this one – three times in the same 90-day period, this results in a channel being permanently removed from YouTube.</p> <p>A YouTube spokesperson told the <em>Guardian Australia</em>: “We have clear and established Covid-19 medical misinformation policies based on local and global health authority guidance, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 misinformation that could cause real-world harm.”</p> <p>“We apply our policies equally for everyone regardless of uploader, and in accordance with these policies and our long-standing strikes system removed videos from and issued a strike to Sky News Australia’s channel.</p> <p>“Specifically, we don’t allow content that denies the existence of Covid-19 or that encourages people to use hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to treat or prevent the virus. We do allow for videos that have sufficient countervailing context, which the violative videos did not provide.”</p> <p>YouTube’s decisive action is in stark contrast to the response from local media regulators such as the Australian Communications and Media Authority or the subscription television body, Astra.</p> <p>Sky News Australia said it “expressly rejects” claims that any hosts ever denied the existence of Covid-19 and that “no such videos were ever published or removed”.</p> <p>“We support broad discussion and debate on a wide range of topics and perspectives which is vital to any democracy,” Sky News Australia spokesperson told <em>the Guardian Australia</em>.</p> <p>Sky’s YouTube channel has grown in two years from 70,000 subscribers to 1.85 million, which is higher than ABC News or any other local media company.</p> <p>One of the most popular videos, with 4.6m views, is Jones’s “Australians must know the truth – this virus is not a pandemic”, which was posted at the height of the pandemic last year. YouTube is an important platform for Sky News and the more extreme the video, the more popular it is.</p>

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Russell Crowe "put through a wall" on crazy night out

<p><span>NRL great Bryan Fletcher has opened up about his encounter with Russell Crowe that left the two scrapping on a boozy night out.</span><br /><br /><span>Featuring on Brett Finch’s '<em>Uncensored</em>' podcast, Fletcher revealed the wild night he had with his South Sydney teammates and Crowe in the mid-2000s.</span><br /><br /><span>Fletcher was the Rabbitohs captain in 2003 when he joined the club from the Roosters, however the team had suffered a nightmare season after winning only three games.</span><br /><br /><span>The 47-year-old said he'd never met Crowe before his move to South Sydney, but had heard a rumour that the Hollywood star had promised to take the 2002 team to the Playboy Mansion if they made the finals.</span><br /><br /><span>Fletcher says he was left with his mind in a scramble after Crowe contacted him near the middle of the 2003 season.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841241/rabbitohs-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/03710573c68e4e7699511d8951dec960" /><br /><br /><span>Fletcher however believed it was not actually Crowe on the other end of the line, and instead one of his teammates was pranking him.</span><br /><br /><span>“I said, ‘How’s Meg? Is she good in the cot?’” Fletcher told Finch, referring to Meg Ryan who Crowe was dating during that time.</span><br /><br /><span>“I said something more crude than that.</span><br /><br /><span>“Then there was awkward silence and he goes, ‘Fletch, it’s Russell. Russell Crowe’.</span><br /><br /><span>"And when he dropped his voice I knew straight away it was him and I’ve just gone, ‘F***, how do I get out of this?’”</span><br /><br /><span>It turns out Crowe had wanted the South Sydney players to bring a pair of nice clothes after their training in order to take them out.</span><br /><br /><span>“My imagination just starts going so by the time I get to Sutto (John Sutton) who’s the 17th bloke, I said, ‘Sutto, you’re not going to believe this bro, we are going to the Playboy Mansion’,” Fletcher said.</span><br /><br /><span>“Everyone is frothing, thinking they’re going to the Playboy Mansion.”</span><br /><br /><span>Sadly enough, the Rabbitohs didn’t go to LA, but instead arrived at a hotel in Woolloomooloo where cricket greats Shane Warne and Merv Hughes were waiting to kick them into gear with some inspirational words.</span><br /><br /><span>However the night took a turn around 9 pm when Crowe brought out some bottles of Absinthe.</span><br /><br /><span>“We went through 10 bottles. Ten bottles later and we’re going mad. It’s on. Blokes are cheering and carrying on,” Fletcher said.</span><br /><br /><span>He went on to say Crowe had challenged him to some footy.</span><br /><br /><span>“It was an odd time but I’m thinking, ‘You’ve got to humour Russ, he’s put this drink on for us’,” Fletcher said.</span><br /><br /><span>“So Russell comes running at me and I tackle him how I always have my whole career and I miss him. He runs behind me and dives down behind an imaginary set of posts.</span><br /><br /><span>“I said, ‘Good on you Russ’ and kept walking. I take two steps and I get pushed in the back. It’s Russ. He just stops in front of me and he goes, ‘You f***ing dog. You’re a f***ing cat. You’re a waste of money, you’re South Sydney’s worst ever captain’.</span><br /><br /><span>"He was right but he didn’t have to say it to my face.</span><br /><br /><span>“The boys have jerried to what’s going on … I got the s**ts and said, ‘Let’s just do this again’.</span><br /><br /><span>“He basically gets up and runs at me and I get under his ribs and drive him … and put him through a wall and the boys are just going, ‘What the f*** are you doing? Why are you doing this?’</span><br /><br /><span>“Russ pops up, just shakes his head and goes, ‘That’s what I want to see!’ That was his motivation, so we end up having a terrific night, getting on the p***.”</span><br /><br /><span>Crowe's motivational tactics seemed to do the job as the Rabbitohs would go on to thrash Melbourne Storm that weekend.</span><br /><br /><span>However their victory was short-lived.</span><br /><br /><span>“We beat them 42-10 and we did not win another game all year,” Fletcher admitted.</span></p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Can you rid yourself of 2020’s financial stress as we head into 2021?

<p>2020 has been a tough year for nearly everyone, and that may be especially true for retirees and those nearing retirement who suddenly are worried about whether their careful planning and years of saving could be upended by events beyond their control.</p> <p>After all, retirement is supposed to be a pleasurable and satisfying time when you kick back and enjoy the fruits of all those decades of labor. That’s difficult to do if you’re jittery about a volatile stock market, or you fret over every expenditure because you aren’t sure whether your savings can go the distance in a lengthy retirement.</p> <p>As this year draws to a close, and we look toward 2021, plenty of people still have worries. For them – and maybe for you – the future is uncertain. But frankly, the future is always uncertain, and worrying about your finances without taking charge of your situation does no one any good.</p> <p>So, if you’re already in retirement or plan to be there soon, how can you reduce some of that financial stress that’s weighing you down in these tumultuous times? Let me offer a few ideas:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Take control.</strong> Just stewing and letting the emotional strain rule your days and nights does no good. Instead, focus on actions you can take to help reduce some of that stress. Often, just doing something – anything – can help you feel better. Review your financial assets so you truly know where you stand. Those assets might include savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, real property or other items. You can’t create a plan unless you know exactly where you stand, so taking stock of things should be the first step. That way you aren’t operating in the dark. And what about the “T” word? Taxes! Have you imparted tax-efficiency as a part of your retirement plan? Do you know your options when it comes to this certainty?</li> <li><strong>Reconsider the timing of your retirement.</strong> Whenever the economy is shaky, it’s best to consider your options ahead of time so you can be prepared before problems arise. If you’re still working, for example, and you suddenly lose your job, one option may be to retire earlier than you originally planned and take Social Security. That can come with downsides, though. If you begin drawing Social Security before your full retirement age (between 66 and 67 for most people) you receive a reduced monthly check. That could cost you tens of thousands of dollars over a long retirement. Conversely, if your job situation is stable but you're worried your nest egg is inadequate, consider postponing retirement. That will allow you to save more, potentially increase your Social Security benefits, and can potentially give your investments time to recover from temporary market declines.</li> <li><strong>Review your budget and clean up bad habits.</strong> Many of us have less-than-stellar financial habits that we developed over the years. Those patterns of behavior don’t magically disappear as you approach retirement. You need to be intentional about changing bad habits so you aren’t spending more money than you need to – or should. To help you determine the difference between necessary and discretionary spending, review the past six months to a year of expenditures. As you review your spending, think beyond all those momentary, one-time splurges. Include your regular household bills, such as utilities, cable and cell phone service. You might be able to save money through a family plan, by bundling services, or by cutting the cord altogether.</li> <li><strong>Evaluate the risk in your portfolio.</strong> Perhaps you have had an aggressive investment strategy, and that’s how you accumulated a big nest egg that (you hope) was designed to carry you through decades of retirement. But, in an uncertain market and with retirement already here or close at hand, it may be wise to re-evaluate how much risk you’re holding in your portfolio. Now would be a good time to diversify and consider other investment options so you can help protect what you already have.</li> </ul> <p>Remember, though, that if your unsteady financial situation is getting the better of you, you don’t have to go it alone. Find an experienced financial professional who can help you develop a plan that can potentially ease at least some of your worries.</p> <p>It’s possible to get back on track financially – and, hopefully, set aside those concerns that could mar your enjoyment of life in retirement.</p> <p class="p1"><em>Written by Alan Becker, president and CEO of <a href="http://www.rsgusa.net">Retirement Solutions Group</a> and author of Return on Investment or Reliability of Income? The True Meaning of ROI in Retirement.</em> </p>

Retirement Income

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Alan Jones’ radio show revenue down by 50 per cent following Jacinda Ardern comment

<p><span>Alan Jones’ 2GB morning radio show has lost around half its advertising revenue following brands’ boycott over the host’s comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.</span></p> <p><span>More than 80 companies – including Big W, Bunnings, Bing Lee and ME Bank – have pulled their advertising from Jones’ program since he commented in August that Ardern should have a sock shoved “down her throat”.</span></p> <p><span>According to <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/alan-jones-advertising-boycott-likely-to-cost-1-million-20190831-p52mqh.html">The Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>, the ad boycott had cost 2GB about AU$1 million in lost revenue in September, and the amount could rise up to <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/alan-jones-radio-show-revenue-down-by-50pc-as-boycott-bites/ar-BBXfdWb?li=AAgfLCP">$6 million on an annualised basis</a>.</span></p> <p><span>Jones re-signed a two-year contract worth $4 million a year in May. In August, Nine chief executive Hugh Marks said the shock jock is worth <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/macquarie-could-survive-the-loss-of-alan-jones-nine-ceo-hugh-marks-20190822-p52joo.html">10 per cent of Macquarie Media’s total revenue</a>.</span></p> <p><span>The comment on Ardern was the latest in a string of on-air blunders for Jones. In 2012, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/alan-jones-boycott-data-shows-drop-in-ads-for-2gb/11487166">more than 70 companies pulled their advertising</a> after Jones suggested that Julia Gillard’s late father “died of shame” over his daughter telling lies in parliament, costing the network as much as $80,000 a day.</span></p> <p><span>In 2018, Jones apologised to Opera House CEO Louise Herron after suggesting she <a href="https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/alan-jones-influence-cant-stop-the-100000-plus-supporting-louise-herron/">should be sacked</a> for refusing to have a horse-racing promotion projected on the building’s sails.</span></p>

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Alan Jones labels Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan doc "borderline insulting"

<p>Broadcaster Alan Jones has slammed the Duchess of Sussex after she and husband Prince Harry took part in a candid documentary they filmed during their trip to Africa.</p> <p>The documentary, which highlighted the couple’s charity work, alongside incredibly raw details about their struggles with the media and mental health, was ripped apart by Jones on 2GB this morning, calling it “self-indulgent rubbish” and close to “insulting”.</p> <p>The outspoken radio star said the Duke and Duchess filmed the documentary as they travelled “in Africa around the poorest of the poor” and accused Meghan of “carrying on”.</p> <p>The documentary, which aired over a week ago, included a one-on-one interview with Meghan, where she revealed that she was “not OK”. The emotional confession came amidst the scrutiny she was receiving from the British tabloid press, which dug into her relationship with her father and speculations over conflict within the palace walls.</p> <p>Prince Harry also addressed his rumoured rift with brother Prince William.</p> <p>But while many praised the couple for doing something the royals have never done, Jones was less than impressed, saying their behaviour was tone deaf.</p> <p>“In the documentary, we’re told Meghan gives a rare glimpse of her new life and struggles as a royal and a new mother,” he said.</p> <p>“It borders on the insulting. Imagine spending time in Africa where you’re around the poorest of the poor – people who have no possessions – and you’re carrying on about how tough life is.</p> <p>“Have these two people got no awareness at all?</p> <p>“Has she ever wondered whether the poor people in Africa are OK? I’ve seen them, these poor kids with flies on their face and emaciated, with nothing, and the 38-year-old is complaining that people haven’t asked if she was OK.</p> <p>“She said she’s struggles with duties – what duties? She’s having six weeks off before Christmas for a holiday to LA!”</p> <p>Jones’ comments come after a difficult year for the royal couple, who recently launched a number of lawsuits against the media.</p>

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“My dear Prime Minister”: Alan Jones’ apology letter to Jacinda Ardern revealed

<p>Australian radio host Alan Jones said he “did not intend to suggest any violence” towards Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in an apology letter.</p> <p>On August 15, Jones was addressing Ardern’s meeting with Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the Pacific Islands Forum on his breakfast show when the broadcaster suggested Morrison should “shove a sock down her throat” to silence her climate change views, and that Ardern should be “backhanded”.</p> <p>The comments sparked widespread backlash, with <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/acma-receives-over-100-complaints-about-alan-jones-jacinda-ardern-comments-598626">over 100 complaints made to the Australian Communications and Media Authority</a> against the radio station 2GB. More than 100 advertisers – including Coles, Bing Lee and the Commonwealth Bank – took a stance against the program.</p> <p>In a letter obtained by <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/sep/19/my-dear-prime-minister-alan-joness-apology-letter-to-jacinda-ardern-revealed">The Guardian</a></em>, Jones said his comments “didn’t come out quite as I intended”.</p> <p>“My dear Prime Minister,” the letter read.</p> <p>“I would like to assure you that I did not intend to suggest any violence towards you.</p> <p>“While I may disagree with your stance on climate change, I would never wish any harm to you.</p> <p>“I had meant to say ‘put a sock in it’ and my actual words were taken literally by some who took offence on your behalf.”</p> <p>Jones then invited Ardern to do an on-air interview to discuss the climate change issue. “I would also like to extend a standing invitation to participate in an interview on my programme,” he wrote.</p> <p>“Again, my sincerest apologies and please know I wish you and your family only the best.”</p> <p>Last month, Ardern told AM show that Jones had a right to his opinions.</p> <p>“I don’t have an opinion on every single person who says something about me,” Ardern said. “And particularly given this is an Australian commentator, we’ve got enough of our own to occupy my time without me having to jump into something that an Aussie says.”</p> <p>Macquarie Media chairman Russell Tate said <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/alan-jones-contract-will-be-torn-up-if-he-repeats-ardern-comments-employer-says-20190817-p52i54.html">any repeat offences would lead to Jones’ contract being terminated</a>.</p> <p>“Notwithstanding his apologies, I have … discussed the matter with Alan and advised him that any recurrence of commentary of this nature will result in the termination of his contract,” Tate said.</p>

Travel Trouble

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MASH: Where are they now?

<p>Winner of eight Golden Globes, the comedy show M*A*S*H ran for an incredible 11 seasons. Set in a mobile Korean war hospital with little in the way of facilities, the crew make a tough situation more bearable with a continual stream of practical jokes, humour and laughs.</p> <p>From 1972 to 1983 the large cast kept us entertained with their antics for eight years longer than the actual Korean War.</p> <p>Read on to find out what the surviving members of the cast are doing now.</p> <p><strong>Alan Alda - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce</strong></p> <p>Alda played Hawkeye for all 11 seasons of the program. Not only did he play the fun loving surgeon, he also wrote and directed many of the episodes, including the finale which was the most-watched of any TV series.</p> <p>Since M*A*S*H, Alda has starred in many films including "The Aviator," "Tower Heist" and "Bridge of Spies." He has also popped up in some popular TV programs including "ER," "The West Wing," and "30 Rock."</p> <p><strong>Wayne Rogers – Capt. "Trapper" John McIntyre</strong></p> <p>Rogers starred in the program’s first three seasons as the surgeon who was also both a womaniser and joker. He was written out of the program when he quit – saying that he felt that his character had become Hawkeye’s sidekick instead of an equal.</p> <p>Post M*A*S*H, Rogers starred in the TV shows "City of Angels" and "House Calls," as well as having a guest role on "Murder, She Wrote." He had a couple of movies under his belt also, including "The Killing Time" and "Ghosts of Mississippi." He soon left acting behind, and much of his later life was spent as an investment strategist. Rogers died in 2015 at the age of 82 from complications from pneumonia.</p> <p><strong>Mike Farrell – Capt. B.J. Hunnicut</strong></p> <p>The character of B.J. was introduced after Rogers left the show, coming in as Hawkeye's new pal and prankster.</p> <p>Farrell has had a lot of work post M*A*S*H, including "Providence," "Murder, She Wrote," "Desperate Housewives," "Without a Trace" and "Supernatural." He also appeared as himself on "That ‘70s Show."</p> <p><strong>Loretta Swit – Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan</strong></p> <p>Another cast member to stay through all eleven seasons, Swit played the head nurse and even won two Emmys for her role.</p> <p>Swit secured some guest spots on TV programs "The Love Boat," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Diagnosis Murder." She hosted the Discovery Channel's "Those Incredible Animals." Swit is also still performing in theatre productions on Broadway.</p> <p><strong>Larry Linville – Maj. Frank Burns</strong></p> <p>Linville played the less than perfect surgeon for the first five seasons of the show, being written out in order to pursue other interests.</p> <p>He enjoyed guest spots on the TV shows "The Love Boat," "The Jeffersons," "Fantasy Island," "Night Court," "Murder, She Wrote" and “Herbie, the Love Bug." He passed away aged 59 in 2000 after complications from a cancer operation.</p> <p><strong>David Ogden Stiers – Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III</strong></p> <p>Added after Linville bowed out, Stiers played the arrogant yet skilled surgeon alongside Hawkeye and B.J, earning two Emmy nominations.</p> <p>Since M*A*S*H ended, he has worked on the "Perry Mason" TV movies, as well as many voice overs for eight Disney movies and many TV series. He recently came out as being gay, saying ‘I am (gay). Very proud to be so.’</p> <p><strong>McLean Stevenson – Lt. Col Henry Blake</strong></p> <p>As commanding officer for the first three seasons, Stevenson ended up exiting the show to pursue other interests.</p> <p>After leaving the show, Stevenson starred in some short lived sitcoms, as well as popping up on "The Love Boat," "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Golden Girls." He passed away aged 68 from a heart attack in 1996.</p> <p><strong>Harry Morgan – Col. Sherman T. Potter</strong></p> <p>Stevenson’s role as the commanding officer was replaced by Harry Morgan as Col. Sherman T. Potter. He stuck with the show until the finale, becoming a firm favourite for the show’s fans.</p> <p>As an established actor before M*A*S*H Morgan starred in the show’s spin off "After MASH" and then landed some guest roles on "Murder, She Wrote," "Grace Under Fire" and "3rd Rock From the Sun." Morgan died aged 96 in 2011 of pneumonia.</p> <p><strong>Gary Burghoff – Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly</strong></p> <p>The only character to appear in both the movie and TV versions of M*A*S*H, Burghoff played the naïve farm boy until the eighth season in 1979.</p> <p>He later starred in some smaller roles but dedicated much of his life to his career as a wildlife artist.</p> <p><strong>Jamie Farr – Cpl./Sgt. Max Klinger</strong></p> <p>Despite being only booked for one episode, Klinger became a regular as the character who wore a dress to try and show the Army that he was crazy and should be discharged.</p> <p>Farr had guest roles on the TV shows "Diagnosis Murder" and "Mad About You" and starred more recently in the film "This World."</p> <p><strong>William Christopher – Capt. Francis Mulcahy</strong></p> <p>Christopher played the 4077th's chaplain for the entire series, replacing the actor George Morgan who played the part in the pilot episode.</p> <p>Another actor to appear on TV programs, he starred in "Murder, She Wrote," "Diagnosis Murder" and "Mad About You." He also starred in a touring production of “The Odd Couple” with Jamie Farr. More recently he played the role of Father Tobias on "Days of Our Lives." He also works to promote autism awareness and has co-written a book with his wife about raising their autistic son.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/04/cast-of-dynasty-today/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dynasty: where are they now?</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/03/cast-of-anne-of-green-gables-where-are-they-now/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Cast of Anne of Green Gables: Where are they now?</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/tv/2016/03/the-brady-bunch-where-are-they-now/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Where they are now: The Brady Bunch</strong></em></span></a></p>

TV

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Alan Rickman’s career in pictures

<p>One of film and theatre’s most admired actors, the British thespian was known for his talent and diversity. With his signature nasal baritone, he could play cool, calm and collected in one role, and convey absolute terror in the next.</p> <p>Here’s our favourite quote from Rickman that has gone viral in tribute to the talented movie star and all time Harry Potter fan:</p> <p>“When I’m 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter,” the quote card says. “And my family will say to me, ‘After all this time?’ And I will say, ‘Always.’”</p> <p><strong>List of Alan Rickman's best films - IMDb ratings:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Something the Lord Made (2004)</li> <li>Die Hard (1988)</li> <li>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)</li> <li>Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)</li> <li>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)</li> <li>Love Actually (2003)</li> <li>Sense and Sensibility (1995)</li> <li>Snow Cake (2006)</li> <li>Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)</li> <li>The Song of Lunch (2010) </li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/never-carry-your-phone-in-your-pocket/">You should never carry your phone in your pocket</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/bear-cub-performing-tai-chi/">Cute bear cub masters the art of tai chi</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/things-you-didnt-know-your-dishwasher-could-do/">5 things you didn’t know your dishwasher could do</a></em></strong></span></p>

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British actor Alan Rickman dies at 69

<p>Acclaimed British actor Alan Rickman has died aged 69 after a battle with cancer.</p> <p>Rickman was one of Britain’s best-known actors of stage and screen. His career spaned over 30 years with roles ranging from Royal Shakespeare Company, to sci-fi spoof Galaxy Quest, to famed villain Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films.</p> <p>Despite his reputation for playing the villain in movies, Richman won a Golden Globe and an Emmy during his career. He was also praised for his more sensitive roles in films such as Sense and Sensibility and Love, Actually.</p> <p>"The actor and director Alan Rickman has died from cancer at the age of 69. He was surrounded by family and friends," his family said in a statement on Thursday.</p> <p>Since the news broke this morning, legions of fans along with acting colleagues, including JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter novels and actress Emma Thompson, a frequent co-star of Rickman, have been paying tribute to the star.</p> <p>RIP, Alan Rickman. </p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2015/12/grease-then-and-now/">The cast of Grease: Where are they now?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2015/12/top-10-horror-movies/">Top 10 classic horror movies of all-time</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/2015/11/hilarious-james-bond-gadgets/">The most hilarious Bond gadgets ever</a></em></strong></span></p>

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