Category Archives: fun facts

Fun facts about popular movies, TV shows, books and more.

December 13, 2018 · 8:45 am

27 Fun Facts about The Holiday

Get ready for Mr. Napkin Head!

The Holiday is one of those Christmas movies I could watch anytime of year and still love. Starring Jack Black, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz and Jude Law, this movie is the epitome of holiday rom-com.

THE HOLIDAY

If you haven’t seen this holiday treasure, do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s got heart, humor and a dash of real-life, everything you need to get you in the holiday spirit. If you’re still on the fence, check out these 27 fun facts about the making of The Holiday!

27 Fun Facts about The Holiday

The “boob graze” line came about because Jack Black accidentally boob grazed director Nancy Meyers and then apologized. She found it so funny that she wrote their interaction into the script the next day.

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Meyers wrote Black’s part for him, after she fell in love with his performance in School Of Rock.

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By the time she’d finished writing the script, Meyers knew she wanted to cast Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, and Kate Winslet too.

At first Black was skeptical about doing a rom com, but then Meyer told him he’d get to be in a movie with Winslet and he said yes.

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After filming, Winslet said “Trust me, it was not difficult to fall in love with Jack Black. At all.”

The website that Amanda and Iris use to swap houses is real.

But Iris’s house Rose Hill Cottage is not (booo). It was built as part of the film set.

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Amanda’s mansion is a real place in San Marino, California.

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The English village scenes were filmed in Godalming and Shere in Surrey.

And the pub featured is real: It’s The White Horse in Shere.

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In the week of making the film it snowed three times in Surrey, even though the crew had hired a snow machine because they thought it wasn’t going to.

Meyers knows Lindsay Lohan because she directed The Parent Trap. She convinced Lohan to film a fake movie trailer for The Holiday by telling her she owed her. Lohan was immediately up for it.

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Eli Wallach turned 90 during filming.

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Diaz kept her character’s clothes after filming.

In the film Jude Law plays Iris’s brother. In real life, he has a daughter called Iris.

Law’s favorite part of the film was working with the girls who played his daughters, Sophie and Olivia.

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When Iris first arrives at Amanda’s LA house she picks out a film to watch. The movie she selects is Punch-Drunk Love, a film about an American man who dates a British woman.

Rufus Sewell plays the guy who Kate Winslet’s character is in love with. In real life, they dated for three months in the mid-’90s.

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At one point in the film, Winslet and Wallach’s characters talk about how Cary Grant was from Surrey. He was actually from Bristol.

Winslet’s video shop scene with Black was largely improvised.

The crew removed all of Winslet and Black’s films from the video shop so it wouldn’t be distracting.

Dustin Hoffman was never supposed to have a cameo in the popular movie shop scene. He was having lunch near the film shop’s set, stopped because there were lots of cameras, and ended up appearing in the movie because he knows Meyers.

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An unspoiled cottage like the one Iris owns easily be worth a million pounds, not far off two million dollars. She’s far from slumming it, no matter how basic the kitchen.

The house used for Arthur Abbot’s (Eli Wallach’s) house belonged to Phyllis Diller at the time of shooting, and is located in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles, California.

Cameron Diaz has claimed that this movie is her most physical due to all of the running she had to do.

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The example Arthur uses to explain a “Meet Cute” was used in Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife (1938). Strangers Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper meet while shopping. She buys the bottoms and he buys the tops of the same suit of pajamas.

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A young John Krasinski has a part in this film, too as part of Amanda’s film crew.

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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November 29, 2018 · 7:29 am

25 Fun Facts about It’s a Wonderful Life

There are few movies that hit me right in the gut like It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s the only holiday movie I can only watch once a year because my delicate emotions just can’t handle more than that.

That being said, It’s a Wonderful Life is up there as one of my favorite movies ever. There’s something so honest and raw about it, something in George Bailey that just gets to me every time.

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Ironically, though it’s a beloved classic today, It’s a Wonderful Life was considered a bit of a flop when it first came out. It didn’t make back it’s large $3.8 million budget and though it boasted casting several Oscar winners, it wasn’t until several years later that the movie found the following it was looking for back in 1946.

If you find yourself in the holiday spirit, you’re going to love these enduring fun facts about one of the best holiday movies of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life…

25 Fun Facts about It’s a Wonderful Life

In the scene where Donna Reed throws a rock through the window of the Granville house, director Frank Capra hired a marksman to shoot the window out on cue; however, Reed broke the window herself. She played baseball in high school and had a strong throwing arm.

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As Uncle Billy drunkenly leaves the Bailey home, it sounds as if he stumbles into some trash cans on the sidewalk. In fact, a crew member dropped a large tray of props right after Thomas Mitchell went off-screen. James Stewart began laughing, and Mitchell quickly improvised, “I’m alright, I’m okay!” Director Frank Capra decided to use this take in the final cut and gave the stagehand a $10 bonus for “improving the sound.”

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The gym floor that opens up to reveal a pool was real. It was located at Beverly Hills High School in Los Angeles.

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James Stewart was nervous about the phone scene kiss because it was his first onscreen kiss since his return to Hollywood after the war. Under director Frank Capra’s watchful eye, Stewart filmed the scene in only one unrehearsed take, and it worked so well that part of the embrace was cut because it was too passionate to pass the censors.

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Director Frank Capra said It’s a Wonderful Life is one of his favorite films.

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While filming the scene in which George prays in the bar, James Stewart was so overcome that he began to sob. Frank Capra later re-framed and blew up the shot because he wanted to catch that expression on Stewart’s face. This is why the shot looks so grainy compared with the rest of the film.

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The set of Bedford Falls was constructed in two months and covered four acres of land, one of the longest sets in American movie history. It included 75 stores and buildings, a main street, a factory district and a residential and slum area.

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Main Street itself was 300 yards long – about 3 city blocks.

Capra created a new “snow” for this film, using foamite, soap and water. This quiet snow would allow the team to record the sound live. Previous to It’s a Wonderful Life, snow was made using Cornflakes that had been painted white, which were so loud that dialogue had to be dubbed in later.

James Stewart Snowing GIF

A photograph of James Stewart at 6 months old was donated by his parents and included in the film set.

Though a beloved holiday tradition today, the film was considered a flop when it first opened in 1946.

Today it’s ranked as the #1 Most Inspirational Movie of All Time by the American Film Institute.

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The scene on the bridge where Clarence saves George was filmed on a back lot on a day where the temperature was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why James Stewart is visibly sweating in a few scenes.

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James Stewart cited George Bailey as being his favorite character he ever played, but stated in several interviews that Harvey (1950) was his favorite movie he starred in.

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In the scene at the dance in the high school gym, when George Bailey first sees Mary and approaches her, the young man talking to Mary is “Alfalfa” of Little Rascals fame in the uncredited role of Freddie Othelo.

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The part of George Bailey was originally developed at another studio with Cary Grant earmarked for the role. When Frank Capra inherited the project, he rewrote it to suit Stewart.

The entire film was shot in 90 days.

Stewart was 38 years old while filming, though his charter George ranged in age throughout the film from 21 to 38. Donna Reed was 25 during filming, though her character Mary ranged in age from 18 to 35.

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George says he hopes to go to college to “learn how to build things”. In real life, Stewart majored in architecture at Princeton University.

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It’s a Wonderful Life marked Donna Reed’s first starring role.

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Henry Travers, who plays Clarence, also stars in The Bells of St. Mary’s (1945) as Horace P. Bogardus. When George Bailey passes a movie theater towards the end of the movie, that film is being showcased.

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The scene on the famous poster of George holding Mary in the air is never shown in the film.

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Capra was said to have gotten the idea for the film from a Christmas greeting card.

Mr. Potter is never caught as the thief who embezzled $8,000, which apparently he got to keep. This was unusual for a Hollywood film of the time as criminals were often required by censorship to be punished or made to repent.

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Over the course of the film, there are 42 bell chimes…meaning 42 angels got their wings!

Christmas Tree Bell GIF

Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

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November 15, 2018 · 9:03 am

50 Fun Facts You Can Use to Impress Your Friends in 2019

Last year I shared 50 fun facts to impress your friends in 2018 and you guys liked it so much that I decided to do it again!

So cure that social anxiety at upcoming holiday parties and be ready to impress your friends with these fun and completely random facts that are sure to make you the talk of 2019!

50 Fun Facts You Can Use to Impress Your Friends in 2019

FUN FACTS 2019

Pteronophobia is the fear of being tickled by feathers.

So far, two diseases have been successfully eradicated: smallpox in the 1970s and rinderpest in 2001.

Bananas are curved because they grow towards the sun.

During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.

Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman.

A baby spider is called a spiderling.

Recycling one glass jar saves enough energy to watch television for 3 hours.

The average male gets bored of a shopping trip after 26 minutes.

A small child could swim through the veins of a blue whale.

The Twitter bird actually has a name – Larry. It comes from Larry Bird, the famous basketball player.

An apple, potato and onion all taste the same if you eat them with your nose plugged.

The average person walks the equivalent of five times around the world in their lifetime.

Tears contain a natural pain killer which reduces pain and improves your mood. This is why you tend to feel better after a good cry!

Mr. Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised on TV.

Snails have 14,000 teeth.

Daddy longlegs have penises, which technically makes them not a spider.

Eight of the ten largest statues in the world are of Buddhas.

It took the creator of the Rubik’s Cube, Erno Rubik, one month to solve the cube after he created it. As of June 2018, the world record is 4.22 seconds.

Magpies are considered one of the most intelligent animals in the world.

Digging a hole to China is theoretically possible if you start in Argentina.

People don’t sneeze in their sleep doe to the brain shutting down that reflex.

A chef’s hat has exactly 100 pleats. They’re to represent the “hundred ways to cook an egg”.

Horses have the largest eyes of any mammal.

There are more collect calls on Father’s Day than on any other day of the year.

More people are allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.

You are born with 300 bones, but by the time you are an adult, you only have 206.

Blue-eyed people tend to have the highest tolerance of alcohol.

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

A flea can jump up to 200 times its own height. That’s the equivalent of a human jumping the Empire State Building.

There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.

There are more stars in space than there are grains of sand on every beach in the world.

“Almost” is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

All swans in England belong to the Queen.

There are more plastic flamingos in the US than real ones.

At any one time, about 0.7% of the world’s population is drunk.

M&M’s stands for “Mars & Murries”, the last names of the candy’s founders.

In the USA, there are more Chinese restaurants than all the McDonalds, KFC’s Burger Kings and Wendys put together.

A million seconds is about 12 days. A billion seconds is more than 31 years.

Our ears and nose never stop growing.

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn.

Grocery stores in France are forbidden by law to throw away the food they haven’t sold. They must donate unused edible food to charities or make sure it gets processed into animal food or composed.

Every year, Americans create around 1/5 of the world’s trash.

Travelling decreases the risk of heart attack and depression and supports brain health.

Norway has a town called “Hell”. It freezes over quite regularly.

The average person spends only 10 minutes a day speaking.

An average raindrop falls at the speed of roughly 7 miles an hour.

The sunlight you see is about 8.5 minutes old – that’s how long it takes for light to travel to Earth from the Sun.

If you spend 10 minutes every work day pooping, you get paid 43 paid hours every year just for pooping.

Contestants that are kicked off Gordon Ramsey’s shows are given psychological evaluations  to make sure they won’t hurt themselves or others as a result of their participation.

Fingers prune in water to give you a better grip.

Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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November 8, 2018 · 9:53 am

30 Things Turning 30 in 2019

1989 really was the best of times. You guys, it’s time to get your party hats ready…here are 30 things that will be turning 30 in 2019.

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30 Things Turning 30 in 2019

The World Wide Web

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The Simpsons

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The Game Boy

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Daniel Radcliffe

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Saved by the Bell

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Seinfeld

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Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin, Jr.

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Sega Genesis

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Disney’s The Little Mermaid

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Tim Burton’s Batman (aka the GREATEST Batman)

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Taylor Swift

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The Joan Rivers Show

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Michael Jordan’s 10,000th NBA point

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Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings”

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The inauguration of George H.W. Bush

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Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF soundtrack

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Baywatch

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P.J. Sparkles

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The final episode of Family Ties

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Disney’s MGM Studio

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Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

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“Love Shack” by the B-52’s

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Dustin Hoffman’s Oscar for Rain Man

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The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

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The 100th episode of Miami Vice

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Madonna’s Like a Prayer album

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Dead Poet’s Society

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HDTV

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The first “New Kids on the Block Day” in Massachusetts (April 24th)

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When Harry Met Sally

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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November 1, 2018 · 8:30 am

20 Facts about 20 Movies Turning 10 in 2018

It’s always a bit of a shock when you realize a movie you loved as a kid is already 10 years old…I mean Iron Man…The Wrestler…Wall-E?! These movies, and many more, have already hit the decade mark which, of course, is all the more reason to watch them again!

To better your movie-watching experience, here are 20 fun facts about 20 movies that hit the double digits in 2018.

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20 Facts about 20 Movies Turning 10 in 2018

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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Brad Pitt stated that it took five hours each day to complete the makeup required for the role.

Doubt
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Meryl Streep knitted the shawl she wears in this film.

Iron Man
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Roughly 450 separate pieces make up the Iron Man suit worn by Robert Downy, Jr.

In Bruges
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The ‘F-word’, and its derivatives, are said 126 times in this film, averaging about 1.18 ‘F-bombs’ per minute.

Milk
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Thousands of people agreed to be extras in this film for free.

Pineapple Express
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Seth Rogen rolled every joint and cross-joint in the film himself.

Quantum of Solace
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This is the only film to show James Bond inebriated, after drinking six Vesper martini cocktails of course.

Cloverfield
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This film has no musical score and the music for the end credits doesn’t begin until about 2 minutes after the credits start rolling.

Revolutionary Road
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About an hour into the movie, a fallen painting of the Titanic can be seen at the bottom of the screen. Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kathy Bates, who all appear in Revolutionary Road, also starred in Titanic (1997).

Definitely, Maybe
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Many of the bar scenes in this movie were filmed in the upper west-side bar, Jake’s Dilemma, which is located at 81st and Amsterdam.

Kung Fu Panda
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The animators for this film took a 6-hour kung fu class to get an idea of the movie’s actions.

The Dark Knight
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This was the first comic book movie to reach the one billion dollar mark.

Twilight
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Robert Pattinson is actually playing the piano in the scene where Edward is playing “Bella’s Lullaby”.

Slumdog Millionaire
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The pile of excrement that young Jamal jumps into was made from a combination of peanut butter and chocolate.

Step Brothers
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Both Jon Hamm and Thomas Lennon auditioned for the role of Derek (eventually played by Adam Scott).

Vicky Christina Barcelona
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Though Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz play a divorced couple in the film, they actually started dating in real life while working on the film, marrying in 2010.

Tropic Thunder
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According to Robert Downey, Jr., the character of Kirk Lazarus was based on a combination of Russell Crowe, Daniel Day-Lewis and Colin Farrell.

The Wrestler
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Due to the film’s low budget, Axl Rose donated the use of the Guns N’ Roses song, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” free of charge for the final match.

Burn After Reading
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J.K. Simmons is never shown standing throughout the entire film.

Wall-E
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Wall-E was the first Pixar film to be nominated for six Academy Awards. This is a record tied with only one other animated film to earn the same amount of nominations: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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October 25, 2018 · 9:42 am

22 Fun Facts about Jeff Goldblum

To know him is to love him.

Whether you know him from Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Fly, or any of the whimsical Wes Anderson movies he’s appeared in, there’s no denying that we are all so lucky to be alive in the time of Goldblum.

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Yes, Jeff. Yes you are.

Not only is this man among men a cult actor with a huge following, he’s also an extremely talented musician, a well-read lover of words and art, and just celebrated his 66th birthday on Monday.

From wooing adoring fans with fashion-forward photo shoots to cooking up a storm on Cooking with Jeff on Funny or Die (YouTube), Goldblum is here for the people. He loves us, he loves that we love him, and regardless of what’s happening in the world or the stress of everyday life, there’s no denying that Jeff Goldblum, uh, finds a way.

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22 Fun Facts about Jeff Goldblum

Goldblum is the child of a doctor (father) and a radio broadcaster (mother).

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When he was a kid, he would write affirmations in the shower, including “Please God, let me be an actor”. He didn’t tell anyone he wanted to be an actor for fear that he would be ridiculed for it.

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When he was 13, he stole five dollars from his father’s wallet and headed on down to the red light district to try to hire a prostitute. He ran away at the last minute.

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Between acting jobs, Goldblum would sell office supplies to prisoners.

His iconic vocal delivery is thought to have stemmed from his role in the 1978 film, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He accidentally stammered his line, “I-I-I-I never thought they would come in…metal ships,” and it was met with great reviews from the director. Goldblum had found his rhythm!

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During his time filming The Fly, Goldblum was romantically involved with co-star Geena Davis. He had to leave the set because he was so overwrought with emotions during the intimate scenes between Davis and John Getz.

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There was serious Oscar buzz surrounding Goldblum’s performance in The Fly; however, he was not nominated…probably due to the fact it was a horror film. Still, Goldblum was hurt and disappointed that he was left out of the running.

Jeff Goldblum GIF

Goldblum co-founded an acting school called Playhouse West, located in Los Angeles. He taught classes based on the principles of acting coach Stanford Meisner. Trainees of the class include Jim Carrey and Ashley Judd.

He is a frequent browser of #jeffgoldblum on Instagram.

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Goldblum was raised Jewish and attended an Orthodox synagogue. He was also bar mitzvahed at age 13.

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If you live in Los Angeles, you might be able to catch Goldblum playing jazz piano at Rockwell Table & Stage. He often mingles with the crowd.

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Speaking of, his jazz group – the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – is releasing an album in November (which you can pre-order on Amazon right now!).

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Goldblum made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical, Two Gentleman of Verona.

For several years, Goldblum was the voice for most US Apple commercials, including advertisements for the iMac and iBook.

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He also had a role on Law and Order: Criminal Intent (Detective Zach Nichols).

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You can also see him in a few episodes of Portlandia…and it’s EPIC GOLDBLUM.

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Goldblum has two children, Charlie Ocean and River Joe.

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Goldblum has also offered his voice to a handful of video games, including LEGO Jurassic Park and Call of Duty: Block Ops 3.

Two of Goldblum’s favorite movies in his repertoire are Grand Budapest Hotel and Le Week-End.

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His adorable bow ties are from Brooks Brothers.

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Goldblum is also a literature lover, with The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, 100 Years of Solitude and American Pastoral named among his favorite books.

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The best advice Goldblum ever received and offers to his fans: Do what you love.

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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October 18, 2018 · 9:08 am

17 Fun Facts about Raul Esparza

If I could sit down and share a Cuban meal with Raul Esparza, I would die a happy person.

Raul Esparza Hannibal GIF

Now best known for this role as ADA Rafael Barba on Law and Order: SVU, Esparza is a titan of the stage, starring in big-name Broadway musicals and racking up awards and nominations left and right.

Born to Cuban parents and raised in Miami, Florida, Esparza appeared in several on and off-Broadway productions before landing his big role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He then went on to star in many more Tony-Award winning productions, including Tick…Tick, Boom! and Stephen Sondheim’s Company.

In addition to various theater performances, Esparza has also appeared in a handful of TV shows and has even done narration of audiobooks. THIS MAN DOES EVERYTHING.

Next week Esparza will be celebrating his 48th birthday, so in honor of this amazing talent, here are 17 fun facts about Raul Esparza!

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17 Fun Facts about Raul Esparza

Esparza’s father was an engineer and his mother found work wherever she could, including jobs as an interior designer, banker and travel agent.

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While he was in school, Esparza wanted to be a lawyer. Visions of things to come!

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Esparza has been nominated in all Tony categories for which an actor is eligible, though he’s yet to win one.

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Esparza was born to Cuban parents, but he was born in Delaware. His family then moved to Miami, Florida where Esparza spent most of his childhood.

He has two Bachelor’s degrees from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts: one in Fine Arts, the other in English.

Esparza had a small role on the ABC series, Pushing Daisies, a role originally offered to Paul Reubens.

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Besides stage and TV acting, Esparza has lent his voice to audiobook narration, reading Under the Dome by Stephen King, The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer and The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark.

In 1994, Esparza married his high school sweetheart, Michele Marie Perez; however, the couple divorced 14 years later.

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In 2006, Esparza revealed in a New York Times profile that he was bisexual.

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Originally Esparza didn’t want to take the role of ADA Rafael Barba on Law and Order: SVU, but did so as an acting “rebound” from a lackluster Broadway production. He’s since left SVU to return to the theater.

Besides SVU, Esparza has also appeared on Law and Order: Criminal Intent and the original Law and Order.

Though he’s never won a Tony (WHAT?!) Esparza has taken home three Drama Desk Awards, namely for his work in Taboo!, Company and The Homecoming.

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The production of Company which starred Esparza as Bobby (2006 Broadway revival) DID take home the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Esparza was nominated for Best Actor; however, he lost to David Hyde Pierce (Curtains).

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The director of Company (John Doyle) loved Esparza so much after their first meeting that he hired him to play Bobby on the spot without ever having heard him sing.

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Bobby’s swan song, “Being Alive”, is the only thing Esparza can play on the piano.

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Esparza has appeared in several Stephen Sondheim musicals, including Company and Sunday in the Park with George, but the role he’s itching to play: SWEENEY TODD.

In a 2012 interview, Esparza revealed that he’s most similar to John Larson, the character he plays in Tick, Tick…BOOM!

Image result for raul esparza tick tick boom

Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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October 11, 2018 · 8:13 am

15 Fun Facts about The Powerpuff Girls

THE CITY OF TOWNSVILLE!

You guys, 20 YEARS AGO children all over the world were introduced to the municipality of Townsville and the monsters that were hell-bent on destroying it. Protected by three little kindergarten-aged girls named Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup, the city of Townsville was home to some of the funniest characters in Cartoon Network history.

The Powerpuff Girls has been a beloved series literally since the first episode. Made from sugar, spice and everything nice, the Powerpuff Girls fight crime between coloring pictures of rainbows and unicorns. All in a day’s work.

High among the ranks with other Cartoon Network classics like Dexter’s Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls was pretty much always on at our house. The theme song has been running through my head ALL DAY and I still find myself laughing at old episodes when I binge-watch them on a rainy Saturday night.

If you loved The Professor, the girls, Mojo and the gang, this post is for you! Here are 15 fun facts you may not have known about The Powerpuff Girls!

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15 Fun Facts about The Powerpuff Girls

The Powerpuff Girls were originally known as “The Whoop-Ass Girls”. They obtained their power not from Chemical X, but from a can of whoop-ass, of course.

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The look of the girls was inspired by Margaret Keane’s work.

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While we know them as Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup, they answer to different names in different places. In Latin America, the girls were named Chocolate, Bubble and Acorn. In Italy, it’s Lolly, Dolly and Molly.

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Mojo Jojo was inspired by the Japanese character, Dr. Gori from Spectreman.

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Mojo is also voiced by Roger L. Jackson, the face behind Ghostface in the Wes Craven Scream movies.

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Originally the character of ‘Him’ was the Devil; however, Cartoon Network put the kibosh on religious references…so his name was changed.

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The 1998 premiere, “Monkey See, Doggie Do/Mommy Fearest”, was the highest rated debut in Cartoon Network history.

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The narrator of the show was Tom Kenny, who also provided the voice for The Mayor, Mitch, Snake Ingleberry, Lil’ Arturo and, most notably, SpongeBob Square Pants.

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George Jetson was a citizen of Townsville. You can see him in “Major Competition”.

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The episode “Meet the Beat Alls” contained 65 references to The Beatles. It aired on February 9, 2001, the anniversary of the band’s debut on The Ed Sullivan Show.

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In totality, The Powerpuff Girls has been nominated for about 18 awards, including Favorite TV Show, Kids Choice Awards, Primetime Emmy’s and Annie Awards.

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The Mayor’s secretary, Ms. Bellum, only shows her face once. In Britain, Tesco released a toy set that included the mysterious secretary, but her face was hidden, so you had to buy the set to see it. SMART.

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Though all the girls are able to conjure tornadoes, teleport and create shields, they each have a special ability that is unique to them. Blossom can breathe ice, Bubbles can speak more than one language and cause supersonic waves with her voice, and Buttercup can curl her tongue. Not really a superpower, but it makes her happy!

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Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup are also said to have been inspired by the three fairies in Sleeping Beauty (1959), Flora, Fauna and Merryweather. Their color schemes also match, as do their personalities (the sweet one, the spunky one and the tough one).

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The Powerpuff Girls even got the Hollywood treatment, but the movie was far from a success. It barely made back the budget and let Cartoon Network to scrap plans for any more theatrical releases.

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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October 4, 2018 · 8:29 am

20 Fun Facts about Anthony Bourdain

The death of Anthony Bourdain hit me a lot harder than I thought it would. A true man of the world, Bourdain took everything we thought we knew about eating, traveling, and basic human communication and turned it on its head. His TV shows opened our eyes to places we’d probably have never seen otherwise, and his soft yet poignant narration introduced us to a man wise beyond his years.

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Not much was known about Bourdain until he published Kitchen Confidential, a tell-all book about what goes on behind the scenes in some of the most popular restaurants. Since then, he’s had several TV shows, about 13 books published to his name, and has gone down in culture as the one bad ass chef you can’t help but respect.

The world lost a great man when Bourdain died…and if you need any more proof, here are 20 fun facts you probably didn’t know about Tony B.

20 Fun Facts about Anthony Bourdain

Bourdain attended Vassar College before dropping out to pursue a career in cooking.

His big break came in 2000 when he released the eye-opening Kitchen Confidential, which blew the doors wide open on the closeted world of restaurant kitchens.

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Bourdain’s love of food started when he was 10. He was visiting France and tried a fresh oyster on a fishing boat.

Before becoming a chef, Bourdain wanted to be a comic book artist. He actually co-wrote a graphic novel called Get Jiro! In 2011.

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Throughout his career, Bourdain received 12 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and won four, all for his work on Parts Unknown.

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Parts Unknown also received the prestigious Peabody Award, which honors the most enlightening and evocative forms of storytelling in electronic media.

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Billy Joel was one of a few artists that was off limits in Bourdain’s kitchens. Playing certain music, including Joel, Elton John and The Grateful Dead, could be grounds for firing.

Bourdain once told the Boston Herald that he’s “more of a cat person than a dog person”.

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He’s made a wide variety of TV guest appearances, including Yo Gabba Gabba, Miami Ink and The Simpsons.

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Bourdain was also a big fan of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, practicing the art almost daily.

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His guilty pleasures included KFC, Popeye’s and macaroni and cheese.

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True Bourdain fans know of his disdain for The Food Network, however, there’s one FN show he actually didn’t mind: The Barefoot Contessa.

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Bourdain’s second wife was a hostess at one of Eric Ripert’s restaurants when they met. Bourdain and Ripert were best friends until the end (Ripert was the one who found Bourdain after he passed).

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According to Bourdain, everyone should know how to make an omelet, roast a chicken, grill a steak and make a basic soup or stew.

In a 2007 Q&A session, Bourdain revealed that the worst things he’s ever eaten were fermented shark in Iceland and warthog rectum in Namibia.

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Bourdain was also a staff writer for the HBO show, Treme, working to better develop the character of Janette Desautel, a New Orleans chef trying to get her restaurant back off the ground after Hurricane Katrina.

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Bourdain’s first job in the kitchen: a dishwasher. A position he held for 30 years.

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One of Bourdain’s favorite places to travel was Tokyo. He once said that if he had to eat only in one city for the rest of his life, Tokyo would be it.

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Throughout his career, Bourdain wrote a total of 13 books, eight non-fiction and five fiction books.

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Bourdain also has his own brand of chocolate bar. Each bar is supposedly one of a kind and retails for no less than $18 a pop.

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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September 27, 2018 · 8:29 am

21 Fun Facts about Mr. Bean

It’s not Thanksgiving or Christmas in my house until we’ve watched the Mr. Bean Christmas special.

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*Yes, this IS where Friends got the idea…

The popular British sitcom which starred Rowan Atkinson as the silent comedian, “Mr. Bean”, this series consisted of just a handful of episodes, but launched Atkinson’s career into space. Not to mention it spurred two movie sequels, an animated series, and a whole assortment of merchandise.

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Based on a character Atkinson developed while studying at Oxford, the series follows the exploits of the crazy Mr. Bean, described by Atkinson as “a child in a grown man’s body.” Bean rarely speaks, rather he uses physical comedy while interacting with other characters. This simple detail helped make Mr. Bean a world-wide phenomenon.

Mr. Bean has been a part of my childhood for as long as I can remember…and I STILL find myself laughing at Atkinson’s clever use of physical humor.

So if you’re a fan of this annoying, yet lovable character, grab your teddy and tuck in for these 21 Fun Facts about Mr. Bean!

21 Fun Facts about Mr. Bean

Atkinson went to school with the former Prime Minister of England, Tony Blair.

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Atkinson also holds degrees from Oxford and Newcastle University (in Electrical Engineering).

Unlike Mr. Bean, Atkinson owns several cars, including a Honda Civic Hybrid, McLaren F1 and a Renault 5 GT Turbo, to name a few.

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He has been friends with Prince William for years and was a guest to his wedding to Kate Middleton.

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Atkinson is a huge James Bond fan and even got a supporting role in 1983’s Never Say Never Again.

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The name ‘Mr. Bean’ was originally Mr. White and Mr. Cauliflower before writers and producers landed on Bean.

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The birth of Mr. Bean came about after an assignment Atkinson had at Oxford. He had about 48 hours’ notice to develop a 5-minute skit, so he stood in front of a mirror and messed about with his face. Thus, Mr. Bean was born.

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Though Mr. Bean only produced 14 episodes, it also spurred two movies, an animated series, a video game, some books, and a slew of merchandise, including a branded Teddy!

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Since the comedy in the series is physical and not narrative, people all over the world understand and love Mr. Bean. The series was broadcast in nearly 200 countries.

Atkinson’s creative partner, Richard Curtis, helped to develop the character of Mr. Bean. Curtis would go on to place Atkinson in several of his other projects, including Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually.

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While developing his character, Atkinson was heavily inspired by Jacques Tati.

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Atkinson often refers to Mr. Bean as “a child in a grown man’s body.” He says, “…Mr. Bean is a very, very self-contained character because he’s so sort-of introspective and so selfish and self-centered that there’s no particular need to have another person in the scene to make him funny.”

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Atkinson really CAN wiggle his ears.

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When London hosted the Summer Olympics in 2012, Mr. Bean was on hand for the opening ceremony, where he ushered in the games with a rendition of “Chariots of Fire”.

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Mr. Bean was officially retired in 2012.

The most successful episode of Mr. Bean in the UK was “The Trouble with Mr. Bean”, which includes the famous dentist scene.

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Mr. Bean’s flat changes from episode to episode.

The opening sequence, which shows Mr. Bean falling to Earth in a beam of light, gives the impression that he’s an alien from another universe.

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Mr. Bean has A-Team bed linens.

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The license plate on Mr. Bean’s car is SLW 287 R.

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In 2013, Atkinson celebrated the 25th anniversary of Mr. Bean by riding his iconic mini around the Buckingham Palace in London.

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Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!

 

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