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Laughter: More Than the Best Medicine

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:00:00 PDT

We have all heard that laughter is the best medicine; well some Norwegian researchers think it might just be more than that. Folks that have a sense of humor, especially in the face of cancer, outlive those who don't find life funny. The study tracked 57,000 Norwegians for 7 years and the larger role humor played in participants' daily lives, the greater their chances for surviving. Check out this article at USA Today for more on this study.

Now another recent study, this one British, found laughter acts as a "social lubricant" and can thereby make folks more altruistic as a group. Participants were shown either serious or comic videos in groups and then asked to "invest" money. They could invest either "privately" with a guaranteed return or "communally" with all participants receiving an equal return, but with no guarantee that it would match the amount put into the investment. Yep, you guessed it - the participants that laughed with their investing partners, who they had never met before, were more likely to invest communally. Laughing together makes people feel like they are more connected. The researchers are postulating that laughter could have evolutionary significance in creating group bonding which increases the group's survival in stressful situations.

Well...laugh and the world laughs with you...and you might live longer...and you might invest your money more altruistically which would make you feel warm inside.

Now if you are looking for a laugh, a chuckle or a guffaw...check out my buddy GiggleSugar. I am sure she has something to help you live longer.

George Clooney Jokes About Gosling's Globes No Show: "You Know What You Do in Thailand."

Molly Goodson — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:43:39 PST

George Clooney brought his charming smile, sense of humor, and girlfriend Stacy Keibler backstage to the press room after winning best actor in a drama at the Golden Globes in LA this evening. His The Descendants also took home best dramatic picture, so it was a triumphant night for George. In between his typical funny quips and jokes, George chatted about going up against his friend Brad Pitt this award season and what he thinks fellow nominee Ryan Gosling is getting up to in Thailand. Check it out:

On any award season rivalry or wagers with Brad: I’ll tell you quite honestly: the truth of the matter is, Brad is my friend. I've never felt competition with him. I've only felt a great deal of friendship and support from him and for him. We don’t wager. We don’t bet. We just look at each other and slap each other on the back and wish each other the best because he's a friend.

On why people connect to this film: Alexander Payne knows how to tell a story. It's a coming-of-age film for a 50-year-old. A lot of us have dealt with issues or people like that. I have people coming up to me all the time. I think it touches a lot of people like that.

On Ryan Gosling being a no-show: He's in Thailand or something, and you know what you do in Thailand. He wrote me a nice email this morning and I found out that he wasn’t able to be here. It happens, you gotta work. He's gotta make a living, he's a struggling actor.

On adopting dogs: I've always had dogs. I've almost always had them out of the pound. Seems like a good place. They have a lot of them. It brings me a lot of joy to do it and they seem like the happiest dogs in the game. I only have one, but he eats for, like, four.

On the honor of being nominated: Both of these films [The Ides of March and The Descendants] being nominated, was three years of work and three years of things that mattered to me. What I really remember and what I do this for is filmmaking. I love being a part of film. I know film history. In 1976 there was All the President's Men, Bound for Glory, Network, Taxi Driver and there was Rocky, which won. But I remember all five of those films. The acknowledgement is unbelievably nice and complimentary, but that’s not why I do it.

Memorable moments from tonight's Globes: Here’s two moments that really struck me: I am in awe of Sidney Poitier. When he walks out on stage and he’s there to present, and he gets the longest standing ovation, earned, I found that to be very emotional to everyone in the audience. And the other is Jane Fonda in that dress. My god. She looked great, didn’t she?

On Ricky's hosting: I thought he did a great job. I think tonight was a much tougher gig because there's so much build-up to it. It's almost like how rough can you go at that point. I thought he handled tonight like a proper good host, again. It was fun. People were expecting a lot of trash talk. He did what he does, and he does it well. He makes me laugh.

On Mitt Romney's anti-gay stance: Well I’m not much concerned until there is an actual nominee, but I think it’s the wrong side of history. I think everyone understand it's the last leg of the civil rights issue. It's certainly not the wedge issue it was in 2004.

Funny Men Spice Up Critics' Choice

Tara Sharp — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:12:21 PST

We always love the classic hotties who make the award show rounds, but don't forget about the guys who aren't just good looking, they're hilarious. And let's face it, sometimes what a guy lacks in looks, he makes up for in sense of humor! Comedians Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel are hosting the Critics' Choice Awards tonight, but they aren't the only funnymen hitting the show's red carpet. See the actors who make us laugh, and swoon in the process, now!

Real Talk With TV Broke Girl Beth Behrs

LearnVest — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:59:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Since when is being broke funny?

Since CBS released its new sitcom 2 Broke Girls, in which actress Beth Behrs plays a recently humbled heiress, Caroline, who moves to Brooklyn to hide out after her father loses their family fortune in a Ponzi scheme.

Caroline winds up living with her perpetually poor fellow waitress, Max, played by Kat Dennings, and the two hatch a plan to save their wages and start a cupcake business.

Recession-era cupcake businesses have been all the rage lately (see: Bridesmaids), but shows addressing personal finances - or lack thereof - with humor and honesty is something we don’t see very often. Caroline and Max manage to plan for their future while hustling for their present - and survive on a shoestring with admirable grace. We love that these characters live richly, even on a tight salary: After all, that's what LearnVest is all about.

And, of course, any show where the leading ladies discuss interest rates is right up our alley.

Check out our exclusive talk with Behrs on her penny-pinching past, her first pair of Louboutins - and why she still chooses to live with a roommate in real life. It turns out that we can learn something from celebs about money.

LearnVest: As a 26-year-old in Hollywood, how much of Caroline and Max’s financial struggle can you relate to?

Beth Behrs: Literally up until we shot the pilot, I was working as a nanny five days a week and then as a bartender and concierge at The Geffen Playhouse on the weekends. So, I can definitely relate to being broke, right out of college and working tons of odd jobs to just pay the rent.

Real-life waitress stories and more from Behrs.

25 Truly Wacky White Elephant Gifts

BellaSugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:00:05 PST

Are you familiar with the "white elephant" gift exchange? It's a veritable tchotchke swap. The premise is that you show up with one totally useless wacky gift, draw numbers to see who goes first, and then let the opening begin. As subsequent participants unwrap their gifts, they can steal away the other's newly acquired goods. (I once obtained one of those sad-looking Charlie Brown Christmas trees this way. Score.) Do you have a white elephant party coming up, or perhaps you merely have friends with goofy senses of humor? Then let the gag gifting begin.

Charlize Theron Talks Stuart, Kristen Stewart, and More in Vogue

Allie Merriam — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:19:24 PST

Charlize Theron wore a stunning silver gown for the cover of December 2011's Vogue, which will be available in the US on Nov. 22. The actress is out and about chatting up her upcoming movie Young Adult, which is the second collaboration from Juno writer and director Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman. Charlize spoke about working with Jason shortly after splitting from her boyfriend of 10 years Stuart Townsend. She reflected on what it's like being single for the first time in her adult life, and how she's now throwing herself back into work. Another of her projects hitting theaters in the coming year is Snow White and the Huntsman with Kristen Stewart, who Charlize raves about as well. Charlize said:

On making Young Adult after her split from Stuart Townsend: "I’d gotten out of a relationship, and I was in this really floaty place. My feet weren’t touching the ground. I just kind of turned to [Jason Reitman] and was like, ‘I feel like me again.’. . . [The relationship] was sinking, and I had to give it a fight. I really wanted to try and make it work. That was the priority. I wouldn’t do it any different way."
On finally being single: "I’ve never been single. This is the first time in my life. From the time I was 19, I’ve been in relationships, literally gone from one to the other within a month. . . . It’s been good for me. I’m a creature who’s really found her comfort zone in relationships. . . . It’s been nice to rediscover myself. I had to make a real conscious effort to do it - it’s hard. It’s much easier to lose yourself in flowers and cigarettes and coffee with somebody else."
On her Snow White costar Kristen Stewart: “She just turned 21. She’s a child. When I think about myself at 21, I had just done The Devil’s Advocate, and Keanu [Reeves] had paparazzi following him and Al Pacino said this thing to me: ‘If I knew that my life would be under this kind of scrutiny, I would have never become an actor.’ ” And I thought, Wow. I couldn’t comprehend it. . . . And Kristen is just living this to the max and still has a sense of humor about it. There’s this really lovely quality about her that just doesn’t give a f*ck. A lot of people say they don’t, but then they go home and cry and pop a Xanax. Kristen actually doesn’t give a f*ck. That’s what’s so refreshing about her. . . . I’m looking forward to killing her and taking her beauty. That’s what happens, right?"

Snooki Wants You to Know Her Perfume Is Real, Also Wants Your Booze

Miriam Lacey — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:56:25 PST

Yes, Snooki actually does have an eponymous perfume out right now, but this "commercial" she made with Funny or Die is better than any real ad could hope to be. There's chess, melodrama, fancy Champagne, constantly falling monocles, and at least one delicious dill pickle. It's a little slow to start, but the last 30 seconds or so are hilarious, especially if you're a longtime Jersey Shore follower.

It's always nice to see a celebrity who has a sense of humor about herself, and Snooki is such a good sport that it's hard not to like her. Whether you're a fan of celebrity fragrance or not, you have to admit that Snooki (the perfume) just got a whole lot more appealing. If this spot is any indication, a lot of people are going to be getting some in their stockings this holiday season.

Kris Jenner Laughs Along With Us at SNL Kardashian Spoof

Tara Sharp — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:25:00 PST

This weekend Saturday Night Live aired a skit poking fun at Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries's divorce, which occurred after 72 days of marriage and just weeks after their much hyped televised wedding special. SNL's "Kardashian Divorce Special" features Nasim Pedrad as Kim and Kristen Wiig, who hilariously played Kris Jenner.

Despite the unflattering portrayal of herself as the cool mom trying to fit in with her daughters (not to mention the subject matter centering around Kim's divorce), Kris was a good sport about the skit. Kris told Access Hollywood it was "probably one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life." She added, "I hate to admit it, but they had me spot on. I tell my kids, 'Don't take yourself too seriously.' We have a good sense of humor about ourselves and we were laughing right along with them. It was great."

Watch the "Kardashian Divorce Special" now!

Group Therapy: How Do I Get My Best Friend and Boyfriend to Like Each Other?

Tres Community — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:05:00 PDT

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our TrèsSugar Community. Add your advice in the comments!

My boyfriend and I had an argument, and broke up for a little while. As a girl, I go to my friends when I'm trying to make sense of and get over a breakup. I went to one of my best friends, who has only met my boyfriend twice, and I thought we had a lot of fun both times. She told me that she never liked my boyfriend; that he seemed immature and his sense of humor was too vulgar (judging from his Facebook). That was something that never really annoyed me about him. However, at the time, it made me feel better to know she didn't like him, because I was trying to get over him. He contacted me a few days later and said he wanted to try again, and that he made a mistake and his anger had taken over during our argument. When we talked, he asked who I talked to about the breakup, and what their opinions were. Stupidly, I told him that this particular friend never really liked him.

I took a few days to really think about what I had done wrong in our relationship before, and we have decided to start over. Things are great - I am spending more time with my friends and family, working out, and doing things I never let myself do in the relationship before. We are getting along so well and taking things slow. The problem though, is that now that my boyfriend knows that my friend never liked him, he doesn't want to hang out with her and her boyfriend. We had always planned to go out or go on a double date again, but hadn't gotten around to it. My boyfriend never had a problem with her, but feels like he can't be around her now. How can I help him to feel comfortable around her again, and how can I make her see that he IS good for me?

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously to Group Therapy for advice, and check out what else is happening in the TrèsSugar Community.

Isaac Mizrahi Set to Launch Shoes, Bags, and Jewelry

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:35:29 PDT

Isaac Mizrahi is known for his effortless, quintessential American style, and the latest news flash is giving us even more reason to love him. Launching Fall '12, the brand will expand its line with shoes, bags, small leather goods, watches, and jewelry all priced from $38 to $348. Mizrahi's footwear collection, is set to kick off the launch into accessories. “To us, Isaac Mizrahi is a great American designer, and we love his sense of humor, and the fact that he’s timeless but still very modern. I love his pretty and polished aesthetic, and there’s some great things we can do with his footwear,” said Marc Fisher Footwear's president Susan Itzkowitz, Mizrahi's footwear licensee. Details are still under wraps, but we're hoping to see some cute footwear to go with the brand's fun, polished ladylike clothing.