Before They Were Famous

The homecoming king. The cheerleader. The CIA intern? You may be surprised to find out what some celebrities were up to in high school and college.

Top 12 TV's Biggest Turkeys

In an industry propped up by hits, the programming landscape is typically dominated by misses. Roughly 80% of all new shows fail; about a third of this year's freshman crop won't even make it past January. Figures like these have driven many to question network television's costly model, but none to actually alter it. And so it goes, another season of turkeys, as we've affectionately dubbed the shows that have already gotten the ax or are dangerously close to it.

Fox's Lone Star

Status: Done
The heavily marketed show about a big oil conman leading dual lives had the benefit of critical acclaim. Everything from the soapy series' out-of-the-box premise to its breakout leading man, James Wolk, garnered praise from early reviewers. But it wasn't enough to lure viewers. Some blame the show's unforgivable plot lines about cons and adultery; others blame its hard-to-define premise and hardly explanatory title. Whatever the reason, only 4 million or so tuned in, making it the fall season's first casualty.

ABC's My Generation

Status: Done
A documentary-style drama about nine people told in two time periods, the year 2000 and today. As show-runner Noah Hawley described it in his post-cancellation love letter to the show's loyal fan base: "No doctors, no lawyers, no murders to solve. Real life is dramatic enough. That was my feeling. … It was our great experiment, and then it was over." The end came when only 4 million or so tuned in, despite a plum Thursday night slot and a costly--albeit confusing--marketing campaign. Though the series was canceled after just two episodes, Hawley has completed eight episodes for release online.

NBC's Outlaw

Status: Done
Fans may chalk up Outlaw's early demise to the show's Conan O'Brien association. After all, it was the displaced NBC host's company that produced the Jimmy Smits legal series for the network. The reality: The series struggled on multiple fronts. Critics bemoaned its improbable plot lines and poor writing, and viewers lacked interest. The drama averaged some 4 million viewers in its original Friday night slot, and its cancellation was announced after just four episodes. (The four remaining episodes aired in a Saturday night timeslot.)

ABC's Whole Truth

Status: Done
Despite heavyweight Jerry Bruckheimer's involvement, a leading lady in ER darling Maura Tierney and a cushy Wednesday evening timeslot, the legal drama failure to pique the curiosity of viewers. Thus far this season, the Tierney star vehicle has averaged only 4.3 million viewers, reports Nielsen. Co-executive producer Kristie Anne Reed confirmed the show's cancellation in late October: "ABC gave us the word," she tweeted. "We will only make 13 episodes of The Whole Truth."

NBC's Undercovers

Status: Done
For those who think networks are incapable of--or at least uninterested in--canceling a J.J. Abrams show, think again. The latest high-concept drama from the famed producer-director featured a pair of retired, married spies who were lured back to the world of international intrigue. But viewers lacked the latter. According to Nielsen, the show averaged only 6 million or so viewers and will end its run after 13 episodes.

Fox's Running Wilde

Status: Over
Despite heavy hype and an all-star pairing of Mitch Hurwitz and Will Arnett, the duo that brought viewers cult hit Arrested Development has once again failed to snag an adequately sized audience. The difference this time around is a lack of widespread critical support for the ratings-starved comedy, which has averaged about 3.5 million viewers this season. Hardly a vote of confidence: Fox benched the series for the remainder of November sweeps. (Fox pulled Arrested during the similarly important February sweeps six years earlier, and it petered out in the months that followed.) Though no network likes to throw around the term "canceled," Fox has opted against ordering more episodes.

NBC's Chase

Status: Limping Along
Though the Jerry Bruckheimer series received a full 22-episode order, it has fallen short of CSI status. While not outright nasty, early reviews were far from winning--critics called the formulaic show "mindless" and "unimaginative." Still worse, only some 5 million viewers have regularly tuned in for episodes of the action series the network had hoped to make a tent-pole.

NBC's The Event

Status: Shedding Viewers
At this rate, viewers may not get to find out what "the event" is, much less care. In spite of its heavy hype from marketers and critics alike, the network's high-concept, serialized drama billed by some as Lost meets 24 came out of the gate strong, only to fizzle in the weeks that followed. Recent episodes have averaged fewer than 6 million viewers, down from 11 million-plus on premiere night, reports Nielsen. Earlier this month, the network announced plans to yank the series for three months beginning in December.

CBS's Medium

Status: Over
After seven seasons, two network homes, several awards, even more cancellation threats and a $58 million write down, the show's star Patricia Arquette announced the CBS drama would end its run. It will feel like déjà vu for long-time viewers, since former chief Ben Silverman once canceled it on NBC, where it had run until 2005. Given the strength of CBS' schedule, the 6 or 7 million viewers who regularly watch Medium aren't as appealing--and for that matter, necessary-- as they'd likely be at a lesser-watched rival.

CW's Life Unexpected

Status: Over
Despite early critical praise, the CW series failed to generate either the pop cultural attention of Gossip Girl or the ratings success of The Vampire Diaries. Instead, the Portland-based drama about a foster child who has reconnected with her birth parents has averaged about 1.5 million viewers an episode in its second season. Though an official announcement won't come until May, Lux's season has been cut to just 13 episodes and its future is far from bright.

NBC's Apprentice

Status: Limping Along
The network's decision to bring back the civilian version of Apprentice has proved a questionable one. The Donald Trump star vehicle, which once made a catch phrase out of "You're Fired," is lacking in buzz and viewership. In recent weeks, the show's audience hovered around 4 million. The 10 p.m. hour it currently occupies on Thursday evenings will be filled by a third hour of comedy come January. The good news for The Donald and his host network: The more popular celebrity iteration will return this spring.

NBC's Parenthood

Status: Limping along
Despite an all-star cast in front of the camera (Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Dax Shepard) and behind (Friday Night Lights' Jason Katims), the series based on the late 1980s flick of the same name has struggled to find an audience. Its lackluster ratings followed a particularly rocky start care of a cancer-stricken cast member and an unrelated death on set. NBC will attempt to give the series another push with a new timeslot early next year.

10 Most Luxury Apartments in US

If a big discount is one sign of a good deal, then New York is a bargain-hunter's paradise — for luxury apartments, anyway.

New York

778 Park Ave., No. 15/16

• List price: $24.9 million
• Previous list price: $46 million in May 2008
• Reduced: $21.1 million
• Price cut: 45.9%

This duplex apartment was the residence of the late philanthropist Brooke Astor. It occupies the entire 16th floor and part of the building's 15th floor and has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and one half-bath.
Corcoran listed the unit for $46 million in May 2008. Stribling & Associates relisted it in February 2009 for $29 million and then for $24.9 million in August 2009, according to StreetEasy.com. Architect Rosario Candela designed the building in 1931.

New York

812 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $15.9 million
• Previous list price: $36.5 million in November 2007
• Reduced: $20.6 million
• Price cut: 56.4%

This 6,500-square-foot triplex penthouse is on the 13th, 14th and 15th floors of a pre-World War II cooperative on Park Avenue. Sotheby's International Realty listed it for $36.5 million in November 2007, and Brown Harris Stevens listed it in June 2009 for $22 million.
Architect James Carpenter won an award from the American Institute of Architects' New York chapter for his work on this building in 1927, according to Corcoran.

New York

740 Park Ave., No. 4/5C

• List price: $26 million
• Previous list price: $35 million in August 2008
• Reduced: $9 million
• Price cut: 25.7%

This 6,700-square-foot duplex has four bedrooms with walk-in closets and en suite marble bathrooms, in addition to a laundry room, staff rooms, a private elevator landing and a marble gallery.
Sotheby's International Realty listed the property on StreetEasy.com for $35 million in August 2008 and reduced the price to $26 million in January 2009. The building, designed by architect Rosario Candela, also has been home to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and John D. Rockefeller Jr.

Las Vegas

1 Hughes Center Drive, No. 1901

• List price: $11.7 million
• Previous list price: $20 million in January 2008
• Reduced: $8.3 million
• Price cut: 41.5%

This two-story penthouse in the Park Towers was listed by Prudential at $20 million in 2008 before being relisted for $15 million in 2009, according to Zillow.com. The price was cut to $13.2 million in February 2010 and then to $11.7 million in September, according to Zillow.com.

New York

610 Park Ave., penthouse

• List price: $25.8 million
• Previous list price: $32.8 million in March
• Reduced: $7 million
• Price cut: 21.3%

This duplex penthouse has 7,700 square feet of living and entertaining space and 1,450 square feet of roof terrace. It features five bedrooms, a maid's room and a solarium. According to StreetEasy.com, Corcoran listed the unit for $32.8 million in March, reduced the price to $29.8 million in May and cut it again to $25.8 million in September.
The building, formerly the Mayfair Hotel, was converted into luxury condos by Donald Trump in 1998, according to Observer.com.

Los Angeles

1 West Century Drive, No. 34A

• List price: $8 million
• Previous list price: $14.3 million in June
• Reduced: $6.3 million
• Price cut: 44.1%

This 4,497-square-foot condo in the new Century residential tower has four bedrooms, five full bathrooms and a half-bath. Prices for units in the Century, which New York-based developer Related Cos. built, have dropped 10% to 25% across the board, according to Curbed.com.

Las Vegas

2777 Paradise Road, No. 3801/3901

• List price: $10 million
• Previous list price: $16 million in January 2009
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 37.5%

This penthouse offers more than 12,000 square feet of living space, including more than 3,000 square feet of wraparound terraces that provide a view of the Las Vegas Strip. The unit has five bedrooms and nine bathrooms and a dining room with a vaulted ceiling, according to Prudential. Florida-based developer Thurnberry Associates built the property.

Miami Beach, Fla.

800 S. Pointe Drive, PH-A

• List price: $16 million
• Previous list price: $22 million in 2008
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 27.3%

This new luxury condo development, named Apogee, was built by Miami-based developer The Related Group in 2008. The penthouse, which first listed for $22 million in 2008, occupies the top two floors of the building, with 11,000 square feet of terrace and balcony. The rooftop has a private pool and built-in kitchen.

New York

43 Fifth Ave., fifth floor

• List price: $19 million
• Previous list price: $25 million in January
• Reduced: $6 million
• Price cut: 24%

Features in this apartment include 10.5-foot ceilings, bay windows overlooking the Gothic Revival First Presbyterian Church, intricate molding, wainscoting and dark-stained white oak flooring. It has five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms.
It was listed on Trulia.com by Anne Weintraub in January for $25 million and reduced to $19 million in April. The building, built in 1903 and converted to a cooperative in 1978, according to Cityrealty.com, was once home to actor Marlon Brando.

New York

770 Park Ave., No. 8D

• List price: $11 million
• Previous list price: $16.8 million in May 2008
• Reduced: $5.8 million
• Price cut: 34.5%

This renovated, four-bedroom apartment receives light through 28 windows spanning four exposures. It was listed for $16.8 million by Brown Harris Stevens in May 2008 and reduced to $11 million in October 2009, according to StreetEasy. The 18-story building was designed by Rosario Candela in 1930 in an H-shape to maximize light and air, according to the book "New York 1930, Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars."

How to Fix 10 Common Thanksgiving Problems

If your turkey is still frozen, you'll defrost the bird faster by soaking it in a cold bath.

The Turkey Is Still Frozen

It’s 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Dinner is at 2 p.m. And the turkey, which has been thawing for days in the refrigerator, still feels frozen solid.

Solution
Give the bird a cold bath. Water is a much better conductor of heat than air in the refrigerator, so this method works faster, says Robert L. Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of What Einstein Told His Cook 2 ($26, amazon.com). Fill a large bucket or the kitchen sink with cool water and plunge the bird in, in the original wrapper, breast-side down.

To Baste or Not to Baste?

You want to put the bird in the oven and forget about it. Your husband wants to baste it at every commercial break.

Solution
It depends on your priorities. “Basting is purely a skin treatment,” says Wolke. Its only purpose is to facilitate browning and crisping. He adds that rubbing the turkey generously with oil or butter before you put it in the oven will do the job almost as well. (But be sure to pat the bird completely dry first; if the skin is wet, the fat won’t adhere.)

You Can’t Tell if the Turkey Is Done

The drumsticks wiggle. The juices run clear. But you’re still not sure if the turkey is ready.

Solution
Take its temperature. “You need a thermometer for dependable accuracy,” says Moulton. Insert one―oven-safe or instant-read―in several places, being careful not to allow the tip to touch bone.

According to the USDA, turkey is cooked through when the internal temperature of a thigh reaches 180° F. (When gauging doneness, keep in mind that the meat continues to cook―and subsequently rises a few degrees―even after it comes out of the oven.)

The Turkey Needs to Be Transferred

You need to deftly shift a hot, dripping, unwieldy turkey from roasting pan to carving board without…oops!

Solution
Ask yourself, Modern gadgetry or old-fashioned ingenuity? There are a number of products designed to minimize the awkwardness, from pricey (and iffy) turkey transport forks to extremely reliable roasting racks.

For a homespun alternative, scrunch up paper towels or aluminum foil in each hand as a buffer between hot bird and fingers, suggests Pam Anderson, author of Perfect Recipes for Having People Over ($35, amazon.com). Some home cooks prefer heavy-duty cleaning gloves. Others use oven mitts that are ready for the rag pile. Engineering types fashion a turkey hammock out of kitchen string and place it in the pan under the raw bird. Or you can simply reach for a couple of sturdy wooden spoons, indelicately insert one into each end of the bird, and let your steady hands guide the way.

The Turkey Has Gone Cold

By the time you allow the bird its prescribed resting period, it’s no longer warm.

Solution
Work around it. Before you slice, turkey requires at least 20 minutes to rest and allow the juices to redistribute. The laws of physics stipulate that the meat will―inevitably―cool. Anderson points out that hot gravy and side dishes can go a long way toward solving the problem. Warming the serving dishes and plates helps, too. Run them under very hot water and dry them just before dinner.

No Room on the Stove or in the Oven

You have all those side dishes to cook―and nowhere to cook them.

Solution
Plan ahead. “Obviously you can’t bake eight different things at eight different temperatures at the same time,” says Francine Maroukian, a former caterer and the author of Chef's Secrets ($17, amazon.com). You have to solve that problem when you’re creating the menu, not while you’re cooking it, she says. First, write up a list of all the things you’d like to make, then evaluate the number of burners and your oven space.

Flavorless Gravy

Your lumpless gravy glistens. Hurrah! But it has no flavor. Sigh.

Solution
Reach for a couple of common kitchen vices. A splash of fortified alcohol―Madeira, sherry, port―will lend a mellow richness to your gravy. And lots of salt (and freshly ground black pepper, if desired) will emphasize whatever flavor your gravy already claims.

To ensure a better gravy next time, boost the flavor of the pan drippings by strewing thickly sliced carrots, onions, and celery in the pan beneath the raw bird, suggests Anderson. Add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan and, while the turkey roasts, the vegetables will caramelize, lending a depth of flavor to the drippings. Strain and discard the vegetables, or puree them and stir them into the gravy for a thick, sweet sauce. From-scratch turkey stock also prevents bland gravy. You can make and freeze the stock weeks in advance if you use turkey wings, which are available at most meat counters during the holiday season.

You Can’t Seem to Delegate Tasks

Several guests have offered to help. But with all burners running, you don’t know where to begin to delegate. Sometimes, you think, it’s easier to do everything yourself.

Solution
Be prepared with a list of noncooking tasks, and make sure everything required is in plain sight. Someone else can easily deal with drinks, opening the wine while you bring the turkey to the table, or making coffee while you clear the dishes. Appoint a sheepdog to herd everyone to the table, and give a five-minute warning that you’re serving hot food, since a couple of guests always seem to straggle.

And when everything really is covered, ask if you can take a rain check on help until cleanup time.

All Those Dirty Pots and Pans Waiting for You

You’d rather linger at the table than face the mess in the kitchen, even if that means hearing your mother explain―yet again―what hairstyle she finds most flattering on you.

Solution
Don’t save all the cleaning for after the meal. If you sit down to dinner with the roasting pan soaking in the sink, you’re doomed. But by making some recipes early in the day, you’ll have time in between dishes to clean. Even if you don’t make anything in advance, stop and wash something every half hour or so. Most important, get the bulky items―the roasting pan, the pot you made the mashed potatoes in―out of the way before you eat. That way, says Anderson, “when the meal is over, all you’ve got is the basic dishes.”

If you have a cleanup crew, designate a runner to bring in the dishes, a second person to transfer leftovers to containers, and a third to do the cleanup. (And be prepared with aprons, rubber gloves, and dish towels.)

Hollywood's Biggest Turkeys Of 2010

2010 is shaping up to be a strong year at the movies with the box office on pace to be the highest ever. But there have still been plenty of bombs. To compile our list of the biggest turkeys of 2010, we compared global box office with each film's estimated budget to come up with a percentage of the budget each film earned back. They are ranked from the worst up.

Jonah Hex

Box Office: $11 million
Return Ratio: 24%
For years now studios have salivated over comic book adaptations, and the dark Jonah Hex seemed like a good bet for Warner Bros. The story of a vengeful, disfigured Old West bounty hunter had been a hit comic but it didn't fare so well when adapted for the screen. It earns the dubious title of the worst performing film of 2010 (to date).

Extraordinary Measures

Box Office: $15 million
Return Ratio: 48%
The sappy tale of a tough old doctor out to help a father with two sick young children had movie-of-the-week stink despite the presence of Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser. Audiences stayed away in droves. The film was one of the first from CBS' new film production division. The company is still waiting for a hit.

Repo Men

Box Office: $32 million
Return Ratio: 56%
This futuristic thriller from Universal Pictures starred Jude Law as a repo man who takes back human organs. Audiences and critics failed to see the heart in the film. It earned a mere 22 rating on Rotten Tomatoes and only $32 million at the global box office. Lucky for Law his previous film, Sherlock Holmes, was the best performing of his career.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Box Office: $60 million
Return Ration: 77%
Scott Pilgrim came out of this year's Comic-Con with maximum buzz, and fanboys like Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles raved about the film. Most mainstream critics liked it too. But audiences weren't interested. The film failed to even earn back its production budget at the box office. Director Edgar Wright has yet to commit to his next directing project.

Let Me In

Box Office: $20 million
Return Ratio: 85%
The Swedish vampire flick Let The Right One In was the kind of cult hit that begs for an American remake. So expectations were high for Let Me In, which starred up-and-comer Chloe Moretz. Sadly, the movie died a quick death in theaters, earning only $20 million globally. That's still double what the original film earned, but Let Me In had a higher production budget.

Splice

Box Office: $25 million
Return Ratio: 85%
Splice is the kind of genre horror flick that could have offered a nice return for Warner Bros. studio. It involved two scientists toying with DNA with dangerous results. But the $30 million film failed to connect with horror fans. It earned only $25 million at the box office despite the presence of Oscar winner Adrien Brody.

MacGruber

Box Office: $9.3 million
Return Ratio: 93%
Movies based on Saturday Night Live skits usually perform poorly at the box office. MacGruber was no exception. The comedy, about an inept MacGyver-esque agent, earned a paltry $9.3 million at the global box office (less than $1 million of which came from overseas). The only reason this film doesn't rank higher on our list is because it cost only $10 million to make.

Green Zone

Box Office: $95 million
Return Ratio: 95%
Matt Damon films can do very well. His three Jason Bourne movies have earned almost $1 billion at the global box office. But like any star, Damon has had his share of flops. Green Zone reunited Damon with Bourne director Paul Greengrass but failed to turn a profit at the box office.

Furry Vengeance

Box Office: $35 million
Return Ratio: 100%
Participant Media (started by eBay's Jeff Skoll) is best known for message films like An Inconvenient Truth and Food, Inc. The family comedy Furry Vengeance had a not-so-subtle message about the environment. An evil developer, played by Brendan Fraser (making his second appearance on our list) is attacked by forest animals when he tries to destroy their habitat.

From Paris with Love

Box Office: $52 million
Return Ratio: 100%
Starring John Travolta as a wild American secret agent, this is the kind of movie that should have enjoyed a nice profit had it been made on the cheap. Instead the film cost a reported $52 million. That means it earned its production budget at the box office, but with half of that money going to theater owners and advertising costs not included, the film was a dud.

Charlie St. Cloud

Box Office: $44 million
Return Ratio: 100%
Zac Efron has helped Disney earn billions with the High School Musical franchise. But when the actor branched out for a more serious film about a young man grieving over his dead brother, his young fans mostly stayed away. Charlie St. Cloud only earned its production budget at the global box office.

Edge of Darkness

Box Office: $81 million
Return Ratio: 100%
Edge of Darkness was meant to be a comeback of sorts for Mel Gibson after his drunken D.U.I. rant that hurt his career. Unfortunately for Gibson it was something of a bomb. His personal brand crashed even more when his girlfriend publicized phone tapes of Gibson (allegedly) threatening her. His next film, The Beaver, has yet to secure a U.S. release date.

Thanksgiving Holiday Travel

 Over the hill, through the woods and past the body scanners and the security checkpoints en route to Grandma's house this holiday season. Thanksgiving cooking

It's all about the cooking on thank-the-turkey day. Now, about that gravy …

To be thankful

Take a minute -- OK maybe five -- to consider the blessings that surround you.

Family at the holidays

Before the homemade chow, there's the meet-and-greet with the relatives standing by Grandma's fireplace. Some conversation starters.

Giving to the merchants

After all the holiday leftovers have been subdivided, it's time for some tactical planning. Now, where are the sale fliers with store layouts?

Maintaining your figure

After you went to all that trouble to shed those pounds, the holidays arrive and with them the "Seasonal Seven."

Acts of service

People often find that saying the words of thanksgiving isn't enough, and they feel the need to act on that conviction.

Thanksgiving table

This year, just do it. Get beyond a pop-up turkey centerpiece and questions about your cousin's fifth husband, and there's no need to arm-wrestle over the electric carver.

Thanksgiving entertainment

Thanksgiving is more than just turkey. Some of the trimmings include old flicks, trivia quizzes and, of course, parades. Did someone say "Miracle on 34th Street"

History of Thanksgiving

A survival guide wouldn't be complete without a recap of how all this Thanksgiving stuff got started.