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Viral Video: Arnold Gets Taiwanesed (And Probably Deserves It)

Kara Swisher in Media on May 18, 2011 at 12:31 am PT

Former California Governor and Hollywood action star Arnold Schwarzenegger got the CGI treatment from Next Media Animation, which should come as a surprise to exactly no one.

Viral Video: RIP Elizabeth Taylor

Kara Swisher in News on March 25, 2011 at 1:00 am PT

Of all the many entertainers in Hollywood, none was more authentically a star than screen legend Elizabeth Taylor. Ailing in recent years, it’s too easy to forget what a global sensation she was, in the days well before celebrities had the Internet and other digital means to become well known. Taylor needed none of that to shine.

You've Got Arianna: AOL Buys Huffington Post for $315 Million in Cash and Stock, Appoints Huffington Editor in Chief

Kara Swisher in News on February 6, 2011 at 9:01 pm PT

In a bold and definitive move, AOL is paying $315 million, mostly in cash, to buy the Huffington Post, one of the Web’s most prominent news and opinion sites. As part of the deal, Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington–who was derided by some when she co-founded the left-leaning site in 2005 with investor and well-known communications exec Kenneth Lerer–will become editor in chief of a new unit that has purview over all of AOL content properties. The deal was signed just this afternoon.

Apple's Jobs Tops BoomTown's 10 Most Fascinating Techies in 2010 Survey

Kara Swisher in News on January 3, 2011 at 8:02 am PT

Of course, he won. Dominating tech’s mindshare and press coverage in 2010, Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs also handily took the No. 1 slot of a reader poll conducted by BoomTown in the last days of year. No one else even came close.

Viral Video: "Fast Five" Trailer Debuts on Vin Diesel's Facebook Fan Page

Kara Swisher in News on December 16, 2010 at 12:30 am PT

There are certainly a lot of movie trailers on the Web, but this one made its first appearance on the Facebook fan page of its meaty star. That would be action star Vin Diesel, who is the star of the “Fast and Furious” car thief series and has–no, really, including BoomTown–20 million fans on the social networking site.

Viral Video: CollegeHumor's Move From "Viral One-Offs" to Web Series

Kara Swisher in News on October 14, 2010 at 12:10 am PT

The national broadcast networks aren’t the only ones debuting a fall series season. CollegeHumor Media, the online comedy video site, is also trying out three longer-term, weekly series rather than the more typical “viral one-offs,” it said. Many have tried and failed, so it will be interesting to see this effort.

A Media Non-Move: ESPN.com Star Bill Simmons Stays Put

Peter Kafka in Media on October 11, 2010 at 12:19 pm PT

Here’s a variation on the “old media star bails for new media outlet” story–a new media star staying put at the place that made him famous.

How to Cram Most of the Web Into One Super Bowl Ad–And Not Sell TVs

Peter Kafka in Media on February 8, 2010 at 4:00 am PT

Google got a second ad for free last night: A Vizio ad that promoted YouTube, along with a slew of other Web services. But the ad did a lousy job of promoting the company’s Internet-connected TVs. Pity, because it actually has something cool to pitch.

Bill Gates Follows Ashley Tisdale on Twitter–Geeks, It's Time to Meet Sharpay!

Kara Swisher in News on January 20, 2010 at 7:04 am PT

Yesterday, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates finally started using Twitter, launching a verified account on the microblogging service and using the moniker @billgates. While BoomTown is thrilled to be selected by the tech legend as one of the 40 accounts he is following so far, I was far more excited that “High School Musical” star Ashley Tisdale was also among the chosen few. Yes, you read it right, Sharpay is totally in with the King of all Geeks.