Robert Hegyes Remembered.

Something a little different here.  Back in January the TV world lost one of it's most beloved characters, Juan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein.  Epstein passed away at the age of 60 from a heart attack.  We here at The Slab want to celebrate a truly funny person.  He wasn't given his rightful induction, but now?  That is not the case.  Sit back and enjoy....EPSTEIN!!!!


Epstein on God: "Y'know, I think God is kinda tough, y'know? But he's fair. Sorta like John Wayne in a white beard, y'know? 'All right, pilgrims, move those clouds in a circle.'" Also ... Epstein: I ain't goin' to class, man. I ain't never goin' to class. Kotter: Where you goin' then? Epstein: I don't know, uh, into the religious life. Kotter: Brother Epstein, huh? I can see the headlines: "Puerto Rican Jew enters monastery, becomes the first 'Schlamonk.'" Epstein on art. Kotter: Do I look like Miss Fishbeck, the art teacher? Epstein: Only around the moustache. Epstein on love. Horshack: A woman is a sometime thing. Epstein: She'll take your heart and give it a fling. Horshack: But when true love runs off its course ... Epstein: Then she'll sue you for divorce. They're all onto Epstein. Kotter: All right, Epstein, come on. Let's have it so we can get to work. Epstein: What? Kotter: One of your famous notes that'll read something like, "Please excuse Juan for being late. He was kidnapped by the jet set and left tied up on a lawn in Hyannis Port." Signed ... Sweathogs: Epstein's mother! Epstein on gambling. Epstein: Hey, I got an idea, listen to this. ISB. Kotter: ISB? Epstein: In-School Betting. Yeah. It's about time we get bettin' off the streets, into the school here, where it belongs! [Sweathogs cheer] Kotter: Are you kiddin'? I'll lay you 5-2 that'll never happen. Epstein on the burdens of flim-flammery. Epstein: Mr. Kotter, I got a note excusing my absenteeism. Kotter: "Dear Mr. Kotter. Please excuse Juan's abs- " Aren't you gonna read along? [Epstein shakes head no] "Please excuse Juan's absence. He was home sick with the stomach flu. Sincerely, Mrs. Epstein." Fine. That's okay, Juan. Your excuse is perfectly legitimate. Epstein: I know. That's the problem. It's the first legitimate excuse I've turned in in 11 years. Me, Juan Epstein, the flim-flam man of Buchanan High School, a legit excuse. What's the world comin' to? Rest in peace, Epstein/Hegyes, flim-flam man, philosopher, and gambler. Who knew you were such a Renaissance man? And now that I'm looking back at those episodes, Barbarino/Travolta may have been the class hottie, but you were adorable. That hair! I'll wear a red bandana in your honor today.

Ray Bradbury

6/6/2012

Science fiction legend Ray Bradbury -- author of "Fahrenheit 451" and "Something Wicked this Way Comes" -- has died.

According to reports, Ray passed away this morning in L.A. He was 91.

Among Ray's other works -- "The Illustrated Man" and "The Martian Chronicles." Much of his work has been adapted to TV and film.

Ray's grandson told io9.com, "If I had to make any statement, it would be how much I love and miss him ... He was the biggest kid I know."

Ray famously criticized technology and the modern age, opposing his own work's conversion into e-books, saying, "We have too many cell phones. We've got too many internets. We have got to get rid of those machines. We have too many machines now."

Ray's wife passed away in 2003. He is survived by his 4 daughters and grandchildren.                                                                           



Eduard Khil

06/04/2012

Eduard Khil, a Russian singer better known as "Mr. Trololo," died on Monday from complications of a stroke. He was 77.

Khil was hospitalized last month in St. Petersburg following a stroke that left him with severe brain damage, according to the Associated Press.

A popular but fading Soviet singing star, Khil rocketed to global stardom in 2010 when a Cold War-era video of his performance of Arkady Ostrovsky's 1966 "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home"—with Khil singing "trololo" instead of censored lyrics—became an Internet sensation.

The original lyrics—about an American cowboy riding across a prairie—didn't sit well with Soviet censors, so Khil changed them in the quirky, vocalized version.

The popularity of the 1976 video—which has garnered more than 14 million views on YouTub—led to an international tour for Khil, and inspired numerous parodies.

"From his grandson, he learned that T-shirts and mugs with his image had become available, and he joked that he never earned a kopeck from them," Mikhail Sadchikov, a Russian music critic, told the AP. "He was also very optimistic, positive and ironic at the same time."

Not surprisingly, Khil's name began trending Monday as news of his death spread. According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences.

до свидания comrad.  :(

Richard Dawson

6/2/2012

SURVEY SAYS!!!  

Richard Dawson, an actor and TV host best known for his work on the game show "Family Feud" and sitcom "Hogan's Heroes," has died from complications of esophageal cancer. He was 79.

The British-born actor died on Saturday at Ronald Reagan Memorial hospital in Los Angeles, his son Gary Dawson said on Sunday.

Dawson appeared on numerous TV shows in the 1960s, but it was his job as the emcee of "Family Feud" where his wit and charm served him best as he helped make the program a big hit of the 1970s.

"Feud," which debuted in 1976 with members of two different families competing against each other by trying to guess the results of survey questions, became a No. 1 U.S. daytime TV show for a time.

Over the years, "Feud" expanded into prime-time specials featuring top celebrities and made Dawson the highest-paid game show emcee of his day. It was canceled in 1985, but reborn in syndication. Various incarnations with different hosts have aired since then.

"He was loved by millions of Americans as a television icon, but loved even more as a husband, a father, and grandfather by his family," Gary Dawson wrote on his Facebook page.

Richard Dawson, whose given name was Colin Lionel Emm, was born on November 20, 1932, in Gosport, England. At age 14, he joined the merchant marines and served for three years. After his discharge, he worked as a stand-up comedian in London clubs including the legendary "Stork Room," where he met actress Diana Dors. She became his first wife in 1959.

Dawson soon transitioned from British comedian to Hollywood actor appearing on many top TV programs of the early 1960s, such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In."
His role as a military prisoner in the 1965 film "King Rat" led to TV's "Hogan's Heroes," about a band of allied POWs in a German camp who were constantly fooling their captors. Dawson portrayed Briton Peter Newkirk, who possessed a clever mind and a quick wit in the hit show that ran from 1965 to 1971.

When the program went off the air, Dawson began appearing as a celebrity panelist on a number of TV game shows, including the popular "Match Game," and those appearances eventually led to his hosting duties on "Family Feud."

Beyond TV, Dawson appeared in movies, including a co-starring role alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Stephen King sci-fi film "The Running Man." In 2000, Dawson retired.

At the height of his success on "Feud," he met contestant Gretchen Johnson, who would become his second wife. Dawson is survived by Johnson, two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.

             

This was one of my favorite shows.  And Dawson was the reason.  Say hello to Ray Combs when you're up there!

http://youtu.be/xStvfbIddM0

Robin Gibb

05/20/2010

Bee Gee Robin Gibb succumbed to a longtime struggle with liver cancer Sunday, a spokesperson confirmed. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was 62.

Sorry he's dead.  But his looks always creeped me out.  Guess it's true.  ANYONE in a band can get some! 

This is a real...wait for it.......TRAGEDY!   yea, yea. You knew it was coming, but it's still funny!



Donna Summer

05/17/2012

Legendary disco singer Donna Summer died Thursday after a battle with cancer, sources close to the singer confirmed to FoxNews.com. She was 63.
"Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith," family of the singer said in a statement.
"While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can't express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time."
Often called the Queen of Disco, Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on Dec. 31, 1948, in Boston. She began singing early in the church choir and by her teens had formed several musical groups.
Her sound was a mix of genres, and helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.
Her first album, "Lady of the Night," arrived in 1974 in Europe, and 1975's "Love to Love You Baby" brought her worldwide fame.
In the 1978 disco film "Thank God it's Friday," her song "Last Dance" won Summer her first Grammy.
Summer's soaring vocals on "She Works Hard for the Money" brought her a Best Pop Vocal Performance Award in 1984.
In the mid-1980s, Summer encountered controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments related to AIDS. She claimed she had been misquoted but not before thousands of her records were returned and dance clubs boycotted her music.
Summer holds the record for most consecutive double albums to hit number one on the Billboard charts (three) and was the first female to have four number one singles in a 12-month period: three as a solo artist and one as a duo with Barbra Streisand, CBS said.
She released her last album, "Crayons," in 2008. She also performed on "American Idol" that year with its top female contestants.

I'm going to boogie fever down to the disco shop and get me some platforms and bell-bottoms!

Donald "Duck" Dunn

05/13/2012

Donald "Duck" Dunn, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs and contributed to such classics as "In the Midnight Hour," ''Hold On I'm Coming" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," died Sunday at 70.

Dunn, whose legacy as one of the most respected session musicians in the business also included work with John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd's Blues Brothers as well as with Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and others, died while on tour in Tokyo.

News of his death was posted on the Facebook site of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour. Cropper said Dunn died in his sleep.

Dunn was born in Memphis, Tenn., in 1941, and according to the biography on his official website, was nicknamed for the cartoon character by his father.

His father, a candy maker, did not want his son to be a musician

"He thought I would become a drug addict and die. Most parents in those days thought music was a pastime, something you did as a hobby, not a profession," Dunn said.

But by the time Dunn was in high school, he was in a band, the Royal Spades, with Cropper, a group that would eventually become the Mar-Keys.

Cropper left the band to become a session player at Stax Records, the legendary Memphis-based record company that would become known for its gritty soul records and artists like Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes and the Staples Singers.

Soon, Dunn followed Cropper and joined the Stax house band, which would become Booker T. and the MGs. It included Booker T. Jones on organ and Al Jackson on drums and was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"I would have liked to have been on the road more, but the record company wanted us in the studio. Man, we were recording almost a hit a day for a while there," Dunn said.

The group had its heyday in the 1960s as backup for Stax artists such as Redding. Booker T. and the MGs had its own hits as well, including "Hang 'Em High," and "Soul-Limbo."

In the 1970s, the group's members drifted apart. Jackson was killed in Memphis in 1975 by an intruder in his home.

The remaining members had a brief reunion in 1979, but Cropper and Dunn would have a sustained reunion when they joined Ackroyd and Belushi's Blues Brothers band and appeared in the 1980 "Blues Brothers" movie.

"How could anybody not want to work with John and Dan? I was really kind of hesitant to do that show, but my wife talked me into it," Dunn said in a 2007 interview with Vintage Guitar magazine, "and other than Booker's band, that's the most fun band I've ever been in."

Dunn also did session work on recordings by Clapton, Young, Dylan, Rod Stewart, Sam and Dave and Stevie Nicks, according to his discography. He was on Redding's "Respect" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," Sam and Dave's "Hold On I'm Coming" and Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour."

Dunn once said that he and Cropper were "like married people."

"I can look at him and know what he'll order for dinner," he said. "When we play music together we both know where we're going."

Dunn received a lifetime achievement Grammy award in 2007 for his work with Booker T. and the MGs.

He is survived by his wife, June; a son, Jeff; and a grandchild, Michael, said Michael Leahy, Dunn's agent.

___

Vidal Sassoon

05/09/2012

Legendary hairstylist Vidal Sassoon has died, his Beverly Hills salon confirmed to ABC News today. He was 84.
Sassoon styled hair for seven decades. He pioneered a geometric haircut in the 1960s that came to be known as the new version of the classic bob cut, and famously chopped off Mia Farrow’s long hair for “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Born in London, Sassoon relocated to the U.S. where he sold his name to Procter & Gamble to manufacturer the Vidal Sassoon line of hair products. A 2010 documentary, “Vidal Sassoon: The Movie,” chronicled his life and career.
Sassoon remained true to his techniques, which he said took nine years to develop, and worked until his last days. In a 2011 interview with the New York Times, Sassoon said he appeased failed hair experiments with a catch phrase: “It’ll grow, darling. Come back and be my guest.”

No word on how he died.  But Benson Head And Shoulders is being held for questioning.

(oh yea. I know some football players died as well.  But who really cares about them?  didn't think so!)

George Lindsey

05/06/2012

George Lindsey, who spent nearly 30 years as the grinning Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," has died. He was 83.
A press release from Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville said Lindsay died early Sunday morning after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements were still being made.
Lindsey was the beanie-wearing Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1964 to 1968 and its successor, "Mayberry RFD," from 1968 to 1971. He played the same jovial character — a service station attendant — on "Hee Haw" from 1971 until it went out of production in 1993.
"America has grown up with me," Lindsey said in an Associated Press interview in 1985. "Goober is every man; everyone finds something to like about ol' Goober."

Goodbye Goob!



Adam Yauch

05/05/2012

Adam Yauch, one-third of the pioneering hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, has died at the age of 48, Rolling Stone has learned. Yauch, also known as MCA, had been in treatment for cancer since 2009. The rapper was diagnosed in 2009 after discovering a tumor in his salivary gland.

Yauch sat out the Beastie Boys' induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April, and his treatments delayed the release of the group's most recent album, Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2. The Beastie Boys had not performed live since the summer of 2009, and Yauch's illness prevented the group from appearing in music videos for Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.

Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys with Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz in 1979. The band started off as a hardcore punk group, but soon began experimenting with hip-hop. The band broke big with their first proper album, Licensed to Ill, in 1986, and further albums Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head and Ill Communication cemented the band as a true superstar act.

In addition to his career with the Beastie Boys, Yauch was heavily involved in the movement to free Tibet and co-organized the Tibetan Freedom Concerts of the late Nineties. In 2002, he launched the film production company Oscilloscope Laboratories.


NO SLEEP TILL........the morgue!

Greg Ham

04/19/2012

This one sucks. Men at Work was my first real band I ever got into. Yeah, yeah, whatever. Greg was a great musician and a good person. Here's the write up:

Greg Ham, a musician with the iconic Australian band Men at Work, was found dead in his Melbourne home on Thursday, Australian reports said.Victoria state police confirmed that the deceased was the 58-year-old resident of the house but did not identify him by name, in keeping with local practice. Ham was 58 and neighbors said he was the lone occupant of the house.Two concerned friends who had not heard from Ham in some time found the body after going to check on him, police said, declining to release any details on how Ham died or if the circumstances were suspicious."There are a number of unexplained aspects to it which has caused our attendance here today, and we're assisting the local detectives to determine what has occurred," Detective Senior Sergeant Shane O'Connell told reporters.Newspapers including The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Ham had died.Men at Work frontman Colin Hay issued a statement expressing a deep love for his longtime friend, whom he met in 1972 when they were seniors in high school. Hay recalled decades of shared experiences with Ham — from appearing on "Saturday Night Live," to flying through dust storms over the Grand Canyon, to getting lost in the rural Australian countryside."We played in a band and conquered the world together," Hay said. "I love him very much. He's a beautiful man. The saxophone solo on 'Who Can It Be Now' was the rehearsal take. We kept it, that was the one. He's here forever."Ham was perhaps best known for playing the famous flute riff in the band's smash 1980s hit "Down Under." But the beloved tune came under intense scrutiny in recent years after the band was accused of stealing the catchy riff from the children's campfire song "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree." The publisher of "Kookaburra" sued Men at Work, and in 2010 a judge ruled the band had copied the melody. The group was ordered to hand over a portion of its royalties.Ham later said the controversy had left him devastated, and he worried it would tarnish his legacy."It has destroyed so much of my song," he told Melbourne's The Age newspaper after the court ruling. "It will be the way the song is remembered, and I hate that. I'm terribly disappointed that that's the way I'm going to be remembered — for copying something."On Thursday, neighbor John Nassar praised Ham, whom he had known for about 30 years."He was a lovely human being, never judgmental about anyone," Nassar told reporters. "He was a very friendly human being."Ham also played the saxophone and keyboards, and more recently worked as a guitar teacher."Down Under" and the album it was on, "Business As Usual," topped the Australian, American and British charts in early 1983. The song remains an unofficial anthem for Australia and was ranked fourth in a 2001 music industry survey of the best Australian songs. Men at Work won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.Australian rock historian Glenn Baker, who was Australian editor of Billboard magazine when Men At Work was at its peak touring the world, recalled Ham as bursting with energy during the band's glory days."When they came back (from tour), it was generally Greg who I would interview because he'd tell the best stories and he was effervescent, energetic, good fun, good-humored and good-natured," Baker said. "He was having a great time."___

Dick Clark

04/18/2012

A true American iCON for sure. Thank you for teaching white people how to dance....well at least trying to teach them!

Host and TV producer Dick Clark has died. He was 82.
It was first reported by the news Wednesday afternoon. A rep told the site that Clark
underwent surgery Tuesday night and suffered a "massive" heart attack following
the procedure.
Clark started his career as a radio announcer at WRUN in Utica, N.Y., when
he was 17. His long-running show, "American Bandstand," was on the air from 1957-1989.
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" began in 1972 and continues to this day
with Ryan Seacrest.
Clark launched the American Music Awards in 1973. He became a Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame inductee in 1993.
Clark suffered a stroke in December 2004. He continued performing even after
the stroke, even though it had affected his ability to speak and walk.

Davy Jones

02/29/2012

Ugh. Well such is life and in life you have to mention the passings of someone you enjoyed. Today is that day. An official from the medical examiner's office for Martin County, Florida confirmed they received a call from Martin Memorial Hospital informing them that Jones had passed away.Jones is survived by his wife Jessica and 4 daughters from previous marriages. He was 66-years-old. Jones joined The Monkees in 1965 ... along with Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork ... and together they churned out a bunch of hugely popular songs including 3 number 1 hits -- "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer." The group was initially cast by TV producers who wanted to create a scripted series about an actual rock n' roll band. But the group exploded, and Jones in particular became a Beatles-caliber heartthrob.The Monkees songs were covered by huge bands like Coldpay, and Smash Mouth's version of "I'm a Believer" was famously featured in "Shrek."

Gary Carter

02/17/2012

The effervescent Hall of Fame catcher whose single for the Mets in the 1986 World Series touched off one of the most improbable rallies in baseball, died Thursday. The Kid was 57.Carter was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last May, two weeks after finishing his second season as coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said Carter died at a hospice in the West Palm Beach, Fla., area.

Whitney, Etta, Coach and an Epstein.

I know! Sorry for the lack of updates over here. I've been busy and I'm not the only one! Death has been busy as well these past few weeks. Here's a foursome that left us. We had a crack whore in a tub, an old man who "didn't see anything", a great singer, and a wonderful actor who made us laugh and cry. And here's something else to make you cry. Slabber Debbie already has two!! Debbie racks up an impressive 42 points. Don't be discouraged! We have a loooooooong year ahead of us! Let's get SLABBING!!!!!!!!

2011 is over...you're winner is............

SLABBER DEBBIE!!!!!!!!! AGAIN!!!!!

Yes that is right! Debbie has won the death pool for the second time in a row! I would never want to upset her. I sure as hell don't want to end up on her list!!! Debbie racked up over 170 points. How does she do it? Debbie will never tell!

2011 is over and now we look forward to 2012. What will the new year bring? Who will leave? What surprises are in store for us all? We'll we even be around to see the end of the year? Will the world end? Will Lindsey Lohan visit the morgue in a non-community service role? Will The Justin Beaver OD on pop-rocks and Mountain Dew? The only way to find out is to wait and see!!!

The slabbers are hard at work picking and choosing. So stay tuned to this site for all the updates (well, the ones I care about updating about). And see the drama unfold!

Are you ready? LET'S GET READY TO SLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB!!!!!!

Kim Jong II HIT!

12/18/2011

Ok we all know this dude but forget that. Of course Slabber Debbie had him on her list and he racks up another 31 points bringing her grand total this year to: 150 damn points! Yep I think it's safe to say this. YOUR WINNER OF THE 2011 CELEBRITY SLAB DEAD POOL: SLABBER DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGAIN!!!! This, I believe, marks two years in a row that Debbie wins. Freaking figures! You may have been lucky, unlike everyone who died this year, but let's see what happens in 2012!!

Anyway. Kim Jong you left us too soon. This song is for you:

Harry Morgan

12/07/2011

"M*A*S*H" star Harry Morgan died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. The character actor was 96.
He was best known for playing Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the long-running army comedy.
In a 2004 interview with the The Television Academy Foundation’s Archive of American Television, Morgan acknowledged the profound effect that the iconoclastic sitcom had on his career.
Looks like Ol' Sherm is riding Sophie into the sunset before this year is over with. Rest now fine sir and play all the horse hockey you want.

Not sure of the cause of death but I'm thinking a cocaine overdose.

Smokin Joe Frazier

11/08/2011

“Smokin” Joe Frazier, who captured two heavyweight titles in a brilliant career spanning almost 20 years, died on Monday after a brief but brave bout with liver cancer. He was 67.

Don't think anything can explain it more than this:



and just because I can.

Andy Rooney- HIT!!

0/00/01-11/04/2011

Yeah the old crusty dude from 60 minutes is dead and of course Debbie had him on her list. She gets a whopping 8 points on this one which brings her grand total to: 121 points! Um I think it's pretty safe to say we are all fucked. Debbie pulls so far ahead!

Moammar Gaddafi/Khadafy/Qadhafi/The Fashion Plate

10/19/2011

See this dude? Yeah he was dragged out of a drainage ditch and beat up and shot in the head. He, too, did a lot of stuff for a few years and pissed a lot of people off. But now he's dead. Nobody had him on their list which is a shame. Have fun going where you are headed to! Say hello to Saddamn and Osama and Capt. Kangaroo for us!

Charles Napier

10/05/2011

As the press and everyone else was reporting about Steve Jobs jobbing out to death. One of the worlds most talented actors passed away as well. Such a shame as he was one of my favorties. Eat all the corn on the cob you want fine sir. Character actor Charles Napier, whose granite jaw and toothy grin earned him tough-guy roles in movies like "The Blues Brothers" has died in California at 75.
Longtime friend Dennis Wilson tells the Bakersfield Californian that Napier died Wednesday at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. The AP says no other details are being released, but according to the Hollywood Reporter, the actor collapsed at his home and was placed on life support at the hospital.
Napier may be best known as Good Ole Boys front man Tucker McElroy in John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's 1980 musical comedy film "The Blues Brothers."
He also was the scheming intelligence officer facing Sylvester Stallone in the 1985 "Rambo" sequel.
A divorced father of three, Napier was the judge in 1993's "Philadelphia," and he was Lt. Bill Boyle in 1991's "Silence of the Lambs." He also provided voices for many animated characters and appeared opposite Jeremy Piven in "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard."

Steve Jobs

10/05/2011

Yeah I know it's been a while and some "people" have kicked it but they weren't worth the time to put on here. However this dude I guess is. Steve Jobs, the visionary in the black turtleneck who co-founded Apple in a Silicon Valley garage, built it into the world's leading tech company and led a mobile-computing revolution with wildly popular devices such as the iPhone, died Wednesday. He was 56. Very surprised that nobody had him on their list. Last year he was a favorite.

We are almost at the end and Slabber Debbie is in the lead (AS ALWAYS!) there better be a lot of choking on Halloween candy or tainted cranberry sauce this holiday season! Come on Joyce DeWitt. What's wrong with you!?! Go play in traffic or something!!!!

Jani Lane

08/11/2011

Jani Lane -- former lead singer of the rock band Warrant -- was found dead at a hotel in L.A. Thursday evening ... TMZ has learned. Lane's body was discovered at the Comfort Inn hotel in Woodland Hills, CA. So far, no official cause of death has been released. Lane famously penned the band's biggest hit "Cherry Pie" back in 1989 ... before eventually leaving the band to pursue a solo career. Lane had a history of alcohol-related issues -- he was ordered to serve 120 days in jail after he was arrested for DUI in 2010 ... his second DUI in two years. Lane was 47.

There will be NO PIE where you're heading pal! Cupcakes yes, but no pie!

Bubba Smith

8/3/2011

Former NFL star Bubba Smith, who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, died Wednesday. He was 66.Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Ed Winter said Smith was found dead at his Baldwin Hills home. Winter said he didn't know the circumstances or cause of death.Police spokesman Richard French added the death does not appear to be suspicious.The top overall pick in the 1967 draft after a sensational career at Michigan State, the 6-foot-7 Smith spent five seasons with the Baltimore Colts and two seasons each with Oakland and Houston. He won the 1971 Super Bowl with the Colts."I'm saddened by it. I remember my first training camp in 1972 in Golden, Colo. I spent a lot of time with him there. He was a great guy. He was a giant, the biggest player on the field," Colts owner Jim Irsay said.One of the best pass rushers in the game, Smith often drew two blockers, yet was effective enough to make two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. His best work, though, came in college, and Smith was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988."He was simply a good guy," former Michigan State teammate Robert Viney said in a statement released through the university. "His size made him an intimidating figure, but he was a real gentleman. He was a helluva player."As an actor his most memorable role was playing Moses Hightower, the soft-spoken officer in the "Police Academy" series. He also appeared in such television series as "Good Times," "Charlie's Angels," and "Half Nelson," and was a regular in the ground-breaking Miller Lite commercials featuring retired players.Born Charles Aaron Smith, he played in high school for his father, Willie Ray Smith, in Beaumont, Texas, before heading to Michigan State, where he was an All-American in 1966."`Bubba' Smith was a great Spartan," Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis said in a statement. "As both a football player and later as an actor, `Bubba' was a great ambassador for the University. It's only fitting that beginning this fall the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Award bears his name."At Michigan State he played on some of the school's greatest teams under coach Duffy Daugherty and was one of its best players. Fans in East Lansing, Mich., would chant, "Kill, Bubba, Kill" during games and his No. 95 jersey was retired in 2006."I will shed some tears tonight because I've lost a great friend," Viney said. "He never sought the spotlight. He was a humble man. As I remember him, I recall the chants of "Kill, Bubba, Kill" from the crowd in Spartan Stadium. He will be missed."Smith was part of two of the most famous football games ever played. In 1966, he was at Michigan State when the Spartans and Notre Dame, both undefeated, played to a 10-10 tie. Michigan State finished second behind the top-ranked Fighting Irish that season.In 1965 and '66, Smith helped Michigan State go 19-1-1 and win consecutive Big Ten titles."Bubba was definitely a game changer as a defensive end," former Michigan State teammate Gene Washington said. "You simply didn't see guys with his size and quickness coming off the defensive line. His ability spoke for itself. He was a great teammate and a great leader. Bubba never had to say much because he led by example."In 1969, Smith played for the Colts against the New York Jets in the Super Bowl. Led by Joe Namath, the Jets of the AFL upset the NFL champion Colts 16-7 in Miami.

The best part of Police Acadamy One.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phHZ2HOkn8s

Christopher Mayer

7/23/2011

Two legends on the same day. July 23rd took Amy Winehouse and Christopher Mayer.....ok not legends and at least you know who Winehouse is! Chris here played "Vance" for 19 episodes on "The Dukes of Hazzard". After Bo and Luke couldn't take anymore of Uncle Jesses "fiddling" they left and this schmoe and another dude took his place. How did he die? Probably from obscurity. Anyway. He was 57. Ride into the sunset Vance!

Amy Winehouse- HIT!!!

7/23/2011

Shocker, I know. But what isn't a shocker is that Slabber Debbie had Amy on her list! With this death Deb gets a mega 73 points!!!!!! Add to the points that Deb received for Jeff Conaway, her grand total is: 113 points!!!! Yeah it's pretty safe to say that everyone else needs an asteroid or something to take out the rest of their lists to win this. BUT it's only the end of July. ANYTHING can happen! Oh yeah, Amy was 27 and died from a drug overdose. News Flash! Water is also wet!

Johnny Rottens House

TWO WEEKS AGO

Former Sex Pistol John Lydon - aka Johnny Rotten - has revealed his home in London burned down two weeks ago.
Speaking at the Mojo music awards on Thursday, the 55-year-old blamed a faulty spin dryer for the kitchen fire that decimated the property.
"I was in Italy," he said after accepting an outstanding contribution to music award. "My wife rang me up just before we were going on stage.
"[She] said 'Oh John, I don't want to disturb you. The house has burnt down.'
"I hadn't been in the house for two years," the singer told reporters. "First time I tried to get clean the house goes up in flames."
The blaze, he revealed, had destroyed songs he had written for the latest PiL (Public Image Limited) record. "Welcome to Rotten World," he said.
"The point is all of that doesn't matter," continued the singer, who said the important thing was his wife - German publishing heiress Nora Forster - had survived the conflagration.
Learning she was unharmed, he said, "was the best news I've ever had in my whole life."
Lydon was on typically combative form as he collected his accolade, criticising record companies who he said had left him "bankrupt".
"Public Image has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do in my entire life," he said at the event, held at The Brewery in east Londo

No word if any butter spread was lost!

Sherwood Schwartz

07/12/2011

Legendary Hollywood producer Sherwood Schwartz -- who changed the prime-time landscape with shows like "The Brady Bunch" -- is dead at 94.Schwartz made a huge impact on the TV dial in the 1950s, '60s and '70s with shows like "The Brady Bunch," "Gilligan's Island," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" and "Harper Valley PTA."According to TMZ Schwartz died of natural causes in his sleep surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Mildred Schwartz, and four children.

And yes, I thought he was dead already as well.

Peter Falk

06/23/2011

A family spokesman confirmed to CBS News that actor Peter Falk died in Los Angeles Thursday night. He was 83.
The "Columbo" star won four Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the cigar-chomping detective who always looked as if he'd just rolled out of bed. Falk played Columbo on television regularly from 1971 to 1978 and then sporadically from 1989 until 2003. He won his first Emmy in 1962 for outstanding single performance by an actor in a leading role for an episode of "The Dick Powell Theatre" (1961).
Falk also had starring roles in his friend John Cassavetes' films "Husbands" and "A Woman Under the Influence" and starred with Cassavetes in Elaine May's 1976 film "Mikey and Nicky." He was nominated twice for the best supporting actor Oscar, for "Murder, Inc." and "Pocketful of Miracles."
In recent years, Falk suffered from Alzheimer's disease. In 2009, he was placed in a conservatorship. He is survived by his wife, Shera, of 34 years, and two daughters from a previous marriage.