Surfing, a form of recreation.

Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time.^[1] The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology.^[2] Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun". The term recreation implies participation to be healthy refreshing mind and body.

Etymology[link]

The term recreation appears to have been used in English first in the late 14th century, first in the sense of "refreshment or curing of a sick person",^[3] and derived from Old French, in turn from Latin (re: "again", creare: "to create, bring forth, beget.)

Leisure as a prerequisite[link]

Humans spend their time in activities of daily living, work, sleep, social duties, and leisure, the latter time being free from prior commitments to physiologic or social needs,^[4] a prerequisite of recreation. Leisure has increased with increased longevity and, for many, with decreased hours spent for physical and economic survival, yet others argue that time pressure has increased for modern people, as they are committed to too many tasks.^[5] Other factors that account for an increased role of recreation are affluence, population trends, and increased commercialization of recreational offerings.^[6] While one perception is that leisure is just "spare time", time not consumed by the necessities of living, another holds that leisure is a force that allows individuals to consider and reflect on the values and realities that are missed in the activities of daily life, thus being an essential element of personal development and civilization.^[1] This direction of thought has even been extended to the view that leisure is the purpose of work, and a reward in itself,^[1] and "leisure life" reflects the values and character of a nation.^[6] Leisure is considered a human right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.^[7]

Play, recreation and work[link]

Foundation for Economic Education seminar leisure activity

Recreation is difficult to separate from the general concept of play, which is usually the term for children's recreational activity. Children may playfully imitate activities that reflect the realities of adult life. It has been proposed that play or recreational activities are outlets of or expression of excess energy, channeling it into socially acceptable activities that fulfill individual as well as societal needs, without need for compulsion, and providing satisfaction and pleasure for the participant.^[8] A traditional view holds that work is supported by recreation, recreation being useful to "recharge the battery" so that work performance is improved. Work, an activity generally performed out of economic necessity and useful for society and organized within the economic framework, however can also be pleasurable and may be self-imposed thus blurring the distinction to recreation. Many activities may be work for one person and recreation for another, or, at an individual level, over time recreational activity may become work, and vice-versa. Thus, for a musician, playing an instrument may be at one time a profession, and at another a recreation there is a lot more to do.

Recreational activities[link]

Recreation is an essential part of human life and finds many different forms which are shaped naturally by individual interests but also by the surrounding social construction.^[2] Recreational activities can be communal or solitary, active or passive, outdoors or indoors, healthy or harmful, and useful for society or detrimental. A list of typical activities could be almost endless including most human activities, a few examples being reading, playing or listening to music, watching movies or TV, gardening, hunting, hobbies, sports, studies, and travel. Not all recreational activities can be considered wise, healthy, or socially acceptable or useful—examples are gambling, drinking, or delinquent activities. Recreational drugs are being used to enhance the recreational experience, a wide-ranging and controversial subject as some drugs are accepted or tolerated by society within limits, others not and declared illegal.

Public space such as parks and beaches are essential venues for many recreational activities. Tourism has recognized that many visitors are specifically attracted by recreational offerings.^[9] In support of recreational activities government has taken an important role in their creation, maintenance, and organization, and whole industries have developed merchandise or services. Recreation-related business is an important factor in the economy; it has been estimated that the outdoor recreation sector alone contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy and generates 6.5 million jobs.^[10]

Organized recreation[link]

University of Auckland Recreation Centre

Many recreational activities are organized, typically by public institutions, voluntary group-work agencies, private groups supported by membership fees, and commercial enterprises.^[11] Examples of each of these are the National Park Service, the YMCA, the Kiwanis, and Disney World.

Health and recreation[link]

Recreation has many health benefits, and, accordingly, recreational therapy has been developed to take advantage of this effect. Such therapy is applied in rehabilitation, and in the care of the elderly, the disabled, or people with chronic diseases. Recreational physical activity is important to reduce obesity, and the risk of osteoporosis^[12] and of cancer, most significantly in men that of colon and prostate,^[13] and in women that of the breast;^[14] however, not all malignancies are reduced as outdoor recreation has been linked to a higher risk of melanoma.^[13] Extreme adventure recreation naturally carries its own hazards.

Recreation as a career[link]

A recreation specialist would be expected to meet the recreational needs of a community or assigned interest group. Educational institutions offer courses that lead to a degree as a bachelor of arts in recreation management. People with such degrees often work in parks and recreation centers in towns, on community projects and activities. Networking with instructors, budgeting, and evaluation of continuing programs are common job duties.

In the United States, most states have a professional organization for continuing education and certification in recreation management. The National Recreation and Park Association administers a certification program called the CPRP (Certified Park and Recreation Professional)^[15] that is considered a national standard for professional recreation specialist practices.

See also[link]

• Recreation room
• Recreation area
• National Recreation Area
• Adventure recreation
• Outdoor recreation
• Nude recreation
• Entertainment
• Work-life balance

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up recreation in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• National Parks and Recreation website

Patton Oswalt
Oswalt at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	(1969-01-27) January 27, 1969 (age 43) Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Nationality	American
Years active	1988–present
Genres	Observational comedy, surreal humor, black comedy
Subject(s)	Pop culture, American culture, Current events
Influences	Jonathan Winters, Richard Pryor,[1] Emo Philips, Bugs Bunny, Bill Hicks, Blaine Capatch, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jay Leno, Sam Kinison, Steve Martin,[2] Louis C.K.[3]
Spouse	Michelle Eileen McNamara (2005–;[4] 1 daughter)
Notable works and roles	Spence Olchin in The King of Queens Remy in Ratatouille Frat Aliens, and Ezekiel in Aqua Teen Hunger Force Werewolves and Lollipops
Website	PattonOswalt.com

Patton Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor known for roles such as Spencer Olchin in the popular sitcom The King of Queens, and voicing Remy from the film Ratatouille and Thrasher from the Cartoon Network original series Robotomy.

Early life[link]

Oswalt was born January 17,^[5][6] 1969^[7] in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Carla and Larry J. Oswalt, a career United States Marine Corps officer.^[4] He was named after George S. Patton.^[8] While a military brat, he later lived in Ohio and Tustin, California, before settling in Sterling, Virginia.^[9] He is a 1987 graduate of Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia and later attended the College of William and Mary, where he majored in English and was initiated into the Alpha Theta Chapter of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

Oswalt first began performing standup comedy in the late 1980s or early 1990s, by his own reckoning.^[10] After writing for MADtv and starring in his own 1996 comedy special for HBO, he went on to garner notable roles in films and television shows. His most prominent and long-running role was as Spence Olchin on The King of Queens. His first starring film role was as the voice of Remy, the lead character in the 2007 Pixar film Ratatouille. He has also appeared in smaller roles in such films as Magnolia and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. He lent his voice as in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as a caller on the WTCR show "The Tight End Zone", and was the voice of a caller on "Chatterbox" on LCFR in the game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. He was also the voice of a reporter on "New World Order", a radio show on VCPR in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. He supposedly lent his voice as Randall Tugman in the zombie game Dead Rising 2, although he denies this. The character Randall Tugman is credited to have been voiced by John Murphy.

Oswalt wrote the comic book story "JLA: Welcome to the Working Week", a backup story in Batman #600; a story for Dwight T. Albatross's The Goon Noir #01 and a story for Masks: Too Hot for TV. Expanding his voice artist repertoire, he began voicing the villainous character "Tobey" on PBS Kids GO! series WordGirl in 2007. He also appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner. In August 2007, he appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav. In 2007, he appeared on an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, "The Original Fry Cook", as Jim. He also appears as Carl, the Corndog Hut's mascot in American Hi-Fi's music video for "Another Perfect Day". He also appears in an episode of Static Shock. On June 27, 2007, Oswalt was a special guest on the Emeril Live program on the Food Network to promote Ratatouille. Other recent appearances include an episode of Venture Bros. where he voiced an aging boy adventurer Robin parody. In 2008 Oswalt moderated a reunion panel of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast at the San Diego Comic-Con International.

In 2009, Oswalt played Paul Aufiero, the leading role in Robert D. Siegel's 2009 directorial debut, Big Fan. He was to star in a 2010 Broadway revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart.^[11] However, the show was postponed then eventually canceled due to Megan Mullally's departure from the production when the director denied her request to replace Oswalt due to his lack of stage experience.^[12]

He starred in the Showtime drama The United States of Tara as Neil, an employee of Four Winds Landscaping. He also provides the voice of Thrasher, a robot protagonist from the new Cartoon Network show, Robotomy.

In January 2011, Oswalt released his first book, Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.

In November 2011, Oswalt played the role of Hurlan Heartshe in the surrealist comedy miniseries The Heart, She Holler on Cartoon Network's late-night programming block, Adult Swim. In 2011, Oswalt also played the role of Matt Freehauf in Jason Reitman's black comedy Young Adult.

Stand-up comedy[link]

Patton Oswalt at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International.

Oswalt's stand-up comedy covers topics ranging from pop culture frivolity such as comic book supervillains and 1980s glam metal to deeper social issues like American excess, materialism, foreign policy and religion. He also discusses his atheism in his stand-up. In 2004, Oswalt released a comedy album entitled Feelin' Kinda Patton and later that year a longer, unedited version of the same performance entitled 222 (Live & Uncut), both through the United Musicians collective, and a stand-up special, No Reason to Complain. He is also on a split EP called Patton vs. Alcohol vs. Zach vs. Patton with Zach Galifianakis and is featured on two Un-Cabaret compilations, "The Un & Only" and "The Good, the Bad and the Drugly". On July 10, 2007, Patton released his second CD Werewolves and Lollipops on Sub Pop records.

In 2004, Oswalt put together the Comedians of Comedy tour, made up of modern alt-comics Zach Galifianakis, Brian Posehn and Maria Bamford. The tour performed at smaller, more intimate indie rock venues instead of traditional (and expensive) comedy clubs. The Fall 2004 tour was documented in a 2005 film of the same name, and was followed by a six-episode Comedy Central series based on the Summer 2005 tour. This tour featured special guest appearances from comedians such as Blaine Capatch, David Cross, Rob Gasper, Bobby Tisdale and Todd Barry. Subsequent incarnations of the tour have included Eugene Mirman and Morgan Murphy.

In 2004 Patton's stand up material was featured on Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. That same year a stand up DVD called No Reason to Complain was released. Oswalt appeared several times as a "lawyer" on Lewis Black's Root of All Evil. In the episode "Ultimate Fighting vs. Blogging", he argued that the popular influence of the blogging has been evil, and, in his closing argument, he performed a rick roll on the audience. He also provided the stand-up comedy for the closing ceremony.

On February 28, 2009, Patton recorded his third comedy album at the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University in Washington D.C. It premiered on Comedy Central as Patton Oswalt: My Weakness is Strong on August 23, 2009, and was released on DVD August 25, 2009.^[13] The album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Patton's latest album, Patton Oswalt: Finest Hour, was released on September 19, 2011 and is currently #1 on the Billboard chart for Comedy albums, #12 for Independent albums and #71 on the top 200. This album was also nominated for a Grammy Award.

Personal life[link]

Oswalt married writer Michelle Eileen McNamara on September 24, 2005. Their daughter, Alice Rigney Oswalt, was born on April 15, 2009.^[14]

Oswalt is an atheist.^[15] He is also a fan of Metalcore music.^[16]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

EPs[link]

• Patton vs. Alcohol vs. Zach vs. Patton (2005) with Zach Galifianakis^[18]
• Melvins/Patton Oswalt split 7 (2006) with The Melvins^[19]
• Comedians of Comedy Tour 3"CD (2006)
• The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company (2006) with Brian Posehn, Maria Bamford, and Eugene Mirman^[20]
• Frankensteins and Gumdrops (2008) Available during the WFMU pledge drive

Compilation album appearances[link]

• Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret – The Un & Only (2002)
• Beth Lapides' Un-Cabaret – The Good, The Bad, and the Drugly (2006)
• Comedy Death-Ray (2007)^[21]

DVDs[link]

• No Reason to Complain (DVD) (2004)
• My Weakness Is Strong (DVD) (2009)
• Finest Hour (DVD) (2012)

DVD appearances[link]

• Rock Against Bush, Vol. 2 DVD (2004)^[22]
• The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (2005)
• The Comedians of Comedy: Live at the Troubadour (2007)
• Super High Me DVD (2007)
• Blood into Wine DVD (2010)

TV[link]

Stand-up specials[link]

• HBO Half Hour Comedy Hour (1997)
• Comedy Central Presents (1999)
• No Reason to Complain (2004)
• My Weakness is Strong (2009)
• Showtime: Finest Hour (2011)

TV appearances[link]

• The Weird Al Show
• The Fairly OddParents
• Lewis Black's Root of All Evil
• The History Channel's History of the Joke
• The King of Queens (1998–2007)
• Reno 911!
• Tom Goes To The Mayor
• Human Giant
• NewsRadio
• Reaper
• Seinfeld
• VH1's Best Week Ever
• Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn
• The Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner (2006)
• The Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav (2007)
• Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Great Debate (2008)
• United States of Tara (2009–2011)
• Flight of the Conchords (2009)
• Community (2009)
• Dollhouse (2009)
• Iron Chef America
• Caprica
• Bored to Death
• The Sarah Silverman Program
• Neighbors from Hell
• Jon Benjamin Has a Van (2011)
• The Heart, She Holler
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
• Two and a Half Men (2012)

Music video appearances[link]

• The Ettes – "Excuse" (2011)
• American Hi-Fi – Another Perfect Day (2001)

Voice acting[link]

Films[link]

Publications[link]

• JLA: Welcome to the Working Week (DC Comics, 2003)
• The Overrated Book (co-author with Henry H. Owings, 2006)
• The Goon noir (co-author with Thomas Lennon, Steve Niles and Eric Powell, 2007)
• The Rock Bible: Unholy Scripture for Fans & Bands (co-author with Henry H. Owings, 2008)
• Serenity: Float Out (Dark Horse Comics, 2010)
• Zombie Spaceship Wasteland (2011)

References[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Patton Oswalt

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Patton Oswalt

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Patton Oswalt

• Official website
• Patton Oswalt on Myspace
• Patton Oswalt at the Internet Movie Database
• Patton Oswalt at Comedy Central
• Brand new audio interview on The Sound of Young America from PRI.
• Interview with Oswalt from August 2006 on public radio program The Sound of Young America
• Random Rules: Patton Oswalt a feature from The A.V. Club
• Hustler Interview: Patton Oswalt
• IMPOSE interview
• Note Books essay on Largehearted Boy
• Reading John Collier's "The Chaser" at Daytrotter
• Interview by "Rotten.com"
• 'Getting Late' interview by Pete Dominick on Sirius Radio

Amy Poehler
Poehler at the 71st Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon 2012.
Born	Amy Meredith Poehler (1971-09-16) September 16, 1971 (age 40) Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, comedian, writer, producer
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	Will Arnett (2003–present; 2 children)

Amy Meredith Poehler  /ˈpoʊlər/ (born September 16, 1971) is an American actress, comedienne, producer and writer. She was a cast member on the NBC television entertainment show Saturday Night Live from 2001 to 2008. In 2004, she had a minor role in the film Mean Girls with Tina Fey, with whom she worked again in Baby Mama in 2008. She is currently the lead of NBC's comedy Parks and Recreation. She has been nominated twice for both the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance on Saturday Night Live, and for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Parks & Recreation. For the latter series she also received a 2012 Golden Globe Award nomination.

Early life[link]

Poehler was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and grew up in Burlington, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Eileen Frances (née Milmore) and William Grinstead Poehler, both teachers.^[1] She is a distant cousin of author Stephen King and U.S. senator Scott Brown, through shared New England ancestry.^[2][3][4] Poehler was raised Catholic.^[1]

A 1993 graduate of Boston College, Poehler was a member of America's oldest collegiate improv comedy troupe, "My Mother's Fleabag."^[1] After graduating from college, Poehler moved to Chicago, where she studied improvisational theatre at Second City, with friend and future co-star Tina Fey.^[1] She also studied with Del Close at ImprovOlympic, going on to become part of the touring company as well as teaching classes at IO.^{[citation needed]}

Career[link]

[edit] Upright Citizens Brigade

During her time at Second City and Improv Olympic in Chicago, Poehler studied under Del Close and Charna Halpern along with Matt Besser, where they were part of the original improv team called the Upright Citizens Brigade.^{[citation needed]} While the group initially consisted of many members (including Horatio Sanz, Adam McKay, Rick Roman, and Neil Flynn), Poehler quickly became part of the group along with Matt Walsh. The two, along with Besser and Ian Roberts, performed sketch and improv around Chicago before moving to New York in 1996.^[1] Immediately after moving to New York, the group quickly scored a TV gig,^{[citation needed]} appearing as sketch regulars on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

In 1998, Comedy Central debuted the group's eponymous half-hour sketch comedy series.^{[citation needed]} During the show's second season, the group opened an Improv theatre and training center in New York City at 161 W. 22nd Street, occupying the space of a former strip club.^{[citation needed]} The UCB theatre held shows seven nights a week in addition to offering classes in sketch comedy writing and improv.^[1]

In the summer of 2000, Comedy Central canceled the Upright Citizens Brigade program after its third season, though the UCB Theatre continues to operate.^{[citation needed]} The foursome continue to work together in many projects, and frequently perform together in live improv shows at their comedy theatres in NY and LA.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Saturday Night Live

Poehler joined the cast of SNL during the 2001–02 season, her debut episode being the first one produced after the 9/11 attacks – with host Reese Witherspoon, musical guest Alicia Keys, and New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as a special guest.^{[citation needed]} Poehler was promoted from featured player to full cast member in her first season on the show, making her only the third person to have earned this distinction (after Harry Shearer and Eddie Murphy).^[5]

Beginning with the 2004–05 season, she co-anchored "Weekend Update" with Tina Fey, replacing the newly departed Jimmy Fallon. In a TV Guide interview, Fey said that with Poehler co-anchoring, there now is "double the sexual tension." When Fey left after the 2005–06 season to devote time to the sitcom she created, 30 Rock, Seth Meyers joined Poehler at the anchor desk. Poehler was nominated for a 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress – Comedy Series,^[6] the first SNL cast member recognized in this category.^{[citation needed]} She was heavily favored to win by many critics, but ultimately lost to Jean Smart. She was nominated once again in 2009, but lost to Kristin Chenoweth. On September 13, 2008, the SNL season premiere opened with Fey and Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton, respectively, performing a "joint political campaign spot."

It was officially announced on September 16, 2008 that Poehler would be leaving SNL in October due to the birth of her child.^{[citation needed]} On the October 25, 2008 episode, it was announced by "Weekend Update" co-anchor Seth Meyers, who anchored the segment alone, "Amy Poehler is not here because she is having a baby", to wild applause from the audience. At the end of "Weekend Update", special guest Maya Rudolph and current cast member Kenan Thompson sang a custom rendition of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" for Poehler, changing the words: "We love you Amy, and we just can't wait to meet your baby!" Meyers signed off: "For Weekend Update, I'm Seth Meyers — we love you Amy!"^{[citation needed]}

Poehler returned to the show on November 3, 2008, during the "SNL Presidential Bash '08", "hosting" as Hillary Clinton. The Bash was pre-taped from scenes shot between September and October. Her return to SNL after her pregnancy was on December 6, 2008, where she stayed for two weeks.^{[citation needed]} During "Weekend Update", on December 13, she thanked her family, friends, and fans for the continued support and announced that it would be her last show.^{[citation needed]} On April 18, 2009, a Saturday Night Live special, "The Best of Amy Poehler", aired.^{[citation needed]} Poehler returned for "Weekend Update" (signing off with "...and he's Seth Meyers") and joined the "chorus" for Will Ferrell's "Goodnight Saigon" (along with the SNL cast and Tom Hanks, Maya Rudolph, Norm Macdonald, Artie Lange, Anne Hathaway, and Green Day) on the SNL season finale on May 16, 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Poehler returned to the "Weekend Update" desk in the fall of 2009 with Meyers, for two "WU" Thursday episodes, which led directly into Parks and Recreation.^{[citation needed]} Poehler also returned to Saturday Night Live for a special Mother's Day episode on May 8, 2010, hosted by Betty White.^[7]

Poehler returned to Saturday Night Live on September 25, 2010 to host the Season 36 opening episode with performer Katy Perry.^{[citation needed]} She returned once again for the Saturday Night Live special, "The Women of SNL". The special aired on November 1, 2010.^{[citation needed]} Between the time she left and the time she hosted, she also returned several times to join Seth Meyers in their "Really!?! With Seth and Amy" segment on Weekend Update. The "Really!?!" segment has aired since with Meyers speaking doing the segment alone, although he was once accompanied by special guest Kermit the Frog. Poehler appeared as a guest in the December 18, 2011 Jimmy-Fallon-hosted episode, starring in the opening sketch and a Weekend Update joke-off with Fallon, Meyers and Tina Fey. She appeared once again on the February 18, 2012 Maya Rudolph-hosted episode, reprising her role as Betty Caruso in the Bronx Beat sketch (with co-host Maya Rudolph), co-anchoring Weekend Update as well as a segment of "Really!?! With Seth and Amy", and appearing briefly as Hillary Clinton at the end of the "The Obama Show" sketch.

[edit] Parks and Recreation

Poehler with Parks and Recreation co-star Aubrey Plaza at the 2012 Time 100 gala

In July 2008, Variety reported that Poehler was in final negotiations to star in a series by writers Greg Daniels and Mike Schur, set to air on Thursdays before The Office, starting January 2009 on NBC.^[8] On July 21, 2008, NBC officially announced Poehler's new series, Parks and Recreation, saying the project would not be a direct spin-off of The Office, as previously speculated.^[9]

Poehler joined an ensemble cast including Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Paul Schneider, Nick Offerman, and starting with the third season, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe. Poehler plays Deputy Director of the Parks Department, Leslie Knope, in the fictional city of Pawnee, Indiana. After a rough first season, the show's second season and third season have been well received by critics, and Poehler received an Emmy nomination for her role. NBC has since renewed Parks and Recreation for a fourth season. Poehler was featured in The Advocate for her role in the show.^{[citation needed]}

Amy Poehler has also written three episodes of the series, the first being Telethon in season 2, which was the episode Poehler sent in as her Emmy Awards submission in 2010. The second one is the episode entitled The Fight, which aired on May 12, 2011. She both wrote and directed the 4th season episode "The Debate".^[10]

Poehler was once again nominated for an Emmy Award - Oustanding Actress in a Comedy in 2011. She sent the episode Flu Season as her submission.^{[citation needed]}

Film career and other work[link]

Tina Fey and Poehler at the premiere of Baby Mama in New York.

Poehler has appeared in the films Wet Hot American Summer, Mean Girls, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny, Blades of Glory, Envy, Shrek the Third, Mr. Woodcock, and Hamlet 2. She is^[when?] producing a digital series with two of her friends, Meredith Walker and Amy Miles, Smart Girls at the Party, available through ON Networks.^[11][12] The show is focused on interviews with young women who are "changing the world by being themselves".^[13] The first season of 'Smart Girls at the Party' premiered online November 17, 2008, with Mattel's Barbie signed on as the lead sponsor. Smart Girls at the Party is returning to production in 2012 as part of Google's 100 Channel YouTube initiative to create new content. The new Smart Girls at the Party YouTube Channel will go live on July 2, 2012 and include new episodes of Smart Girls at the Party along with additional shows by Amy, Meredith, and Amy.^[14]

She appeared in various comedy segments on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, often playing her recurring role as Andy Richter's little sister Stacy, and as a recurring character in two episodes of the college dramedy Undeclared. She appears in the film Southland Tales, which premiered on May 21, 2006 at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. In 2008, she appeared in Horton Hears a Who!, Hamlet 2, Baby Mama, and Spring Breakdown. She has also co-created an animated series for Nickelodeon called The Mighty B!, about Bessie Higgenbottom, a "sweet, merit-badge-obsessed girl scout", to which she lends her vocal talents.^[15] In 2009, Poehler earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Series.^[16]

In 2011 Poehler received the honor of being named one of TIME magazine's "100 most influential people in the world".^[17] She also delivered the Class Day address to Harvard University's class of 2011.^[18]

Personal life[link]

Poehler married Will Arnett of the Fox comedy Arrested Development on August 29, 2003, and had a recurring role in the series as the nameless wife of Arnett's character George Oscar "G.O.B." Bluth II.^{[citation needed]} Poehler and Arnett also played a quasi-incestuous brother-sister ice skating team in the 2007 film Blades of Glory, and appeared together in Horton Hears a Who!, On Broadway, Spring Breakdown, and Monsters vs. Aliens, along with Arnett having a guest appearance on Poehler's NBC comedy Parks and Recreation and both did voice acting on The Secret World of Arrietty. On October 25, 2008, Poehler gave birth to her first child, son Archibald William Emerson "Archie" Arnett, just hours before the Saturday Night Live telecast.^[19] Poehler gave birth to her second son, Abel James Arnett, on August 6, 2010.^[20] She is a supporter of Planned Parenthood.^[21][22]

Filmography[link]

[edit] Notable characters on SNL

• Amber, a one-legged hypoglycemic reality show contestant.
• Betty Caruso, Bronx Beat co-host (opposite Maya Rudolph).
• Kaitlin, the excitable preteen titular character of Kaitlin and Rick (opposite Horatio Sanz).
• Netti Bo Dance, a frequent patient at the Appalachian Emergency Room.
• Sally Needler, half of The Needlers, "the couple that should be divorced" (opposite Seth Meyers).
• Zoe Anderton, the pun loving, David Beckham-obsessed Spy Glass co-host (opposite Seth Meyers).

Impressions[link]

Poehler has impersonated Dakota Fanning, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barbara Boxer, Sharon Osbourne, Britney Spears, Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Kelly Ripa, Ann Coulter, Madonna, Avril Lavigne, Sharon Stone, Nancy Grace, Michael Jackson, Lindsay Lohan, Christian Siriano, Peter Ostrum, David Spade, Mr. Six, Tonya Harding, Dennis Kucinich, Fergie, Judy Garland, J. K. Rowling, Kim Jong-il, Jenna Bush, Katie Couric, Tinker Bell, and Rosie Perez.

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Amy Poehler

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amy Poehler

• Amy Poehler at the Internet Movie Database
• Amy Poehler on Charlie Rose
• Works by or about Amy Poehler in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
• Amy Poehler on National Public Radio in 2009
• Amy Poehler named one of Men's Vogue's 2008 Visionaries
• TODAY talent are on People magazine annual list of 100, led by Applegate
• Amy Poehler at Emmys.com

Heidi Klum
Klum at The Heart Truth Fashion Show, 2008
Born	(1973-06-01) June 1, 1973 (age 39) Bergisch Gladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany
Other names	The Body, Heidi Samuel
Ethnicity	German
Occupation	Actress, television host, model
Years active	1992–present
Height	5 ft 9.25 in (1.76 m)[1]
Spouse	Ric Pipino (m. 1997–2002) Seal (m. 2005–2012; filed for divorce)
Children	4
Website
www.heidiklum.com

Heidi Samuel Klum (born June 1, 1973),^[2] better known by her birth name Heidi Klum,^[3] is a German and American model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional singer. In 2008 she became an American citizen while maintaining her native German citizenship.^[4][5][6][7] In January 2012, Klum separated from her husband, British musician Seal and filed for divorce on April 6, 2012.^[8]

Early life and discovery[link]

Klum was born and raised in Bergisch Gladbach, a town outside Cologne. She is the daughter of Erna, a hairdresser, and Günther Klum, a cosmetics-company executive. A friend convinced her to enroll in a national modeling contest called "Model 92".^[9] Out of 25,000 contestants, Klum was voted the winner on April 29, 1992 and offered a modeling contract worth US$300,000 by Thomas Zeumer, CEO of Metropolitan Models New York.^[10] After winning, she appeared on the Gottschalk Late Night Show, a top German television show with host Thomas Gottschalk. She accepted the contract a few months later after graduating from school and decided not to try for an apprentice position at a fashion design school.^[11]

Career[link]

Acting and modeling[link]

Klum is the current host of Project Runway, filmed at the Parsons The New School for Design. She has been featured on the covers of Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire, and became widely known after appearing on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and for her work with Victoria's Secret as an "Angel".^[12] Klum has hosted the 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2009 Victoria's Secret Fashion Shows. On October 1, 2010, the New York Post reported in its "Page Six" gossip column that Heidi Klum would be leaving Victoria's Secret, which was later confirmed by Klum.^[13]

In addition to working with well-known photographers on her first husband's Sports Illustrated shoots, she was the object and subject of Joanne Gair body painting works in several editions from 1997 to 2010. She wrote the foreword to Gair's book of body paint work, Body Painting, Masterpieces.^[14] She was a spokesmodel for McDonald's, Braun, Dannon, H & M, and Liz Claiborne, among others. She is currently a celebrity spokesmodel for Jordache^[15] and Volkswagen. In addition to modeling, she has appeared in several TV shows, including Spin City, Sex and the City, Yes, Dear, and How I Met Your Mother. She had a role as an ill-tempered hair model in the movie Blow Dry, played a giantess in the movie Ella Enchanted and was cast as Ursula Andress in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. She had cameo appearances in The Devil Wears Prada and Perfect Stranger.

Her other projects include dance and video games. She is featured in the 2006 James Bond video game Everything or Nothing, wherein she plays the villain Dr. Katya Nadanova.^[16] She has appeared in several music videos, including Jamiroquai's video "Love Foolosophy" from their album A Funk Odyssey, Kelis's "Young, Fresh n' New", off her second 2001 album Wanderland and, most recently, the second video for her husband Seal's song "Secret" off his 2010 album Seal 6: Commitment. The latter video depicts the married couple sharing intimate moments while naked in bed; the concept was Klum's idea.^[17]

In July 2007, having earned $8 million in the previous 16 months, Klum was named by Forbes as third on the list of the World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.^[18] In 2008, Forbes estimated her income at $18 million, putting Klum in first place. For 2007, Forbes estimated her income at $16 million.^[19] Klum is signed to IMG Models in New York City.^[20]

In 2008, Klum was a featured guest on an American Volkswagen commercial, where she was interviewed by a black Beetle. When she commented that German engineering is so sexy, she caused the Beetle to blush and turn red. She has been a part of several commercials for Volkswagen and McDonald's on German television.^{[citation needed]}

In November 2008, Klum appeared in two versions of a Guitar Hero World Tour commercial, wherein she did a take on Tom Cruise's iconic underwear dancing scene in Risky Business. In both versions, she lip-synced to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" while dancing around the living room with the wireless guitar controller.^[21]

In October 2009, Klum was the often-nude one-woman subject of Heidilicious,^[22] a photo book by photographer Ian Rankin. Klum ventured into web-based videos, starring in "SPIKED HEEL: Supermodels Battle the Forces of Evil". The web-series starred model Coco Rocha and was directed by fashion documentarian Doug Keeve. In the story, Klum aka 'The Kluminator,'^[23] and her stylish sidekick Coco "The Sassy Superhero" Rocha battle the evil Dr. Faux Pas who is plotting to destroy Fashion Week. The heroines employ everything from blow-dryer guns to fist fights, in order to thwart Dr. Faux Pas' dastardly plans. The Kluminator and Girl Wonder avoid a chain of fashion disasters to neutralize a death ray that threatens to vaporize the community of fashionistas gathered in Bryant Park.^[24]

In 2010, Klum became the new face and creative advisor for European cosmetics brand Astor, for which she sets artistic direction and designs new products and fashion forward color collections.^[25]

In October 2010, Klum parted ways with Victoria's Secret after 13 years of working with the brand. She provided a simple explanation in her official statement, stating: "All good things have to come to an end. I will always love Victoria and never tell her secret. It's been an absolute amazing time!"^[26]

It was reported in May 2011 that Klum trails far behind Gisele Bündchen at No. 2 with estimated earnings of $20 million on Forbes' list of the World's Top-Earning Models (2010-2011). Forbes noted that since ending her 13-year run as a Victoria's Secret Angel, Klum has become more of a businesswoman than a model. She's partnered with New Balance and Amazon.com to launch a clothing line and signed a 20-episode deal to host a new show on Lifetime, called Seriously Funny Kids.^[27] In fact, some noted fashion designers have long been commenting on Klum's limited role as a fashion model. Karl Lagerfeld, for example, in 2009 agreed with German designer Wolfgang Joop, who called Klum after she had posed naked on the cover of the German edition of GQ magazine,^[28] "no runway model. She is simply too heavy and has too big a bust".^[29] Lagerfeld observed that neither he nor Claudia Schiffer knew Klum, as she has never worked in Paris and was insignificant in the world of fashion, being "more bling bling and glamorous than current fashion."^[30]

Producing[link]

Project Runway season three finalist Laura Bennett interviews Klum and Seal at the 59th Emmy Awards.

In December 2004, Klum became the host, judge and executive producer of the reality show Project Runway on the U.S. cable television channel Bravo (airing on Lifetime television beginning in 2009), in which fashion designers compete for the opportunity to show their line at New York Fashion Week and receive money to launch their own fashion line. She received an Emmy Award nomination for the show for each of the first four seasons.^[31][32] In 2008, Klum and Project Runway received a Peabody Award, the first time a reality show won the award.^[33] Klum was nominated for an Emmy in 2008 for "outstanding host of a reality or reality-competition show" for Project Runway, the first year that category was recognized by the Emmys.^[32]

Klum has been the host, judge and co-producer of Germany's Next Topmodel, the German version of the internationally successful reality television show, since 2006. All five seasons aired on the German TV station ProSieben.

Design and other business ventures[link]

Klum designed clothing lines (one for men), featured in the German mail-order catalog "Otto". She designed shoes for Birkenstock, jewelry for Mouawad, a clothing line for Jordache, and swimsuits – featured in the 2002 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.^{[citation needed]} She was one of the designers of the Victoria's Secret lingerie line "The Body", named after the nickname she received following her first Victoria's Secret Fashion Show appearance.^[34] Her Mouawad jewelry collection debuted on the cable shopping network QVC on September 14, 2006, and 14 of the 16 styles sold out after 36 minutes.^[35] Klum's clothing line for Jordache launched on April 30, 2008.^[36]

Klum has two fragrances, called "Heidi Klum" and "Me". She designed makeup for Victoria's Secret as part of their "Very Sexy Makeup Collection", titled "The Heidi Klum Collection". The first run debuted in Fall 2007. A second run was released in Fall 2008.^[37]

Klum was involved in the development of a namesake rose, the Heidi Klum rose,^[38][39] which is available in Germany.

For the 2008 US Open, Klum designed a screen print t-shirt which was sold at the US Open shop. It featured child-like butterfly pictures. Proceeds will go to a non-profit organization maintaining the park, which is home to the US Open.^{[citation needed]}

Heidi became Barbie's official ambassador for the doll's 50th anniversary in 2009, even having made a Barbie doll out of herself.^[40] On April 1 that same year, she appeared on the CBS television special, I Get That a Lot, as a girl working at a pizza shop.^{[citation needed]} That same year, she appeared in advertising for Dannon's Light & Fit brand.^{[citation needed]}

Klum and husband Seal announced in June 2010 that they will be making a reality series on Lifetime titled Love's Divine (after Seal's song of the same name.)^[41]

In January 2010, Klum launched two lines of maternity wear: Lavish by Heidi Klum for A Pea in the Pod, and Loved by Heidi Klum for Motherhood Maternity. Klum stated, "I experienced fashion challenges during my four pregnancies and combined my knowledge of what works in terms of style, comfort and practicality to create these lines".^[42]

In October 2010, Klum with New Balance, HKNB, launched a line of active woman's wear fashion clothing on Amazon.com.^{[citation needed]}

Klum is a "Real Celebrity" on the website Stardoll, where she has a line of virtual jewelry, and a virtual clothing line called Jordache. Users can go to Klum's suite (address) and interact with her by doing interviews, sending pending requests or dressing Klum's doll.^{[citation needed]}

Other work[link]

Klum is an artist, and had several of her paintings appear in various art magazines in the U.S. On September 27, 2002 she dedicated a sculpture she painted called "Dog with Butterflies" to commemorate the role of rescue dogs in the aftermath of September 11.^[43]

In 2004, Klum co-authored Heidi Klum's Body of Knowledge with Elle magazine editor Alexandra Postman. The book gives Klum's biography as well as her advice on becoming successful. Prior to that, Klum had been an occasional guest columnist for the German television network RTL's website. She wrote an essay for the German newspaper Die Zeit.^[44]

In November 2006, Klum released her debut single "Wonderland", written for a series of television advertisements for the German retailer "Douglas". Proceeds were given to a children's charity in her hometown of Bergisch Gladbach.^{[citation needed]} She contributed to her husband Seal's 2007 album System, singing the duet "Wedding Day", a song that Seal wrote for their wedding.^[45]

Personal life[link]

In 1997, Klum married stylist Ric Pipino; the couple divorced in 2002.^[46]

She began a relationship with 53 year old Flavio Briatore (the managing director of Renault's Formula One team)^[47] in 2003. The following year, Klum publicly announced her pregnancy. She gave birth to their first child, Helene Boshoven "Leni" Klum, on May 4, 2004 in New York City.^[48]

In early 2004, while still pregnant, Klum began a relationship with musician Seal.^[49] Seal was present for Leni's birth and Klum has stated emphatically that "Seal is Leni's father".^[50]

Klum and Seal became engaged in December 2004 on a glacier in Whistler, British Columbia^[51] and married on May 10, 2005 on a beach in Mexico.^[52] They have three biological children together: sons Henry Gunther Ademola Dashtu Samuel (born September 12, 2005)^[53] and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel (born November 22, 2006),^[54] and daughter Lou Sulola Samuel (born October 9, 2009).^[55] On November 21, 2009, Klum officially adopted Seal's surname and became legally known as Heidi Samuel.^[56] Soon after, in December 2009, Seal officially adopted Leni, and her last name was changed to Samuel.^[57] During their marriage, Klum and Seal renewed their vows to one another each year on their anniversary in front of family and friends.^[58] On January 22, 2012, the couple announced that they were separating after almost seven years of marriage.^[59][60][61] She filed for divorce three months later on April 6, 2012. She also requested that her name be restored to her birth name of Heidi Klum.^[62]

Philanthropy[link]

Klum spends time at Children's Hospital Los Angeles visiting patients.^[63] On April 30, 2011, Klum led Walk for Kids, a community 5k to raise funds as part of the hospital's community awareness efforts.^[64]

Legal issues[link]

An unemployed Chemnitz butcher who used Klum's picture in advertising for a local dance on a flyer and a web page, contested her subsequent takedown notice in court and lost, forcing him to pay court costs of €2,300. German actress Jenny Elvers Elbertzhagen has pledged to pay on his behalf.^[65][66]

Filmography[link]

Heidi Klum appeared in episodes of TV shows like Malcolm in the Middle (as a toothless hockey player) and Cursed. She has also guest-starred as herself in I Get That a Lot, Spin City, Sex and the City, CSI: Miami, How I Met Your Mother, Yes, Dear, Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. Further, the character of Katya Nadanova in the video game James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing features her voice.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]