Culture

Family

Nature

Science

Subscribe

Fans are in stitches after woman’s wildly incorrect, whimsical ‘Wheel of Fortune’ guess

The show took a turn for the bizarre.

By

Tod Perry

By

Upworthy Staff

wheel of fortune, ogres, shrek
Photo credit: @Rick_Life_Coach/X – Can you solve this "Wheel of Fortune" puzzle?

Is there any game show that allows contestants to royally embarrass themselves on national TV quite like “Wheel of Fortune”? There’s always someone going viral for taking a big swing and missing on a phrase that seemed pretty apparent to the casual viewer. And when you take a big loss on a “Wheel of Fortune” word puzzle, there are a lot of folks shaking their heads at home. More than 8 million people watch the game show every night.

The latest victim of the wheel is Gishma Tabari from Encino, California, whose fantasy-inspired whiff of a common phrase earned her a lot of groans and some support from those who thought her imagination was inspiring. The 3-word puzzle read: “TH _ _ RITI _ S _ GR _ E,” and Tabari offered the answer, “The British Ogre.” The guess surprised host Pat Sajak, who responded, “Uh, no.” Tabari must have missed that there was a space between the R and the E in the puzzle, so ogre would have had to be spelled with 2 Rs.

She also probably wasn’t aware that England isn’t a place known for its ogres.

The correct answer was: “The Critics Agree.”

The answer inspired a lot of activity on X, where people couldn’t believe someone could come up with such a fanciful answer to a puzzle with such a straightforward solution.

Michael created a lovely Photoshop image of what could be the British Ogre.

Not everyone had a problem with the guess.

The incorrect guess is an opportunity for the world to learn that ogres aren’t a significant part of English folklore. Sure, there are characters in English myths and legends that have ogre-like qualities, such as Grendel from “Beowulf,” the monstrous creature that terrorizes the mead hall of King Hrothgar. There’s also the Boggart, a mischievous spirit much like a hobgoblin and trolls, which appear in some English tales although they originate in Scandinavia.

If you’re looking for ogres in Europe, France is the best place to go.

The word ogre is of French descent and comes from the name of the Etruscan god of the underworld, Orcus. Orcus is a large, ugly, bearded giant who enjoys consuming human flesh. Ogres are primarily known for eating children, which they believe will give them eternal life.

As for “Wheel of Fortune,” the show will undergo significant changes over the next few years. The show’s host, Pat Sajak, 76, has announced that he is stepping down from the show at the end of the 2024 season after hosting it for 41 years. In September 2024, radio host and “American Idol” emcee Ryan Seacrest will take over the hosting spot.

Seacrest says that changes to the show will be minimal once he takes over.

“With this game show, it’s such a success and has been for generations,” Seacrest said in a new interview with People. “You don’t mess with it, just don’t mess with it. Just get out of the way, say ‘good evening,’ and let’s play.”

This article originally appeared last year.

Add to Google News

Tags

More for You

  • Heckler flirts with comedian on stage and it turns into a surprise masterclass on romantic chemistry
    Photo credit: Canva – Female comedian (left) Male audience member (right)
    ,

    Heckler flirts with comedian on stage and it turns into a surprise masterclass on romantic chemistry

    “… and, that is how I met your mother.”

    Heather Wake

    Dealing with hecklers just comes with the territory of being a comedian. But flirting with them? That wasn’t something Rebecca Reingold had prepared for. 

    On March 11, the New York City-based stand-up comic uploaded a recent set to her Instagram aptly captioned “We found love in a hopeless place (a comedy club).”

    In the now-viral clip, Reingold shared a bit about not being “good” at flirting with men, saying that she would inadvertently “be mean” to them “because they liked it.”

    Playful roasting turns into something more

    rebecca reingold, comedy, stand-up comedy
    Microphone against a blurry backdrop Photo credit: Canva

    Then, during the set, someone from the crowd must have been talking too enthusiastically, because Reingold playfully called them out for being loud. This someone, a man, responded that he was with his parents at the show, to which Reingold quipped, “You look bad. Your parents look a lot younger than you.”

    Without missing a beat, the man in the audience responded that, given the logic she gave just moments earlier, she must like him, since she was throwing shots at him. 

    “Oh yeah, you’re right! That does mean I like you! You were listening. Oh my god, I’m in love,” said Reingold, blushing. “You’re so annoying but so loveable so its so tough, you know what I mean?”

    The Internet wastes no time weighing in

    Over 16 million viewers later, and people were applauding both Reingold’s ability to go with the flow, and this mysterious man’s mad game. Many were hoping that this became an actual meet-cute. 

    “Damn she really turned red when she realised he listened.”

    “You handled this so well 👏🙌”

    “… and, that is how I met your mother.”

    “The fact that he did not drop the ‘I’ll shut up in exchange for your number’ line is mind boggling to me.”

    “So when’s the wedding. Lol”

    Romantic antagonism IRL

    Perhaps people were rallying for this interaction to lead to romantic entanglement because it resembles the ever-popular enemies-to-lovers trope found in countless rom-coms and romantasies. This dynamic of building attraction through animosity and tension makes for great entertainment…but does it make for healthy relationships in real life? The annoying but accurate answer is, of course: it depends.

    Primarily, it depends on a) whether both partners are enjoying the teasing and b) whether the jokes are landing in sensitive territory. If both those parameters are met, it can become its own love language. If not, then it can foster resentment. 

    This can obviously become even more complicated when it comes to flirting, since there is already a lot of indirect language happening between strangers. But at least in this case it looked like everyone was having a good time.

    Sadly, it has yet to be revealed whether or not Reingold and this heckler ever did connect after the show. We’ll just have to wait and see. In the meantime, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram to stay tuned on both her comedy stylings and, perhaps, her love life.  

    Keep Reading →
  • Anne Hathaway praised after casually dropping Arabic phrase in interview
    Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons – Hands writing in Arabic, left, and Anne Hathaway.
    ,

    Anne Hathaway praised after casually dropping Arabic phrase in interview

    “Use it the way Anne Hathaway used it.”

    Heather Wake

    During an interview with People promoting the upcoming The Devil Wears Prada 2, Anne Hathaway was asked how she navigates growing older. She noted the importance of taking self-care seriously, remaining curious, and appreciating being in a place where you can assess decisions made earlier in life.

    But it was what she said next, almost as an afterthought, that really got folks talking. 

    “I wanna have a long, healthy life. Inshallah, I hope so,” she casually but sincerely told her interviewer. The phrase, also spelled “insh’Allah,” translates to “if God wills” or “God willing,” and is deeply rooted in Islam.

    @people

    #AnneHathaway is embracing aging on her own terms and not getting swept up in the noise along the way. #WorldsMostBeautiful

    ♬ original sound – People Magazine

    However, it is also part of Arab culture in general. Religious or otherwise, people use it to convey resolute hope for the future while acknowledging that life follows its own plan.

    Bridge-building moment

    This ignited a positive frenzy online among Muslim and Arabic viewers, who were not only thrilled to hear the term used, but to hear it used correctly.

    Rather than being seen as performative, the overall consensus was that this was a refreshing, bridge-building moment across cultures.

    “Use it the way Anne Hathaway used it—honestly, humbly, in a moment when you genuinely want something good and know that wanting is only the beginning,” praised author Qasim Rashid. 

    Perhaps the timing of this interview has also contributed to its virality. Just weeks ago at Coachella, Sabrina Carpenter received backlash for her “this is weird” reaction when fans began engaging in the Zaghrouta, a celebratory, high-pitched ululation traditionally used in Arab cultures.

    So, for someone equally high-profile to actually promote rather than seemingly reject a piece of Arab culture has been viewed as a kind of karmic recompense.

    As HuffPost contributor Syeda Khaula Saad put it, “It just feels nice to be represented in mainstream media in an accepting, inclusive light. I hope that we get to see much more, insha’Allah.”

    And as she pointed out, recently another Arabic word was brought into the mainstream when Muslim Egyptian American actor Ramy Youssef taught Elmo to say “habibi” (meaning “my love” or “my friend”) on an episode of Sesame Street.

    This seemed to have a similarly profound impact. 

    “We have been dehumanized, portrayed in the worst way by the media for years.. I swear to GOD elmo saying ‘habibi’ made me teary and somehow healed the inner child that has been called the worst things for being different growing up,” one viewer wrote on Instagram. 

    It goes to show that when it comes to respecting other cultures, it doesn’t take a grand gesture. Even a word, when said correctly and with genuine intent, can extend an olive branch.

    Perhaps this wisdom can be especially applied to mainstream media, where negative stereotypes run rampant alongside baffling overcorrections. Sometimes, it really is as simple as making space for what exists beyond your own lived experience and engaging with it.

    Whether or not you agree that Hathaway executed this perfectly, may we all agree that the world could use more people looking to build bridges rather than reject what’s unfamiliar. 

    Keep Reading →
  • 12 years ago, Kenan Thompson told ‘SNL’ he’d never perform in drag again. It launched careers.
    Photo credit: @SaturdayNightLive on YouTube – Saying no said "yes" for several comedy stars.
    ,

    12 years ago, Kenan Thompson told ‘SNL’ he’d never perform in drag again. It launched careers.

    A refusal to portray women was the career nexus point of many Black women comedians.

    Erik Barnes

    Since childhood, Kenan Thompson has practiced his craft as a comedic actor and sketch performer. As an adult, he’s been making audiences laugh at Saturday Night Live since 2003. During his tenure, he had been in drag lampooning Maya Angelou, Jennifer Hudson, and other Black women who were public figures. In 2013, he refused to portray a woman ever again on SNL. That line in the sand ended up launching many comedy careers.

    At the time, out of the 16 SNL cast members, there were only two other persons of color: Black comedian and actor Jay Pharoah, and Iranian-born American actress, Nasim Pedrad. This meant that either Thompson or Pharoah would have to don a wig and a dress if the show was spoofing a Black woman celebrity. As the longest running cast member on SNL, Thompson felt comfortable to publicly state that he wouldn’t portray a woman ever again. Pharoah backed him up and even pitched potential Black women comedians and producers.

    The audition that launched a new wave of comedians

    The move forced the producers to conduct a search for at least one Black female cast member by January 2014. The search led to Sasheer Zamata, who joined the cast until 2017. Since then, she’s gone on to other opportunities as a stand-up comedian and actress. Some of her roles include movies such as 2021’s The Mitchells vs. the Machines and Marvel and Disney+’s 2024 series Agatha All Along. 

    Even though Zamata claimed the spot on SNL, many of her fellow auditioners were noticed for other comedy jobs. After Zamata’s casting had been announced, the runner-up, Amber Ruffin, was almost immediately staffed as a writer for Late Night with Seth Meyers. Ruffin still currently works as a writer on the show while also getting other opportunities. She wrote her own sitcom, hosted her own comedy talk show, and participates as a talking head on Have I Got News For You.

    There was another future SNL all-star who wasn’t immediately cast, but hired on as a writer. However, she was promoted to a full cast member before the end of 2014. That person? Leslie Jones, who has since launched into film and television superstardom.

    Even though they didn’t get the job, many other funny Black women broke out at that audition. Tiffany Haddish would get recurring roles in TV shows like The Carmichael Show and star in the ultra-popular film, Girls Trip. Nicole Byer would have several live-action and voice-over roles while also hosting reality shows like Nailed It. In fact, Byer co-hosts a podcast with Zamata called Best Friends.

    It should be noted that these women likely would have found success without this SNL audition. Kenan Thompson would not and is not taking credit for their success. However, it is funny how refusing to wear a dress was one small push that created momentum in several different directions for so many talented people.

    Keep Reading →
  • McDonald’s franchisee reveals secret science behind why their Coke tastes better than anyone else’s
    Photo credit: Schu/Flickr – Coke fans say McDonald's soda is the best. A franchise owner reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets that explain why.
    ,

    McDonald’s franchisee reveals secret science behind why their Coke tastes better than anyone else’s

    McDonald’s gets special treatment from Coca-Cola, and it shows.

    Evan Porter

    Diet Coke is the new smoke break. Some people call it a “fridge cigarette,” a mid-afternoon burst of caffeine, carbonation, and flavor that gives stressed out and overworked adults a reason to live. OK, maybe that’s a little overdramatic. But people truly do love their Diet Coke and other Coke products.

    Dentists and doctors might caution about too much of the stuff, but the data doesn’t lie. Soda, and Diet Coke in particular, is still extremely popular. It may even be at or near its all-time peak appeal.

    And anyone who drinks the stuff regularly knows one thing to be true: McDonald’s has the best Coke products around. Bar none. But how?

    McDonald’s franchise owner takes us behind-the-scenes

    “Why is McDonald’s Coke better?”: This question has been asked and answered before, but never in such detail.

    McDonald’s even addresses it on their own website, a sure sign that they’re asked about this constantly. In an FAQ blog post from 2021, they write that they pre-chill the syrup and filter the water before combining. That’s how they ensure the highest quality.

    But, according to franchise owner “McFranchisee,” who posts behind-the-scenes secrets on X, it goes much deeper than that. They recently unfurled a brilliant and detailed thread on the exact science that makes McDonald’s Coke so dang delicious.

    McDonald’s has a deep partnership with Coca-Cola

    Simply put, one reason that McDonald’s Coke tastes so good is because the franchise gets serious special treatment thanks to a decades-old partnership.

    McFranchisee writes, “McDonald’s goes above and beyond to make their drinks elite. They even have their own division at [Coca-Cola headquarters]—no one else does.”

    A handshake deal in the ’50s solidified the partnership while both brands helped each other grow. One way McDonald’s gets the white glove treatment no other fast food chain gets? It’s Coca-Cola syrup is sometimes delivered in stainless steel tanks rather than the traditional plastic bags, which transfers less unwanted flavors into the syrup.

    Special equipment that keeps everything cold

    Your average restaurant keeps the soda syrup stored at room temperature, only to then mix it with cold water to create the final product. Not at McDonald’s.

    McFranchisee shares a video that shows the fast-food chain’s elaborate (and expensive) set up: copper tubing that carries the syrup is surrounded by a thick block of ice that cools it quickly before it mixes with water.

    “If you mix cold water with room temp syrup – you lose some carbonation & bite. This is the heart beat of the Diet Coke you love.”

    The owner adds that McDonald’s strives to keep both the syrups and carbonated cold water between 33 and 36 degrees Fahrenheit. that’s even colder than Coca-Cola’s official recommendation, and it’s a huge reason why the soda tastes so fresh and crispy.

    Ultra-filtered water

    Before tap water even touches the so-carefully-cared-for Coca-Cola syrups at McDonald’s, it’s filtered using some of the best existing technology in the world.

    McFranchisee explains that good filtration isn’t just about removing everything from tap water, though.

    “When we filter the water, we want to make sure there are still minerals in the water. If you take all the minerals out, there’s nothing for the carbonation to attach to. In some instances, we have to add minerals to the water to get the correct carbonation.”

    Anecdotally, customers say a cup of plain ice water from McDonald’s is some of the clearest and tastiest around. And speaking of ice…

    Special slow-melting ice

    If you didn’t even know “non-porous ice” was a thing, you’re not alone. Ice made in traditional trays and automatic freezers freezes from all directions at once, trapping air pockets and impurities inside the cubes.

    McDonald’s makes use of special, “directionally frozen” ice.

    Clearly Frozen, who makes a non-porous home icemaker, writes, “The directional freezing process pushes dissolved air, minerals and other impurities – even bacteria – out of your ice. … Clear ice cubes also melt more slowly than cloudy ice, so they keep your drink ice cold with much less dilution!”

    That’s why a McDonald’s Coke holds up so well on the drive home. The ice is specially engineered not to melt and dilute your drink.

    Wide-mouth straw

    The Coca-Cola drinking experience at McDonald’s wouldn’t be complete without just the right straw. McDonald’s straws, McFranchisee writes, are wider than most restaurants’.

    That means more soda-per-sip, for more flavor, and also a bigger burst of carbonation in your mouth at once. It heightens the experience.

    Finally, the partnership between McDonald’s and Coca-Cola means a Coke expert visits most restaurants every three months to re-calibrate everything and check the entire system.

    If you’re a Coke or Diet Coke lover and you seem to find yourself drawn to McDonald’s beverages like a moth to a flame, you’re not imagining it. There’s a lot of extremely complex and expensive science involved in delivering the most delicious soda possible. Now if they can only get those pesky ice cream machines to stay online.

    Keep Reading →
  • Sunbather doesn’t budge when Harry and Meghan’s entourage has to walk around her. She’s the internet’s new hero.
    Photo credit: Mark Jones via Wikimedia Commons – (L) Meghan Markle and Prince Harry; (R) A sunbather reads a book.
    ,

    Sunbather doesn’t budge when Harry and Meghan’s entourage has to walk around her. She’s the internet’s new hero.

    A beachgoer couldn’t be bothered by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit and the internet is absolutely obsessed with her: “The level of not giving a f* I dream of achieving.”

    Adam Albright-Hanna

    Upworthy Staff

    When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited Bondi Beach on April 17, they were surrounded by the usual circus: paparazzi, crowds, bodyguards in matching uniforms, the whole production. One woman lay on her mat in the middle of it all, scribbling in her notebook, wearing sunglasses, and apparently not giving a single thought to any of it.

    A TikTok clip posted by News.com.au captured the moment as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walked the beach during the final day of their Australian tour. Their entourage had to navigate around her. She did not look up. The royal couple’s eyes tracked her as they passed. She continued writing.

    News.com.au summed it up in their caption: “One woman’s complete indifference is peak Bondi attitude.”

    @news.com.au

    One woman’s complete indifference is peak Bondi attitude. #princeharry #meghanmarkle #bondibeach #sydney #royals

    ♬ original sound – News.com.au

    The internet agreed enthusiastically. “The level of not giving a f* I dream of achieving,” one commenter wrote. “Peak unbothered,” said another. “Well done to that lady for not giving a damn,” a Facebook commenter added.

    The coda that made the story perfect: a TikTok commenter recognized the woman as her sister and revealed she thought the crowd had gathered around an actor.

    Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, viral, Australia, celebrity
    Aerial view of Bondi Beach in Australia. Photo credit: Canva

    The visit itself was a quieter affair than Harry and Meghan’s 2018 Australian tour, when they were still working royals and the reception was considerably more ceremonial.

    This trip included stops to support volunteer first responders at the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, a Masterchef Australia appearance, and promotion of Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle brand. The Guardian described it as less a royal tour than something else entirely. One woman on a beach mat seems to have agreed.

    Keep Reading →
  • A child star from ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ got expelled while filming. The principal framed the letter Robin Williams wrote in response.
    Photo credit: 20th Century Fox – Robin Williams as the inspiring English teacher John Keating in "Dead Poets Society."
    ,

    A child star from ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ got expelled while filming. The principal framed the letter Robin Williams wrote in response.

    Robin Williams wrote a letter to the principal who expelled his 15-year-old co-star during Mrs. Doubtfire. The principal framed it. And still didn’t let her back in.

    Adam Albright-Hanna

    Upworthy Staff

    Lisa Jakub was 15 years old and filming Mrs. Doubtfire when her high school sent her a letter saying not to come back.

    She’d been a 9th grader at a Canadian school when production started. With no internet to submit work digitally, she’d set up a system to mail her assignments back and forth. It worked … until it didn’t. A few months in, the school decided the arrangement wasn’t working for them, and Jakub was out.

    At 15, she was devastated. Robin Williams noticed she was upset, and did what Robin Williams apparently just did: he wrote a letter to the principal asking them to support her education and her career.

    Jakub shared the story during a Mrs. Doubtfire cast reunion on the Brotherly Love podcast, and the punchline is perfect: “The principal got the letter, framed the letter, put it up in the office, and didn’t ask me to come back.”

    She got into the University of Virginia anyway. When she did, a teaching assistant handed back a statistics assignment with the note: “Dear Doubtfire Girl, you got a B-.”

    What she also got, from her time on set with Williams, was something harder to grade. She described working with him as a crash course in presence and spontaneity, which was a total departure from the scripted rhythms she’d learned as a child actor. “We had always used a script, so I knew when it was my turn to speak, I could say my line. Then you go on set with Robin, and it’s like, who the f*ck knows what’s going to happen now?”

    He also later wrote her a recommendation letter for college. The school never did ask her back. She turned out fine.

    Keep Reading →
  • Sorry, ‘Miss Congeniality,’ meteorologists agree April 25 isn’t even close to the perfect date
    Photo credit: The Chow Hall/YouTube & Canva – A scene from "Miss Congeniality" and a woman enjoying the sun.
    ,

    Sorry, ‘Miss Congeniality,’ meteorologists agree April 25 isn’t even close to the perfect date

    “I’d have to say April 25th because it’s not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket.”

    Tod Perry

    In 2000’s Miss Congeniality, Sandra Bullock’s character goes undercover as an FBI agent posing as a contestant in a beauty pageant. One of the film’s most memorable lines comes when the pageant host, portrayed by William Shatner, asks Miss Rhode Island to describe her “perfect date.”

    Shatner’s character is beside himself when Miss Rhode Island, played by Heather Burns, describes her perfect calendar date instead of a romantic rendezvous. “I’d have to say April 25th because it’s not too hot, not too cold. All you need is a light jacket,” she responds.

    Since the movie’s release, April 25 has become known in some circles as “Miss Congeniality Day,” a pop-culture holiday celebrating the amazing spring weather.

    Does April 25 have the best weather of the year?

    However, does April 25 really have the best weather of any day of the year? Is it the day when the Earth is at the perfect distance from the sun so it’s not too hot and not too cold? The meteorology team at WeatherBug, a people-first forecasting app, analyzed U.S. weather patterns from 2018 to the present day and found that, unfortunately for Miss Rhode Island, April 25 isn’t even close to the best day of the year.

    The WeatherBug team discovered that October 8 is “The Perfect Date,” claiming that it “most consistently delivers the ideal combination of comfortable temperatures and minimal rainfall across the country.” October 8 is the strongest contender for the “Perfect Date” title because it consistently delivers the lowest amount of rainfall, just 0.0573 inches, and a comfortable average temperature of 66°F.

    weatherbug, weather chart, good weather
    “The Perfect Date” Photo credit: WeatherBug (used with permission)

    April 25 ranks 80th, with 0.1297 inches of rain and an average temperature of 60°F. Over the past eight years, the best day for weather in America was May 9, 2022. There was virtually no rain and an average temperature of 68°F nationwide.

    “Through years of daily weather pattern monitoring and weighing precipitation amounts by population size through WeatherBug’s extensive database of active users, we’ve determined April 25th might hold a special place in pop culture, but the date actually ranks 80th measured against the 365 days of the year,” Brittney Gomez, a meteorologist at WeatherBug, said in a statement. “April 25th saw an average of 0.1297 inches of precipitation in the past 8 years, with an average temperature of 60°F. So, while it might not be the ‘perfect date,’ April 25th is still ‘light jacket’ friendly.”

    What are the hottest and coldest days of the year?

    The team also found that the hottest day of the year is July 14, reaching a nationwide average of 81°F, and that January 20 is the coldest, averaging just 33°F.

    When most people hear that April 25 is the nicest day of the year, they probably take it at face value. It’s a nice spring day—who’s gonna challenge the idea? However, the opinion is coming from Miss Rhode Island, a woman who misunderstood a very basic question at a beauty pageant. While we all nodded our heads in agreement, we never considered the source of the information. So, good on WeatherBug for challenging the status quo and giving us a reason to look forward to early October.

    Keep Reading →
  • Leonard Nimoy explained the surprising back story to Star Trek’s most iconic quote, ‘Live Long and Prosper’
    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peace_and_Long_Life.jpgStar Trek's Leonard Nimoy explains origin story of "Live long and prosper" quote.
    ,

    Leonard Nimoy explained the surprising back story to Star Trek’s most iconic quote, ‘Live Long and Prosper’

    The origins of Mr. Spock’s notorious Vulcan salute.

    Emily Shiffer

    Actor Leonard Nimoy portrayed one of the most famous characters in pop culture: Mr. Spock on Star Trek. Nimoy’s real life helped inspire one of the most famous quotes said by Spock that continues to inspire the world: “Live long and prosper.”

    The simple sentence was said by Nimoy’s character in a 1967 episode from Star Trek‘s second season called “Amok Time.”

    In a 2012 interview with StarTrek.com, Nimoy explained: “The idea came when I saw the way Joe (Pevney, the episode’s director) was staging the scene. He had me approach T’Pau and I felt a greeting gesture was called for. So I suggested it to Joe, who accepted it immediately.”

    The inspiration behind “Live long and prosper”

    Nimoy explained that “live long and prosper” came from his experience attending Orthodox Jewish Synagogue in an inner-city neighborhood called the West End in Boston. He shared that both the phrase and the Vulcan salute (the V-shaped hand signal made famous by Spock) were directly inspired by his time there.

    “I still have a vivid memory of the first time I saw the use of the split-fingered hands being extended to the congregation in blessing,” he told the website. “There were a group of five or six men facing the congregation and chanting in passionate shouts of a Hebrew benediction. It would translate to ‘May the Lord bless you and keep you,’…etc.”

    Nimoy went on to add, “And when I saw the split-fingered gesture of these men… I was entranced. I learned to do it simply because it seemed so magical.”

    It was a life-changing idea for Nimoy and Star Trek fans. He said, “It was probably 25 years later that I introduced that gesture as a Vulcan greeting in Star Trek and it has resonated with fans around the world ever since. It gives me great pleasure since it is, after all, a blessing.”

    @startrek

    May you all live long and prosper 🖖 #StarTrek #LLAP

    ♬ original sound – Star Trek – Star Trek

    Remembering Leonard Nimoy

    Leonard Nimoy was born on March 26, 1931, in Boston, Massachusetts. He was born to Jewish Ukrainian parents, and began acting in community theatre at a young age.

    His interest in acting led him to California to study at the Pasadena Playhouse in 1949. Early in his career, he not only acted, but also wrote and directed. After many years slugging it, Nimoy’s big success came when he landed his role on Star Trek in 1966.

    Nimoy was influential in the character development of Spock.

     “[During a scene once,] Spock had one word to say and the word was ‘fascinating.’ And we’re looking at this thing on the screen and I got caught up in that energy and I said, ‘fascinating!’” he told the Television Academy. “And the director gave me a brilliant note which said: ‘Be different. Be the scientist. Be detached. See it as something that’s a curiosity rather than a threat.’ I said, ‘fascinating.’ Well, a big chunk of the character was born right there.”

    Nimoy died in February 2015 at age 83 due to chronic lung disease, COPD. Despite the loss of one of the greats, his legacy lives on.

    Keep Reading →
senior weightlifting, senior health, emmie sanh, osteoporosis
Health

Strong 71-year-old woman is showing that heavy weightlifting is for seniors. Doctors agree.

socrates, philosopher socrates, identity, self-identity, self-knowledge
Skills

Philosopher Socrates offered the perfect advice for anyone struggling with self-identity

stand up comedy, comedy, rebecca reingold
Culture

Heckler flirts with comedian on stage and it turns into a surprise masterclass on romantic chemistry

family, parenthood, childbirth, hospital mixup, culture
Family

Man strokes strange woman’s hair as she slept in hilariously embarrassing mixup

graduation, cap and gown, college, milestones
Wholesome

40-something woman who grew up in foster care beats the odds in college graduation video

Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox.

Advertisement

Featured

All Featured Stories →
faith, job loss, viral, inspiration, TikTok
Culture

She got fired from her bank job on the way home, sat on the train, said a prayer. Her phone rang 15 seconds later.

Adam Albright-Hanna & Upworthy Staff
education, gender, parenting, middle school, viral
Family

A middle school Greek history simulation asked girls to act subservient to boys for weeks. One mom asked a simple question: was this necessary?

Adam Albright-Hanna & Upworthy Staff
kindness, housing, landlords, pay it forward, viral
Culture

Tenant got a $2,500 check in the mail from an ex-landlord who sold the house.The note that came with it is something else.

Adam Albright-Hanna & Upworthy Staff
anne hathaway, anne hathaway inshallah, devil wears prada 2
Culture

Anne Hathaway praised after casually dropping Arabic phrase in interview

Heather Wake