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Justice Ginsburg has pancreatic cancer surgery
PUBLISHED: February 5, 2009 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: August 29, 2017 at 1:35 a.m.
WASHINGTON – Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery Thursday for pancreatic cancer, raising the possibility that one of the ideologically divided court's leading liberals – and its only woman – might have to curtail her work or even step down before she had planned.
Ginsburg, 75, has been a justice since 1993. She has been increasingly vocal in recent years about the court's more conservative stances, especially after the appointments made by President George W. Bush.
Pancreatic cancer is often deadly, although the court said doctors apparently found Ginsburg's growth at an early stage.
In 1999, she had colon cancer surgery, underwent radiation and chemotherapy, and never missed a day on the bench. Statistics suggest this could be a tougher fight.
Ginsburg underwent the surgery at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She will remain in the hospital for seven to 10 days, said her surgeon, Dr. Murray Brennan, according to the court. The justices hold their next private conference on Feb. 20 and return to the bench from their winter break on Feb. 23.
President Barack Obama expressed hope for her speedy recovery, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday, and offered his thoughts and prayers.
If Ginsburg or another justice leaves the court, it falls to Obama to pick a successor. Anyone he might choose to replace her probably would be as liberal as she, if not more so, keeping in place the 5-4 conservative tilt of the court.
Ginsburg is only the second female justice in the nation's history. The other was Sandra Day O'Connor, who retired in 2006, and Ginsburg has lamented being the only woman on the court.
In the spring of 2007, she vented her frustration with the court's increasingly conservative tone by writing two sharp dissents that were made even more notable by her decision to read from them in the courtroom.
Objecting to a decision that upheld a nationwide ban on an abortion procedure that opponents call partial-birth abortion, Ginsburg said the ruling "cannot be understood as anything other than an effort to chip away at a right declared again and again by this court – and with increasing comprehension of its centrality to women's lives."
A short while later, the court threw out a discrimination suit by Lilly Ledbetter, a longtime Goodyear supervisor who was paid thousands of dollars a year less than her male peers. "In our view, this court does not comprehend, or is indifferent to, the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination," Ginsburg said.
She urged Congress to change the law to allow lawsuits like Ledbetter's. Just last week, Obama signed the change into law.
Ginsburg was born in New York City. She's a lover of opera and is perhaps personally closest on the court to her ideological opposite, Antonin Scalia. The justices have vacationed together – a photo in her office shows the two atop an elephant – and routinely mark New Year's Eve with an elaborate meal prepared by their spouses.
Ginsburg was a federal appeals court judge in Washington before President Bill Clinton appointed her. She served as a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union before that and argued six cases before the high court.
The new cancer was discovered during a routine, annual exam late last month at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. A CAT scan revealed a tumor measuring about 1 centimeter across at the center of the pancreas, the court said.
The court offered few details about the operation or her anticipated course of treatment.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. Nearly 38,000 cases a year are diagnosed and overall less than 5 percent of patients survive five years.
The reason: Fewer than one in 10 cases are diagnosed at an early stage – like Ginsburg's appears to be – before the cancer has begun spreading through the abdomen and beyond. That's because early pancreatic cancer produces few symptoms other than vague indigestion.
Even when caught early, surgery for pancreatic cancer is arduous. Doctors typically remove parts of the pancreas, stomach and intestines. Radiation and chemotherapy are common after surgery.
Ginsburg's prognosis depends on a number of factors, including whether the tumor, despite its small size, had begun spreading to the lymph nodes, and what specific type it was. Most are aggressive, although a small proportion of patients have what Dr. John Marshall, a pancreatic cancer specialist at Georgetown University Hospital, calls "quieter ones."
"We want to be in that early group so we can have the surgery and have a potential chance at cure, but it is a big operation and a disease that does tend to spread even very early," he cautioned.
Even those few patients who qualify for surgery seldom are cured by it. So chemotherapy is standard to extend survival, which is still only about 20 percent at five years for people diagnosed in early stages.
Studies are under way to try to find better therapies. Among them: testing if an immune therapy can block the return of tumors that contain a specific genetic mutation.
Brennan, her doctor, is a leading specialist on pancreatic and stomach cancers and has helped to build a computer program and database of thousands of patients with sarcomas, or soft-tissue tumors, that help to predict their survival chances for at least 12 years after diagnosis.
Brennan was chairman of Sloan-Kettering's surgery department from 1985 until June 2006 and is past president of the American Surgical Association.
AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this report.


This devastating massacre in New Zealand is a cowardly, terrorist attack from right wing, evil people. Disgusting and evil on every level.
Forty people have been shot dead and 20 injured in shootings at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch during Friday afternoon prayers.
Four suspects – three men and a woman – were taken into custody and multiple explosive devices found attached to cars in the city. One person was later released. Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said one of the suspects in the "rightwing extremist attack" was an Australian-born citizen.
New Zealand's threat level has been raised from low to high.
The city was placed in lockdown, with schools and public buildings closed. Nearby climate change protests were evacuated and council staff looked after children separated from their relatives in the chaos. The school lockdown was later lifted but residents urged to stay indoors.
The attacker is believed to have livestreamed at least one of the attacks. Police have urged people not to share the "distressing" footage.
Earlier, Ardern spoke of the attacker's motivation, saying the victims might include refugees and migrants. "They are us," she said, before saying the perpetrator "has no place in New Zealand".
The two mosques targeted were the Al Noor mosque, where 30 people died, and the Linwood Islamic Centre, where 10 were killed.
Police have now arrested three people in connection to deadly shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, confirming a number of explosive devices were also found in cars.
There are reports of at least 40 fatalities and some 50 injuries after attacks at both Al Noor Mosque in the city's centre and Masjid mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
One of the gunmen, who identified himself on Twitter as a 28-year-old Australian named Brenton Tarrant, Livestreamed the shooting and shared the horrifying 17 minutes video to Facebook.
Police in Christchurch say three people are now in custody in connection to the attacks, and the military has disarmed a number of improvised explosive devices attached to two vehicles.
"But let's not presume that the danger is gone," Police Commissioner Mike Bush said.
Every door at Christchurch Hospital is locked and being guarded by police, with only clear emergency cases being allowed in. A lockdown of all schools has now been lifted.
Meanwhile, Britomart train station in downtown Auckland is in lockdown after the discovery of unattended backpacks.
The attacker, who claims to be from Grafton in northern New South Wales, reloads his rifle multiple times and walks in and out of rooms in an apparent attempt to make sure all people inside are dead.
He leaves the mosque after a few minutes and then walks back out the front gate, where he shoots a volley of gunfire up and down the street.
The video also shows his car boot containing two black rifles covered in white writing, petrol containers and a bag that reads "PROUDLY KIWI AS".
In the days leading up to the attack, the man suspected of being behind the attack posted photos to his now-suspended Twitter account of what appeared to be guns, ammunition and a military-style vest.
The weaponry pictured is scrawled with references to ancient battles and more recent attacks against Muslims.
A New Zealand Herald reporter was told by witnesses that Tarrant left the mosque after the shooting and "actively" pursued a child down the street. That child is believed to be dead.
Another witness reported seeing the body of a five-year-old boy inside one of the buildings.
A man in the Linwood Ave mosque told Radio NZ there were 110 people in there at the time.
It's understood about 300 people were inside the Hagley Park mosque for afternoon prayers when one of the shootings happened.
I'm in shock, how could this happen? It's so sad.
This is where the politics of division leads. The so-called leaders who stoke the fires of mistrust, fear and hatred need to be held accountable.
Sickening. No words for people like this. I hadn't heard about the child...just breaks my heart.
When the news broke I was in a panic because my sister is there for a holiday. She's OK, but had been in the botanical gardens next to one of the mosques 20 minutes before it happened.
It's awful, inhuman and disgusting.
Really, this is what we reap will all hate sown these past ten years.
RIP Hope for the best for those injured. It's one of the most disturbing videos I've seen on the net..horrific!
True. Even on the same day of this horrific, sickening , violent, hate filled massacre of innocent people, some far right politicians and writers are again fuelling hate and trying to shift the blame from the evil scum who did this. It is sickening and heart breaking that yet again, hate filled terrorists can have such disregard for the lives of innocent people.
Atrocious and unbelievable. RIP to the victims. But again this is what you get when you try to push the right wing agenda as the new normal.
I urge everyone not to look for the video.
^ Fraser Anning is a right wing extremist who is racist, homophobic and anti climate change. He is the same idiot who caused mass outrage when he used the words " Final solution" against Muslims in a speech in Parliament. He is hated by the over whelming majority of Australians who are disgusted in him. He went to a white supremacist rally, wants to overturn the marriage equality decision and his tweets today have appalled all. Many are calling for him to be sacked from the Australian parliament.
One of the right wing extremists who have got in by default. He is even too extreme for right wing parties ( whom he has fallen out with ) including other racist right wingers in Pauline Hanson and Bob Katter and sits as an independent. As an Australian, I find it unforgivable and disgusting that he in anyway thinks he represents Australia.
And people who watch that video are as guilty as the shooter if you ask me. You worth less than nothing in my book.
Even the thought of watching that video makes me feel sick. Would never watch it.
Also, how was it not stopped from being shown ? Is technology that bad ?
No respect for the victims and giving the evil scum exactly what they wanted - an audience. Just another disgusting factor of this hate filled massacre - the planning and the fact they wanted it seen online. Horrific.
I hope the video is banned by social media and removed.
As a Muslim myself I am deeply upset today. I didn't want my husband to go to Friday prayers today. As a human being who loves all I am horrified and want peace for all.
I think Fraser Anning literally got into the Senate on 19 votes. He's there on some sort of technicality and will hopefully be lanced like the pus-filled boil that he is at the next election.


Melissa Ann McCarthy (born August 26, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer and fashion designer. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and has received nominations for two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. McCarthy was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016, and she has featured multiple times in annual rankings of the highest-paid actresses in the world.
McCarthy began appearing in television and films in the late 1990s, and first gained recognition for her role as Sookie St. James in the television series Gilmore Girls (2000–2007). She played Dena in the ABC sitcom Samantha Who? (2007–2009), before starring as Molly Flynn in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly (2010–2016), for which she won the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Also in 2011, she gained critical acclaim for her performance in the comedy film Bridesmaids, receiving a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
McCarthy went on to star in several commercially successful comedy films, including Identity Thief (2013), The Heat (2013), Tammy (2014), Spy (2015), and The Boss (2016). Her appearances as a host on Saturday Night Live led to a win for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2017. She expanded into dramatic roles by portraying Lee Israel in the biographical drama Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), for which she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone are the founders of the production company On the Day, under which they have collaborated on several comedy films. In 2015, she launched her own clothing line for plus-sized women, named Melissa McCarthy Seven7, and she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
McCarthy was born in Plainfield, Illinois to Sandra and Michael McCarthy. She is a cousin of actress and model Jenny McCarthy and professional basketball player Joanne McCarthy. McCarthy was raised on a farm in a large Catholic family. Her father is of Irish descent, while her mother is of English, German, and Irish ancestry. Some of her forebears were from County Cork. She graduated from St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) in Joliet, Illinois. Her career started with stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, and later in New York City. McCarthy is an alumna of The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe based in Los Angeles, California.
1997–2010: Early work, Gilmore Girls and Samantha Who?
McCarthy made her first television appearance in an episode of the NBC comedy series Jenny, opposite her cousin Jenny McCarthy. She made her feature film debut in a minor role in the 1999 comedy Go, and later had roles in the movies Drowning Mona, Disney's The Kid, Charlie's Angels, The Third Wheel and The Life of David Gale. She also worked in three episodes of Kim Possible, voicing DNAmy. In 2000, McCarthy was cast as Sookie St. James, the upbeat and klutzy best friend of Lorelai Gilmore, on The WB television series Gilmore Girls. Throughout the series, Sookie is Lorelai's business partner and cheerleader. On April 7, 2016, McCarthy announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that she would be returning for the show's revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, on Netflix. The latter was released November 25, 2016 and McCarthy appears in one of its four episodes.
In 2007, she starred opposite Ryan Reynolds in the science fantasy psychological thriller The Nines, written and directed by John August. She later starred in the independent comedies The Captain, Just Add Water, and Pretty Ugly People. Also in 2007, McCarthy starred as Dena Stevens on the ABC sitcom Samantha Who?. McCarthy played Samantha's socially awkward childhood best friend, whom Samantha hasn't seen since seventh grade. When Samantha wakes from her coma, Dena convinces Samantha that they have always been best friends. While Andrea eventually forces her to reveal the truth, Samantha still remains friends with Dena. She guest starred in Rita Rocks and on Private Practice. In 2010, McCarthy played supporting roles in films The Back-Up Plan and Life as We Know It.
On September 20, 2010, McCarthy was cast in a leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. In 2011, McCarthy had a breakout performance in the comedy movie Bridesmaids alongside Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper. McCarthy received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. In fall 2011, after achieving fame from Bridesmaids, she received her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on Mike & Molly. In June 2011, she hosted the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards. McCarthy later had supporting roles in This Is 40 (2012), the spinoff to Judd Apatow's film Knocked Up, and The Hangover Part III (2013). She was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2012 along with 175 others. McCarthy hosted Saturday Night Live on October 1, 2011, on April 6, 2013, on February 1, 2014, on February 13, 2016, and on May 12, 2017. She was nominated five times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearances on the television show from 2011–2017, winning in 2017.
In 2013, McCarthy co-starred in the crime comedy Identity Thief with Jason Bateman. Identity Thief opened at #1 at the box office, and grossed $174 million worldwide despite negative reviews. In his negative review of the film, film critic Rex Reed controversially made several references to McCarthy's weight, referring to her as "obese" and using pejorative terms to refer to her weight. Reed's comments attracted wide criticism from various film critics and the industry at large. Film critic Richard Roeper said, "This just smacks of mean-spirited name-calling in lieu of genuine criticism." In a column for The Huffington Post, Candy Spelling likened Reed's review to bullying.
Later in 2013, McCarthy co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the buddy cop comedy The Heat. The film was released in the United States and Canada on June 28, 2013 to both critical and commercial success. With McCarthy being called "box office gold, The Heat grossed $229 million worldwide. McCarthy co-wrote the script for the movie Tammy, which was released on July 2, 2014. McCarthy's character loses her job and her car, and then learns that her husband has been unfaithful. To get away, she is forced to rely on her alcoholic grandmother (Susan Sarandon) for transportation as they embark on a journey of self-discovery.
McCarthy produced a CBS pilot which starred her husband, Ben Falcone. McCarthy played the female lead, opposite Bill Murray, in the 2014 comedy film St. Vincent, directed and written by Theodore Melfi. On November 19, 2014, it was announced that McCarthy would portray fairy heroine Tinker Bell in the untitled comedy-adventure directed by Shawn Levy. She would also produce the film. In addition, McCarthy was the lead in frequent collaborator Paul Feig's spy comedy Spy (2015), a role that earned McCarthy her first Golden Globe Award nomination.
In May 2015, McCarthy received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In August 2015, Forbes ranked her as the third highest-paid actress of 2015, with earnings of $23 million.
In 2016, McCarthy starred in The Boss, a comedy film based on a character which McCarthy had created in the Los Angeles Groundlings – a wealthy businesswoman "who goes to jail for insider trading, and struggles to reinvent herself as America's new sweetheart when she's released". Also that year, she played an author and scientist in the all-female reboot of Ghostbusters, directed by Paul Feig.
On May 31, 2016, McCarthy was cast as celebrity biographer Lee Israel in the dark comedy-drama film Can You Ever Forgive Me? directed by Marielle Heller. She replaced Julianne Moore who dropped out of the film. McCarthy's performance as Lee drew high praise and Film Journal International said that her previous film roles "could not anticipate how fearlessly and credibly she inhabits Lee Israel." She received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination.
On February 4 and 11, 2017 she made surprise appearances on Saturday Night Live portraying White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. She returned to the show to portray Spicer on April 16 and May 13, 2017 (also hosting the latter).
McCarthy appeared in a Super Bowl LI ad for Kia Motors, promoting the Kia Niro. McCarthy played a wannabe environmentalist, who has a series of mishaps befall her such as being capsized by a whale, being charged by a rhino, and falling down a crevasse. The commercial featured the song "Holding Out for a Hero".
McCarthy married her longtime boyfriend, Ben Falcone, an actor and alumnus of The Groundlings, on October 8, 2005. The couple have two daughters, Vivian, born May 2007, and Georgette, born March 2010. McCarthy's pregnancy with Vivian was written into the last season of Gilmore Girls. Vivian played the younger version of her mother's character in the 2016 movie The Boss. Daughter Georgette also made an appearance in The Boss. Both Falcone and McCarthy have expressed desire for their daughters to focus on their education and pursue professional acting afterwards. Neither child has made appearances in movies since.
Falcone often makes cameo appearances in McCarthy's movies and TV series, such as a third-season episode of Gilmore Girls, Bridesmaids, The Heat, Tammy, Identity Thief, Spy, The Boss , "Life of the Party", and The Happytime Murders.
Since the start of Mike & Molly, McCarthy has lost an estimated 75 lb (35 kg). She credits the weight loss to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, regular exercise, and a "super-boring life" that includes a 7:30 p.m. bedtime.
McCarthy is the cousin of actress, model, and television host Jenny McCarthy.
In 2013, McCarthy founded the production company On the Day with her husband Ben Falcone. Tammy was the new company's first project. The film cost $20 million, quite a low budget, and McCarthy, who can command close to $10 million a role, took a smaller upfront salary in exchange for a larger-than-normal cut of the film's proceeds, according to people familiar with the deal.
McCarthy, who studied Textiles at Southern Illinois University, originally was interested in a career in fashion before she pursued a career in acting. When she first moved to New York City, it was to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. One of her closest friends is shoe designer Brian Atwood. McCarthy also spent time working as the costumer for a dance company.
Following her films, she teamed up with Sunrise Brands to manufacture her first clothing collection, Melissa McCarthy Seven7, for plus-size women. The line will include clothes up to size 28. McCarthy states that "People don't stop at size 12. I feel like there's a big thing missing where you can't dress to your mood above a certain number. Malls segregate "plus-size" clothes stores and hide these stores away from other sections of the mall. Her fashion line, Seven7, debuted in August 2015 on the Home Shopping Network, with plans for her designs to be sold in major retailers.
1997 Jenny Melissa Episode: "1.5"
2004 Curb Your Enthusiasm Saleswoman Episode: "The Surrogate"
2009 Rita Rocks Mindy Boone Episode: "Why Can't We Be Friends?"
2010 Private Practice Lynn McDonald Episode: "Best Laid Plans"
2012 The Penguins of Madagascar Shelley (voice) Episode: "Hair Apparent/Love Takes Flightless"
2016 Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Sookie St. James Episode: "Fall"
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^ "HSN to Premiere Melissa McCarthy's First Fashion Collection "Melissa McCarthy Seven7" on August 13". NASDAQ. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
Benjamin Scott Falcone (born August 25, 1973) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. He is married to actress Melissa McCarthy, with whom he has two children. He had co-starring roles in What to Expect When You're Expecting and Enough Said, and also had small roles in Bridesmaids, Identity Thief, The Heat, Spy, and Life of the Party all of which starred his wife.
Falcone made his directorial debut in 2014 with Tammy, which he co-wrote with McCarthy, and also directed, co-wrote and produced The Boss and Life of the Party, all of which starred McCarthy.
Bridesmaids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Paul Feig, written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, and produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel, and Clayton Townsend. The plot centers on Annie (Wiig), who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey co-star as Lillian's bridesmaids, with Chris O'Dowd, Rebel Wilson, Matt Lucas, Michael Hitchcock, Jon Hamm, and Jill Clayburgh, in her final film appearance, in supporting roles.Actresses Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig wrote the screenplay following Wiig's casting in Apatow's 2007 comedy film Knocked Up, and budgeted at $32.5 million. Upon its opening release in the United States and Canada on May 13, 2011, Bridesmaids was both critically and commercially successful. The film grossed $26 million in its opening weekend, eventually grossing over $288 million worldwide, and surpassed Knocked Up to become the top-grossing Apatow production to date, and served as a touchstone for discussion about women in comedy.The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It received multiple other accolades. On January 24, 2012, the film was nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo. This made it the first Apatow-produced film to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a 2018 American biographical film directed by Marielle Heller and with a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, based on the confessional memoir of the same name by Lee Israel. Melissa McCarthy stars as Israel, and the story follows her attempts to revitalize her failing writing career by forging letters from deceased authors and playwrights. The film also features Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin, Anna Deavere Smith, Stephen Spinella, and Ben Falcone in supporting roles. Israel took the title from an apologetic line in a letter in which she posed as Dorothy Parker.The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2018, and was released in the United States on October 19, 2018, by Fox Searchlight Pictures. The film grossed just $11 million on a $10 million budget, however it received critical acclaim, with major praise drawn towards McCarthy and Grant's performances, and was named by the National Board of Review as one of their top ten films of 2018. For their performances, McCarthy and Grant earned nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, at the 91st Academy Awards, the 76th Golden Globe Awards, and the 72nd British Academy Film Awards, among other ceremonies. Holofcener and Whitty were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Identity Thief is a 2013 American comedy film directed by Seth Gordon, written by Craig Mazin, and starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy. The film tells a story about a man (Bateman) whose identity is stolen by a woman (McCarthy).
Despite negative critical reception, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $174 million worldwide on a $35 million budget.
Life of the Party is a 2018 American comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and written by Falcone and Melissa McCarthy. It is the third film directed by Falcone and co-written by the pair, following Tammy (2014) and The Boss (2016). The film, starring McCarthy, Molly Gordon, Gillian Jacobs, Jessie Ennis, Adria Arjona, Maya Rudolph, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh, Debby Ryan, with Stephen Root and Jacki Weaver, follows a newly divorced mother who returns to college to complete her degree, and ends up bonding with her daughter's friends.
Produced by On the Day Productions and New Line Cinema, the film was released on May 11, 2018, by Warner Bros. Pictures.
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Prior to 1989, the category was not gender specific, thus was called Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. These awards, like the other "Guest" awards, were previously not presented at the Primetime Emmy Award ceremony, but rather at the Creative Arts Emmy Award ceremony.
Peter Serafinowicz, Morena Baccarin and Jude Law; the films also marked the Hollywood debut of actress Nargis Fakhri. It follows the life of a secret agent, Susan Cooper (McCarthy), trying to trace a stolen portable nuclear device.
Produced by Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Feig and Jessie Henderson, the film was theatrically released on June 5, 2015. It received acclaim from critics and was a box office success. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for McCarthy.
Super Intelligence is an upcoming American action comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and written by Steve Mallory. Melissa McCarthy will star in what will be her fourth collaboration with her husband, Falcone. The film will be released on December 20, 2019 by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Tammy is a 2014 American comedy film directed and co-written by Ben Falcone and produced, co-written by, and starring Melissa McCarthy as the title character. The film also stars Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Gary Cole, Mark Duplass, with Dan Aykroyd, and Kathy Bates. It was released on July 2, 2014.Although a box office success, grossing $100.5 million from a $20 million budget, it received highly negative reviews from critics with McCarthy and Sarandon receiving Razzie nominations for Worst Actress and Worst Supporting Actress respectively.
The Boss is a 2016 American comedy film directed by Ben Falcone and written by Falcone, Melissa McCarthy and Steve Mallory. The film stars McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Ella Anderson, Tyler Labine, Kathy Bates, Annie Mumolo, Timothy Simons, and Peter Dinklage. The film follows a wealthy woman who, after being arrested and losing her fortune, uses her assistant's daughter's Dandelion Girls cookie sales to return to the top. The film was released on April 8, 2016, by Universal Pictures, received generally negative reviews from critics and grossed $78 million worldwide.
The Happytime Murders is a 2018 American black comedy crime film directed by Brian Henson and written by Todd Berger. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Bill Barretta, Maya Rudolph, Joel McHale, Leslie David Baker, and Elizabeth Banks. The plot, set in a world where puppets and humans co-exist, follows a joint police force who must solve a recent murder spree of retired sitcom stars.
The Happytime Murders was released on August 24, 2018, by STXfilms. It received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing only $27.5 million worldwide against a $40–47 million budget. The film received six nominations at the 39th Golden Raspberry Awards including Worst Picture and Worst Actress for McCarthy, winning the latter award.
The Heat is a 2013 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Paul Feig and written by Katie Dippold. It stars Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans, Michael Rapaport, and Jane Curtin. The film centers on FBI Special Agent Sarah Ashburn and Boston Detective Shannon Mullins, who must take down a mobster in Boston.
The film was released in the United States on June 28, 2013. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the chemistry, and performances of Bullock and McCarthy, and was a success at the box office, grossing $229 million worldwide against a $43 million budget.
The Kitchen is an upcoming American crime drama film written and directed by Andrea Berloff, in her directorial debut. The film stars Melissa McCarthy, Tiffany Haddish, and Elisabeth Moss as the wives of Irish mobsters who take over organized crime operations in the 1970s in New York City's neighborhood Hell's Kitchen after the FBI arrests their husbands. The film is set to be released in the United States on August 9, 2019.


Kovac was a fine defensive midfielder, often in a 4-1-3-2, protecting the defence while his three midfield colleagues darted forward and put Croatia in control. He understands the role of a holding midfielder perfectly, but barring a surprise late change of heart, he won't use one.
The format of the trio is the interesting thing about the side. Theoretically, any of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic could be used as the deepest of the three, or at the top of the three. They're all multi-skilled playmakers capable of playing either role. However, while Kovacic made his international debut with a stunning display as the deep-lying playmaker in a fierce clash against great rivals Serbia, he's instead expected to start as the number ten.
This is probably because Kovac wants his best two playmakers in deeper roles, commanding the centre of the pitch. Modric is long-established as Croatia's most important player, and enjoyed a wonderful campaign at Real Madrid. But his midfield colleague Rakitic had a comparable campaign, captaining Sevilla to the Europa League title, and now seems Barcelona-bound. He offers more physical power than Modric, and together they're capable of dominating games against almost any opposition in the tournament – arguably only Spain will field a more technically capable midfield partnership.
The role of Kovacic is less certain. Although considered a number ten at Dinamo Zagreb, since moving to Inter he's become more accustomed to a deep-lying role. As expected, he therefore wanders back into deep positions to receive short passes, which risks the side becoming broken – which is an amazingly silly problem considering Croatia are actually using three number tens together.
It's not impossible that Kovac could turn to the steady Ognjen Vukojevic, a natural holding player, which could make sense in the first match against Brazil.
On the flanks, Kovac effectively uses two forwards. Ivan Perisic is considered a winger, but in truth he possesses the qualities of a striker. He's physically commanding, good in the air, can cut inside from either flank before shooting, but isn't particularly good at crossing.
His position depends upon whether Kovac uses Ivica Olic or Eduardo, who are more literally strikers played out wide. Both will probably start games, with Kovac rotating his side.
Upfront Croatia have Mario Mandzukic, joint top scorer at Euro 2012 and a significantly better player since then, after two title-winning years at Bayern. Strong, good at holding the ball up and capable of starting the pressing, he's an all-round striker but doesn't guarantee goals. Still, he's perfect to lead the line in this system, with two forwards out wide, and plenty of midfielders providing the support. He's suspended from the opener against Brazil, however, so Nikica Jelavic could start if Kovac wants a tall central striker. Alternatively, Eduardo or Olic can move upfront.
The main overlapping will come from captain Darijo Srna, now 32 but still a brilliantly effective attacking full-back, capable of motoring forward to receive passes and crossing without breaking stride. His battle against Neymar in the opener will be fascinating. On the opposite flank, Danijel Pranjic is first-choice in a more steady role, but picked up an ankle injury in the friendly win over Australia and is therefore doubtful. Croatia would probably be playing a right-footer if Pranjic fails to make it – Sime Vrsaljko or even Dejan Lovren.
Lovren would expect be used in the centre alongside Vedran Corluka. There are real concerns about this centre-back pairing, because they're simply not on the same wavelength. Corluka's mobility has declined dramatically and he always drops back towards the penalty area, while Lovren is accustomed to playing in a high line at Southampton and always wants to step up and play offside. Because of this problem, Gordon Schildenfeld – not as good at Lovren, but maybe more suited to the system, could well play instead. Stipe Pletikosa will be frequently called into action, despite the fact Croatia should dominate games.
The climate could also be problematic. Facing Cameroon in Manaus will be a huge ask for Croatia, and Mexico in Recife isn't much better.
Croatia initially seem extremely attractive when you assess their midfield trio, but the more you consider areas of weakness – left-back, central midfield, the lack of pace at the back, the absence of genuine width – they feel like a team only boasting one quality.
That means they'll control games, but converting this dominance into victories is another matter, and Croatia will probably go home in the first or second rounds, having impressed but frustrated.
Key tactical question: Does Kovac take a backward step and play a holding midfielder?
Excellent analysis, with one little mistake: Eduardo and Olic are both left footed.
This is a much weaker Croatia team than in the past few international tournaments, they have some top class players, but the team as a whole has some glaring weaknesses as ZM pointed out. They look extremely open at the back and lack the firepower to kill off teams. Brazil should stroll past this croatia side, though considering the other opponents in this group, Croatia could still progress into the next round. Being in a weak group could cover up some of their weaknesses.
Given there poor options outwide, couldn't Rakitic move out to the left to provide some quality in that position, with Vukojevic coming into the middle alongside Modric. Croatia would still dominate the ball, but have one of their most talented players nearer the opposition goal.
Maybe even to the right side, so he can combine with Srna, then have Perisic stay outwide on the left to stretch the opponent.
Kovacic out right has been mentioned as a legitimate possibility with youngster Brozovic to play as holding mid. Kovacic played out wide in the playoffs after Croatia were down to ten men.
Not he sure Kovacic ever looks comfortable outwide though, whereas Rakitic has regularly played there before for Croatia. Seems a bigger goalthreat as well, so moving him further forward seems ideal.
Rakitic had been wasted in the past playing on the wing, since he does not have pace and dribbling skills to influence games from there. In addition, it leaves Modric isolated in the middle to create everything on his own against the whole opponent team's midfield (the game with Serbia away was the best example).
I do not see what is wrong with having inside forwards on the flanks verse crossing wingers. It is definitely less predictable way of playing, especially while having good crossers at full-back's positions. Germany is playing with inside forwards and doing just fine. Persisic finally made a step forwards in terms of consistency this spring in both offensive and defensive aspects of his game. Croatia has five players who can do a decent job on the flanks and that does not include Eduardo (Perisic, Olic, Rebic, Kovacic, Pranjic).
He is definitely better controlling play in the middle, but I disagree that Croatia has good options outwide, they struggled to qualify because of a lack of quality in that position (coupled with an unorganised defence). It's fine having inside forwards, but Croatia's options offer no real threat. Rakitic could play on the right and then drift inside to allow Srna forward. He would be able to influence the midfield play and combine with Modric and Kovacic.
Brilliant write-up as usual. I do disagree with a few points though.
Personally, I think this is the best squad Croatia has fielded since their impressive 2008 team. I'm not sure enough credit is given to their wingers- Perisic and Olic. Perisic is a frustrating player but has been on form as of late. Olic is proven at this level, and is coming off a great season with Wolfsburg. Most of Croatia's goals in qualifying were created from the wings, and Mandzukic is a great target in the middle.
I would be shocked if they don't make it through to the second round, despite a shaky defense.
I've seen worse CB pairings than Lovren and Corluka. Dejan has proven himself in the EPL and Corluka has been playing well in Russia.
I think this weakness has been exaggerated because of Croatia's poor results under Stimac.
The only true weakness is one of the wing/forward positions. Olic is a poor option out wide. Perisic is back in form and more than capable.
Top comment is pretty unaware of Croatian football.
Summary: I can't remember the last time our central defense has been this safe. All four players at the back will be known for good ball control, which will help supply the central midfielders at a much higher rate, which is obviously going to be Croatia's strength.
RW – Perisic – Best season of his career. Has notably improved his balance and physique. We haven't had a winger as good as him since I can't remember when.
CM – Rakitic – Enough said. The only risk will be playing him and Modric in CM at the same time as neither is strictly defensive minded.
CM – Modric – Enough said. Same goes for him as goes for Rakitic.
AM – Kovacic (hopefully) – Our most lethal player. Coming off an amazing stretch of games to finish the season for Inter.
LW – Olic/Eduardo – Our one major weakness. Olic is a great player, but he won't be serving and threatening passes inside. Eduardo doesn't have the speed for the position.
Alternative CM – Vukojevic – Serves a purpose, but overall a weak link.
ST – Mandzukic/Olic – Olic would be favorite to start in that role against Brazil. This is another one of our weaknesses, and that includes Mandzukic who hasn't been performing great the past few months.
What to do against Brazil – Play Kovacic as a left wing in the hopes that he will cut through defenses as he's by far our quickest player. Start Olic up front.
I'm relishing the low expectations as this team has never been this stacked. The main reason is really the fact that the entire center line and midfield has peaked at the perfect time of the year.
Everybody agrees that Croatia has quality players, I mean just look at that midfield trio!!
The problem that everybody points out is the lack of shape.
I would agree they have talented players, but they haven't played well together previously. A strong defence can be more about the partnership between the individuals, which I think Croatia lack. The lack of protection from midfield doesn't help.
But I think the new manager has greatly improved the side and its not improbable that Croatia could click together as you say and go on a good run, the ingredients are there bar a lack of quality out wide.
There is flexibility in terms of how and who is going to play depending on opposition. For example, I would not be surprised if Kovac fields a strikerless formation against Brazil with four central midfielders and Perisic and Olic cutting in from the flanks. He successfully did something similar once while being the u21 coach. In addition there is flexibility in a way that the team can play both on counterattacks with deep defense, and a game based on possession.
The climate conditions will actually favor teams with good ball retention, and be problematic for teams based on pressing high up the pitch.
Although disagreeing about the statement about weak positioning of Croatia's central defenders (I think that it is one of their very few strong points), IMHO the Croatia's weakest point is defending against strong physical strikers and set-pieces. I can see more likely Fred as being the man of the match after scoring a header coming from a speculative cross, than Neymar.
I agree that a 4-6-0 might appear, as it would allow workhorse ˝forwards˝ to pressure Brazilian midfielders into mistakes, or at the very least, slow the flow of the ball.
Mentality though, is the key. Croatia traditionally does well against big favorites with big names. We get fired up. When the opponent is less glamourous, then Croatia is expected to attack, but the players don't have the focus or battling desire that shows up against the top teams.
Cameroon and Mexico may be more dangerous than Brazil- in a quest for victory, space for counterattacks might be inadvertently created. And we're not the best match for a high defensive line.
I think more than anything, the weather conditions are what plays a big factor in limiting a talented Croatian side in this tournament. 2nd spot will be between them and Mexico, as Brazil is by far the superior team in this group(if nerves don't play a part), and Cameroon is not a cohesive team.
Rakitic has been wasted for a very long time on the right wing, but should be deployed centrally with Modric. There have been talks of Kovacic being played wide, but I'd rather see him either on the bench, or playing a pressing role higher upfield as Allegri used KPB and Cossu. Other than him, Croatia lack players supporting their centre forward from midfield, which will result in a shortage of goals. They really are a romantic side of playmakers.
As a mix of physical as well as technical prowess he wd be the missing stabilizer for the "playmaker"-deluge =)He would make them extraordinarilly variable and stable at the same time in the centre which could counter the fragility esp. on the left flank.
I don't know – this spielverlagerung.de seems to me, and not for the first time, rather pretentious stuff: "options-orientated zonal marking", "passive-offensive pressing", and a 4-3-3 with Rakitic as central attacker… And Badelj may have been one of the better players at Hamburg, but considering the truelly awful season HSV has had, that's not really saying much.
Naive question here: what do you mean when you say, in the paragraph about Kovacic, that it "risks the side becoming broken"? That they won't be able to connect passes together to move the ball upfield?