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Ben Stiller doesn't think his 30-year-old comedy would be released by Disney today. Nevertheless, he can still remember how fun it was to make the movie three decades ago.

In 1995, director Steven Brill's Heavyweights, which was co-written with Judd Apatow, premiered in movie theaters. Primarily consisting of younger actors, the series was set at a "fat camp" for children. Stiller starred in dual roles, playing Tony Perksi Jr., a fitness entrepreneur who takes over the camp whilst the kids work to overthrow him; Stiller also plays the character's father. Looking back at the movie upon reaching its 30th anniversary, Stiller shared a message on X acknowledging that the film would be seen as much more problematic today.

Somehow I don’t think this will be at the head of the Disney+ queue ever. In fact I’m not sure they are aware they made it. But that was an...

Heavyweights is a late-blooming comedy where it had a cult audience, but it would then find more fans later in its shelf life. While it would seem like a run-of-the-mill Disney comedy that capitalized on the “Kid Power” sub-genre trend that Home Alone birthed in the 90s, when it was discovered that the movie was co-written by a young Judd Apatow and featured an outrageous character from a young Ben Stiller (who would somewhat return to the character in the hit film Dodgeball), it was discovered as a diamond in the rough that transcended the usual family-friendly live-action comedies from Disney.

Deadline reports that both Apatow and Stiller took the time to pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of the summer camp comedy that found a group of heavy-set kids being tortured at a fat camp by Stiller’s Tony Perkis. Stiller responded to a social media post wishing Heavyweights...

Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Heavyweights, a Disney film released in 1995.

The comedy, directed by Steven Brill, who co-wrote it with Apatow, was released on February 17, 1995, which 2025 is 30 years since it premiered.

“Somehow I don’t think this will be at the head of the Disney+ queue ever,” Stiller posted on X, the microblogging platform formerly known as Twitter. “In fact I’m not sure they are aware they made it. But that was an incredibly fun summer in North Carolina 30 years ago.”

Heavyweights revolve around a weight loss camp for boys and the campers working to overthrow the fitness entrepreneur. Stiller had dual roles in the film and co-starred with Tom McGowan, Aaron Schwartz, Shaun Weiss, Tom Hodges, Leah Lail, Paul Feig, Kenan Thompson, David Bowe, Max Goldblatt, Robert Zalkind, Patrick Labrecque, Jeffrey Tambor, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, and many more.

Apatow took...

(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)

In a lot of ways, the '90s was a true golden age for Disney. From absolutely monster animated hits like "The Lion King" to the true Christmas classic that is "The Muppet Christmas Carol," it was a rich time for the Mouse House. Yet, not everything can be a winner out of the gate. Such was the case with "Heavyweights." Released in 1995, the live-action comedy about kids at a fat camp whose summer is upended by a weight loss guru simply didn't connect with audiences in its day.

As has often been the case throughout Disney's history, animation has been the studio's bread and butter. That was no different in the '90s, as hits like "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast" took center stage.

Ben Stiller is probably one of the last people you'd think of when thinking of a villain. After all, he built his career playing awkward, nebbish guys (see Meet the Parents) and is enjoying a robust second act as a director thanks to projects that include Escape at Dannemora and Severance. But Stiller has actually played a number of bad guys in his career, with the most notable being White Goodman in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. If you hadn't guessed, Dodgeball is the story that pits Peter Lafleur (Vince Vaughn) and his collection of underdogs against Stiller's narcissistic White Goodman. Dodgeball was one of Stiller's most successful films, but apparently it owes a debt to the Disney film Heavyweights, where he more or less plays the same character.

With Saturday Night Live celebrating 50 years on television in 2025, the long-running comedy sketch show has never been more popular in the media. Between Peacock's new SNL docuseries, SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night, and Jason Reitman's acclaimed movie, Saturday Night, the popular NBC show has been enjoying several legacy-making honors. Speaking of legacy, it's hard to eclipse the towering achievements of the longest-tenured cast member, Kenan Thompson.

As SNL's 50th season closes with two more episodes in January 2025, there's no better time to reflect on Thompson's historical path. Not only is Thompson the longest-running cast member set to end his run in 2025, but he also made history by becoming the first cast member born after the show's inception in 1975. As a fond farewell, Thompson's SNL career retrospective is in order.

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*Availability in US Release Date October 11, 1975Seasons 50Cast Leslie Jones,...

Every Friday, Gold Derby rounds up some of the best stories of the week from our friends across the web. Maybe you missed these, maybe you were too busy to read them at the time, maybe you bookmarked them and forgot, but hopefully you’ll have some over the weekend to check them out. Happy reading!

Lorne Michaels Is the Real Star of ‘Saturday Night Live’

The New Yorker features a lengthy excerpt from Susan Morrison‘s upcoming Lorne Michaels biography, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live. The excerpt largely covers Michaels’ early career and the birth of SNL, revealing how he runs such a tight ship and his tough love approach with his rotating door of cast members. Supplemental viewing: Peacock’s SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night docuseries, which is now streaming.

The Interview: Ben Stiller on ‘Severance,’ Selling Out and Being Jewish Today

Watching Severance Season 2 this weekend?...

We can all get sick of our favorite actors, especially when they’re victims of overexposure. Ben Still had been on the scene since the 1980s but really came into his own in the 1990s (shoutouts to The Ben Stiller Show and Heavyweights!). After the success of There’s Something About Mary in 1998, the 2000s didn’t have a single year without multiple Ben Stiller movies. There was Meet the Parents and Zoolander and Duplex and Dodgeball and on and on. And after a while, it just got old for some. Maybe he could dodge a wrench, but Stiller couldn’t dodge the backlash.

Appearing on The New York Times’ The Interview podcast (via IndieWire), Ben Stiller remembered “opening up the L.A. Times and there was this writer who wrote a letter: ‘Dear God, stop putting Ben Stiller in comedies,’ I was just like, I don’t know, I’m here,...

In the early 2000s, Ben Stiller made a number of movies in which he played an awkward leading man who may or may not have to meet somebody’s parents. But he was just as good, if not better, at playing over-the-top comedic villains, as evidenced by his work as White Goodman in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

Disney fans quickly noticed that Goodman, the head of Globo Gym, was distinctly similar to another fitness-obsessed antagonist that Stiller once played: Tony Perkis Jr. from the 1995 Judd Apatow-scripted family comedy Heavyweights.

You can tell it was made in 1995, because it’s about a grown man literally torturing children to get them to lose weight.

As we’ve mentioned before, this observation has even inspired some fans to theorize that the two characters are one and the same, which would mean that Dodgeball takes place after Perkis has relocated, changed his...

As the weather gets colder and the Halloween season creeps in like an eerie fog, the warmth and carefree vibes of summer become more and more of a memory with each passing day. However, if you’re looking to relive the freedom and adventure of the summers of your youth while still maintaining the spookiness of the current season, then Godzilla: Monster Island Summer Camp may be the perfect comic for you.

In this original graphic novel from Idw Comics, aspiring cartoonist Zelda is excited to spend her summer at the art camp of her dreams. However, she and the other campers learn that the camp is now under some new and suspicious management. In an effort to avoid the new sports-focused curriculum, Zelda ventures off to find a secluded place to draw in peace. Although, rather than an artistic escape, she finds herself face to face with Minilla, the baby Kaiju,...

Ben Stiller has been a major blockbuster star since the 1990s, and he has the impressive net worth to go along with a prolific and successful career. The son of Jerry Stiller of Seinfeld and The King of Queens fame and Anne Meara, an Emmy-nominated comedian and actress, Ben Stiller was likely always going to end up being a comedic actor. What wasn't so assured was just how successful he would end up being. After some strong early roles, Ben Stiller became one of the funniest comic actors working, getting his first major comic part in Heavyweights.

Then came Happy Gilmore, There's Something About Mary, Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and much, much more. He has not only focused on the comedy side, putting in impressive performances in dramatic films like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Meyerowitz Stories. His Hollywood family doesn't end with his parents either.

Ben Stiller never intended to go so long without leading a movie. The fan-favorite actor recently opened up about taking a seven-year break (save for the odd cameo) from movies, revealing that it was never the plan.

While speaking with Variety about his new comedy Nutcrackers, Stiller admitted, "I never thought Id take this much time away from acting," promising his fans that "it wasnt intentional; it was just how things evolved." The actor explained that he got busy with Severance, the Apple TV+ series he executive produces and directs, which largely prevented him from taking on other jobs. However, when the 2023 Hollywood strikes happened, delaying production of Severance Season 2, Stiller found himself unexpectedly available, leading him to board Nutcrackers, which received a waiver from the unions to shoot given that it was made outside the studio system.

Related 'Hollywood Just Gets Funnier': Tropic Thunder Co-Writer Teases Potential Sequel

The...

Disney is one of the most popular and prolific production companies. While many might only associate Disney with their animated movies, Disney has also released several popular and beloved live-action movies. Movies like Enchanted, Freaky Friday and Cruella have earned the critic's love and approval just as much as the public's. However, other Disney live-action movies haven't had the same luck.

Many Disney live-action movies are beloved by audiences and have even become cult classics, but critics weren't so positive about them. Iconic movies like Hocus Pocus and The Princess Diaries received bad reviews from critics, even though many Disney fans love these movies. Even live-action remakes of beloved Disney animated movies have had the same luck, including the live-action remakes of films like Aladdin and The Lion King. However, some Disney live-action movies are good, even if they have received bad reviews from critics.

Tron: Legacy Is a Decent...

Determining Ben Stiller's best role is no easy task, as the prolific performer has more than a few borderline iconic characters to his name. Tony Perkis in "Heavyweights," Mr. Furious in "Mystery Men," White Goodman in "Dodgeball," Chas Tenenbaum in "The Royal Tenenbaums," Tugg Speedman in "Tropic Thunder," the titular Derek "Zoolander," and Ted Stroehmann in "There's Something About Mary" are all characters that feel synonymous with Stiller, and roles that no one else but him could pull off. And then there's Greg Focker in "Meet the Parents," a role Stiller has played in three different films, the lovable everyman who can't seem to impress his overbearing father-in-law Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro). For as much as Stiller has made a name for himself with distinctive characters like Hal the Orderly Guy in "Happy Gilmore," his genuine charm allowed him to flourish in relatable roles, with Greg arguably the best example of this.

There arent many artists in the industry right now whove taken such dramatic career transitions as Ben Stiller. Stiller first made a name for himself in mainstream comedies in the 1990s, including Heavyweights and Theres Something About Mary. While he was undeniably a strong screen presence, Stiller also harbored ambitions as a filmmaker; 1994s Reality Bites was an acclaimed examination of Generation X anxieties, and Zoolander was a hilarious spoof of the fashion industry. However, Stillers success as a filmmaker peaked with the release of Tropic Thunder, an epic parody of Hollywood war films and celebrity culture. The film became a significant commercial success and earned Robert Downey Jr. an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

After four years of sobriety, former child star Shaun Weiss celebrated in a big way with some old friends from the 1990s.

After rising to fame as a child actor, which includes playing Greg Goldberg in all three Mighty Ducks movies, Shaun Weiss struggled heavily with addiction and substance abuse as an adult. He was at his lowest point at the start of 2020 when he was arrested on charges of burglary and being under the influence of methamphetamine. At the time, the actor's mugshot shocked his fans, as Weiss looked very unrecognizable. He has since cleaned up, looking much healthier and taking on a career doing stand-up comedy. Per TMZ, the Heavyweights actor performed at the Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, California to celebrate his fourth year of sobriety, and it was with the support of other 90s stars.

Related Disney+ Cancels The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, Big Shot Disney+ cancels...

Updated: There has been another round of content removal from Disney+, this time in the Emea region, which consists of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. More than 120 titles have been taken off this week, primarily Disney Channel original movies and vintage Disney live-action films, as well as a few series, including Zeke and Luther, Pepper Ann, So Random and the first three seasons of Nat Geo’s Genius and ESPN/Nat Geo docs.

According to sources, the takedowns were a result of a library title review. There have been several content purges at Disney+ over the last year amid cost-cutting, most notably the removal of a slew of original series last May.

Here is a list of movie titles that are said to be gone from Disney+ in Emea, compiled by Drew Ryan.

A Tale of Two Critters

America’s Heart and Soul

Angry Sky (ESPN)

Babes in Toyland...

For years, Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net has been about two things only – awesome art and the artists that create it. With that in mind, we thought why not take the first week of the month to showcase these awesome artists even more? Welcome to “Awesome Artist We’ve Found Around The Net.” In this column, we are focusing on one artist and the awesome art that they create, whether they be amateur, up and coming, or well established. The goal is to uncover these artists so even more people become familiar with them. We ask these artists a few questions to see their origins, influences, and more. If you are an awesome artist or know someone that should be featured, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.This month we are very pleased to bring you the awesome art of…

Victor...

The Great Christmas Light Fight fans, we’ve got a fresh off the press preview for the new Season 11 Episode 4 episode titled Heavyweights/1103!

Find out everything you need to know about the Heavyweights/1103 episode of The Great Christmas Light Fight, including a full preview, videos, release date, cast information and how to watch!

The Great Christmas Light Fight Heavyweights/1103 Season 11 Episode 4 Preview

Prepare to be dazzled this holiday season as “The Great Christmas Light Fight” lights up the screen with an exciting episode titled “Heavyweights/1103,” airing on ABC at 9:00 Pm on December 12, 2023. Hosted by the dynamic Taniya Nayak, this installment promises to be a visual feast as she steps into the role of judge for the River of Lights, NYC Winter Lantern Festival, Garden Lights Holiday Nights, and Galaxy Lights Heavyweight displays.

In this festive face-off, the Uszaki, Shotts, Tinnin, and Salazar families pull out all the stops as...

There have been countless wrestlers who have included spooky, undead, or horror imagery into their personas, but no one has ever done it quite like Windham "Bray Wyatt" Rotunda, who tragically passed away at the age of 36. It's impossible to overstate the brilliance Rotunda brought to the ring as Wyatt, elevating the art of wrestling to that of horror cinema. His character work was unmatched and he took risks that often felt impossible in a company known for its micromanaging and supervillain leadership. He shot for the moon and even if the gimmick didn't land right away, he never gave up on figuring out how to make it work. Few of his peers were that brave, ever. Over the course of his career in WWE, Bray Wyatt truly became the new face of fear, and incorporated horror into the world of wrestling in a way that no one before him ever could.

The best summer camp movies aren't all coming-of-age tales, and the theme of heading out for some summer fun has been explored in nearly every genre. However, almost all summer camp movies see an ensemble cast of characters leaving their homes for a few short weeks to spend time with their peers. Summer camp movies also tend to have a special nostalgia factor for older viewers, while younger audience members are entertained by the general antics of the school-free season.

Although a large sector of summer camp movies feature younger casts going through the awkward stages of growing up, not all films focus on the campers. Some opt to follow the counselors' stories or explore the larger experience of going to camp. From genre tropes like inter-camp competitions or the threat of a camp's closure to complete subversions that see slashers on the loose or campers going against authority, there's a film for every viewer.

When Disney's Heavyweights is mentioned, most viewers who remember the 1995 film reflect on it fondly. After all, the movie was considered a classic and can still be watched on Disney+. Unfortunately, however, not all pictures age gracefully, and Heavyweights is no exception. The feature still has its moments, but the premise and certain scenes are hard to watch now. It's safe to say that if the film were made or rebooted today, it wouldn't go over so well.

The film had a great cast and starred Kenan Thompson, Shaun Weiss and Ben Stiller. Still, the issue with Heavyweights is its subject, which follows Gerald Garner (Aaron Schwartz) to a "fat camp." As a result, the '90s family film focuses on the children's weight, which is no surprise given the title, but in some cases, exploits it for laughs, which is problematic by today's standards.

Related: Sorry, Twilight's Problematic Stereotypes...

Judd Apatow’s passion for mentorship cost him a laptop.

The comedy mega-producer loaned his computer to “Freaks and Geeks” alum and mentee Shaun Weiss after the actor left rehab. Weiss played Sean in the one-season NBC series.

“Judd Apatow put me in a rehab place. He was giving me a chance. That was the other thing that was really heartbreaking, too,” Weiss said during the “Dopey” podcast (via Page Six). “He was really being my mentor and teaching me how to write and giving me different jobs and assignments that really cultivated me as a writer. He got me a job writing jokes for the Oscars; he just gave me all these gigs, grooming me for better things.”

Yet Weiss, who also starred in Apatow’s 1995 film “Heavyweights,” pawned Apatow’s computer to score drugs. The laptop was the same one on which Apatow wrote the 2005 movie “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,...

Click here to read the full article.

Kenan Thompson will make his Emmys hosting debut Sept. 12. And if anyone has the résumé for the job, it’s him. He may be Saturday Night Live‘s longest-running castmember (he’s about to begin his 20th season), but Thompson, 44, has been cracking up live audiences as far back as 1994, when he was cast on Nickelodeon’s fledgling sketch-comedy show, All That.

Thompson, who grew up in Atlanta, had already landed a couple of plum movie roles by age 16, including one in Disney’s Heavyweights, a Judd Apatow-penned comedy about a weight-loss camp run by an unhinged entrepreneur (Ben Stiller). It was that performance that brought him to the attention of All That creators Brian Robbins (now president of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon) and Michael Tollin.

“There was no doubt from the first time we met him that he’d be an asset to our cast,...

Quack! Quack! Quack! In the spirit of movies like Heavyweights and Camp Nowhere, the Mighty Ducks are heading to Summer Camp for some off-season shenanigans. Today, Disney+ released a Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Season 2 trailer that finds the underdog team thrown into a larger pond where predators are waiting to clip their wings.

“After winning back the Mighty Ducks team name last year, our squad-with-heart and their coach Alex Morrow (Lauren Graham) take to the road to attend an intense summer hockey institute in California run by charming yet hardcore former NHL player, Colin Cole (Josh Duhamel),” reads the official synopsis. “It’s a place for kids to get excellent at hockey — without school to get in the way. As our Ducks try to survive in this super-competitive environment, they’re faced with the question: Can you win summer?”

In the Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Season 2, we find the Ducks...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Heavyweights"

Where You Can Stream It: Disney+

The Pitch: Teenager Gerry Garner (Aaron Schwartz) is excited to hang out with his friends and enjoy his summer vacation, only to come home from the last day of school to an intervention from his parents regarding his weight. Without his knowledge or consent, Gerry is being sent off to Camp Hope, a weight loss camp for boys run by The Bushkins (Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara). Gerry is initially against the idea, but after meeting veteran camper Roy (Kenan Thompson) and the enthusiastic camp counselor Pat Finley (Tom McGowan), Gerry thinks this summer might not be so bad after all. 

Unfortunately, all of that changes when the Bushkins announce that...

NBC and the Television Academy announced jointly today that Kenan Thompson will host the 74th Emmy(R) Awards. The three-hour, coast-to-coast live telecast from the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 12 and begins at 8 p.m. Et/5 p.m. Pt on NBC and will stream live for the first time on Peacock. “Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC – my longtime network family – makes it even more special,” Thompson said. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.” Jen Neal, Executive Vice President of Live Events for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said, “Kenan is well-regarded as one of funniest, likeable and accomplished performers of the last two decades and his tenure on ‘Saturday Night Live’ speaks for itself.

Click here to read the full article.

Kenan Thompson is set to host the 2022 Emmy Awards, it was announced today.

The Saturday Night Live star will emcee the ceremony airing on NBC and streaming live on Peacock on Monday, Sept. 12.

“Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC — my longtime network family — makes it even more special,” Thompson said in a statement. “Like all TV fans, I can’t wait to see the stars from my favorite shows.”

NBCUniversal Television and Streaming executive vice president of live events, Jen Neal, added, “Kenan is well-regarded as one of funniest, likeable and accomplished performers of the last two decades and his tenure on Saturday Night Live speaks for itself. We know he’ll bring an excitement and professionalism to the Emmy Awards that a show of this stature deserves.

The 1990s were the heyday for kid-led sports movies, with films like "The Big Green," "The Sandlot," "Little Giants," "Ladybugs," "Air Bud," "Little Big League," "Angels in the Outfield," and "Rookie of the Year" becoming household favorites, but only one* became a certified cultural phenomenon. Disney's "The Mighty Ducks" spawned a trilogy of films, an animated television series, a live-action sequel television series, and a real-life National Hockey League hockey team. The feature writing debut of Steve Brill, "The Mighty Ducks" nabbed Stephen...

The post The Classic Comedy That Heavily Influenced The Mighty Ducks appeared first on /Film.

Kenan Thompson has been making us Lol for nearly 30 years! The 2021 People's Choice Awards host, comedian and actor got his big TV break as one of the original cast member's of Nickelodeon's sketch comedy series All That in 1994. Memorable characters like Superman-inspired Super Dude and French student Pierre Escargot made Kenan not only a fan favorite, but skyrocketed him into super stardom. From a beloved Kenan & Kel spinoff series in 1996 co-starring Kel Mitchell, to nostalgic classics like Heavyweights, The Mighty Ducks: D2 and Good Burger, we owe the best parts of our childhood—and a pension for orange soda—to the Emmy-nominated...

Hubie Halloween, the next Adam Sandler-headlined Netflix film in fulfillment of the actor’s lucrative deal with the streaming giant, is imminently arriving on the streaming platform. Interestingly, the comedy not only provides vicarious celebration for a 2020 Halloween season likely to be squelched by the health crisis, but also showcases Sandler revisiting his character well of lovable imbeciles with quixotic missions, as teased in the first trailer

Appropriately set in the witchy hamlet of Salem, Massachusetts, the film centers on Sandler’s character, Hubie Dubois, a kind-but-eccentric local Halloween enthusiast, whose self-appointed role as a nebby safety patroller as earned him some derision. However, the threat of an escaped criminal and unexplained—seemingly supernatural—disappearances has turned this year’s fall holiday into an ordeal for the ever-vigilant Hubie, even in the face of incredulous authorities.

On that note, check out the Hubie Halloween trailer just below.

It’s...

Netflix and Happy Madison have scared up a real treat for Adam Sandler fans on Thursday by debuting a trailer for Hubie Halloween, the Saturday Night Live veteran's upcoming holiday-themed feature. Directed by Disney's Heavyweights director Steven Brill, the film casts Sandler in the role of a goodly-natured nuisance whose long history of crying wolf to the authorities has labeled him…...

Just nine months into its existence, and Disney+ original programming has already run the full gamut, from critically beloved series like “The Mandalorian” to theatrical cast-offs best left forgotten. One piece of programming mostly missing so far: , family-friendly fare to fill a lazy Friday night. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, the lack of imagination on display in Mark Waters’ “Magic Camp” is almost more depressing than the incomprehensible weirdness of Kenneth Branagh’s Ya flop. At least that film was trying for something.

The best warning of what’s to come arrives in the opening credits: the film comes from six screenwriters, and while many of the half-dozen scribes (not counting the two additional with only “story by” credits) it took to write “Magic Camp” are quite talented folk, little of that magic makes its way into this feature. Final credits don’t even include Steve Martin,...

Film, television, and stage actor Jerry Stiller died of natural causes, as according to his son Ben Stiller. He was 92.

“I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes,” Ben announced on Twitter. “He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad.”

Stiller is known for his TV roles as Frank Costanza on Seinfeld and Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens, and multiple films including, The Taking of Pelham One, Two, Three, John Waters’ Hairspray, his son’s Zoolander, and Richard Lester’s adaptation of Terrence McNally’s play, The Ritz, which Jerry also acted in on Broadway.

But he might be best remembered for being part of the comedy team Stiller & Meara, which he performed with his wife, Anne Meara. The pair met in 1953 at a New York casting call,...

Actor-comedian Jerry Stiller, arguably best known as the irritable Frank Costanza, father of Jason Alexander’s George Costanza, on Seinfeld, has died. He was 92.

His actor-son Ben Stiller confirmed the news on social media early Monday, writing, “I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad.”

More from TVLineJerry Stiller Remembered by Seinfeld Son Jason Alexander: 'He Made Me Laugh Every Day I Was With Him'Ever See Something That...

Filmmaker Judd Apatow largely made a name for himself with the production of the cult teen "dramedy" show Freaks and Geeks. 1995's Heavyweights and fan-favorite The Cable Guy from '96 helped put him on the map in the realm of movies. Yet, it was the breakout hits Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The 40-Year-Old Virgin in the early 2000s that made him a major player in comedy films.

Related: 10 Comedies That Never Got Sequels

These quirky laughers largely helped pioneer a unique type of comedic films. Drawing influences from sitcoms and adding some improvisational bits, this endearing style took relatable situations and added a wacky spin to them. These are further enhanced by dynamic, funny characters brought to life by comedic greats like Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and others.

Let's take a look at the 10 best and funniest comedy films produced and/or directed by Judd Apatow.

The Mighty Ducks star Shaun Weiss was recently arrested and his mug shot is rather shocking. This isn't the first time that the Goldberg actor has run into trouble with the law in recent years, though these charges seem to be more serious than the last time. In 2018, Weiss was arrested for public intoxication. He was arrested again over this past weekend for burglary and meth-related charges, according to law enforcement. The 40-year old actor was taken into custody in Marysville, California.

Marysville police say that they received a call early Sunday morning about a possible garage burglary. Shaun Weiss allegedly broke the window of a car and was spotted inside when police arrived on the scene. Officers asked Shaun Weiss to get out of the vehicle and then arrested him. Police say, "Weiss displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine and said he did not reside at this residence.

We wish you a merry Great Christmas Light Fight — this year and next. ABC has handed a Season 8 renewal to its yule-duel series and set a premiere date for the 2019 edition; watch the promo above.

Season 7 will light up with back-to-back hourlong episodes starting at 8 p.m. Monday, December 2. Two more installments will air in the same time slots for the following three consecutive weeks. Season 8 will air in 2020.

Each episode pits four families with dazzling household displays against one another to win $50,000 and the Light Fight trophy. This season, viewers also will get a second round of the special Heavyweights episode, featuring light shows so massive that they extend well beyond household frames. Also, peek inside featured family homes for an impressive batch of unique interior Christmas displays as the returning judges — lifestyle expert Carter Oosterhouse and famed interior designer Taniya Nayak –lead another year of over-the-top holiday cheer.

In the TV world, 1999 was a pretty important time. The multi-Emmy Award-winning drama series “The Sopranos” and “The West Wing” premiered that year, as did Nickelodeon’s beloved “SpongeBob SquarePants,” which has spawned two movies and even a Broadway musical, and Seth MacFarlane’s raucous Fox animated “The Family Guy.”

But one of the most fondly remembered series — which kicked off the careers of actors including James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps and John Francis Daley — didn’t even air its complete season. NBC’s high school dramedy “Freaks and Geeks” premiered Sept. 25, 1999, created by a pre-“Bridesmaids” Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow. The producing talent also included “School of Rock” writer Mike White and “Bad Teacher” director Jake Kasdan, and the show also featured guest stars including Ben Foster, Rashida Jones and a baby-faced Shia Labeouf. But after only averaging 6.8 million total live viewers for the season,...

Joe Roth, one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood who's producing the upcoming "Maleficent," has filed for divorce ... TMZ has learned. Joe, whose credits include "Snow White and the Huntsman," "Oz the Great and Powerful," Charlie Sheen's "Anger Management," "Heavy Weights" and "The Forgotten," filed Friday and his wife, Irene, filed her response at the same time. Joe, the former Chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Irene are both requesting joint custody of their 2 kids,...

Over the years, there have been dozens of sports movies pitting the lovable underdogs against the seemingly unbeatable elites — it’s a classic American story. But none were perhaps as big of a surprise hit as 2004’s Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, the film starred Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller as, respectively, the underdog owner of failing gym Average Joe’s and the elite fitness guru trying to push the facility out of business. Backed by a wide and deep cast that also featured Justin Long as a male cheerleader, Alan Tudyk as a 24-7 pirate cosplayer,...

Why so glum, chum? Movies are fun and they need watching.

In the immortal words of Shane Black via Geena Davis in The Long Kiss Goodnight, “Life is pain. Get used to it.” These days life has been really painful though, and it’s not so easy to get used to it. Thankfully movies are always here to pick us up when we need it, or bring us down if we’re looking to wallow. This month we’ve made a list of movies that will leave you smiling and feeling good about humanity after you watch them — at least for a little while. Click on their titles to be taken to their Netflix pages.

Pick of the Month: Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

It’s possible that Big Trouble in Little China might be the stupidest movie ever made. It’s about a fast-talking, rock-stupid, man-child truck driver battling Asian mystics over the fate of his...

Ben Stiller's professional onscreen career is officially turning 30 this year — that's roughly 412 in comedian years. In a business where funny people tend to quickly exhaust their limited charm and sink from telling jokes to becoming a punchline, the restless and versatile Stiller has managed to sustain one of the most consistent comic careers this side of Bob Hope. From his days as a bit player to his later emergence as a force of nature in front of the camera and behind the scenes (you have his production company Red...

Aaron Schwartz has definitely grown up since his fat-camp days in fan-fave movie Heavyweights. And boy has time worked in his favor. The 34-year-old has dropped those pounds and is now smoking hot! It's been 20 years since the classic Disney movie hit theaters, and Schwartz is almost unrecognizable! The heartthrob actor even had to re-introduce himself to his on-screen dad Jeffrey Tambor after running into him in New York. In honor of the Heavyweights anniversary, The Huffington Post sat down with Schwartz and caught up with what the hunk is up to today. Schwartz described what it was like to work on set with Judd Apatow, who was only in his mid-20s at the time. "Just watching that guy...

It's hard to believe it's been over 20 years since we had "the best damn summer of our lives," thanks to "Heavyweights." To celebrate the movie's big milestone, Huffington Post tracked down Aaron Schwartz -- and wow, does he look different! The now-34-year-old actor, who played Gerry in the funny flick and Karp in "Mighty Ducks," stepped away from acting as a teen but has since made his return to the big screen. "I did 'Pete & Pete' after 'Heavyweights.' I was working since the time I was 10 until I was 16. It got to the point where I was like, 'I need a break. I need to visit family out in Israel and relax,' and it turned into 10 years," he told the outlet. "So when I got back into it, I did 'Guiding Light,' which was a soap opera just recently canceled. I did 'Gossip Girl' for about 4 seasons.

Chicago – He’s not a household name, but he has certainly rocked a few houses…with laughter. Writer/director Paul Feig has a new film called “Spy,” in which he re-teams with two of the supporting cast of his “Bridesmaids” romp, Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne. “Spy” opens on Friday, June 5th.

“Spy” is a perfect tonic to today’s super serious movies depicting undercover chicanery. McCarthy portrays Susan, a ex-teacher-turned CIA desk jockey, who often is paired with superspy Bradley Fine (Jude Law). When Fine is disposed of, it is up to Susan to complete his international mission, under the disguises of cat lady and unmarried tourist. Like Feig has done in his previous films, “Spy” loves the juxtaposition of having the unlikely Melissa McCarthy as the world’s greatest operative.

Director Paul Feig (background) Prepares Melissa McCarthy in a Scene from ‘Spy’

Photo credit: 20th Century Fox

Paul Feig...

Ben Stiller's mom, comedic actress Anne Meara, died at age 85 on Saturday, and Ben thanked fans for their support on Monday. He tweeted a message of gratitude, writing, "Thank you so much for all the kind words about Anne. All of us in our family feel so lucky to have had her in our lives." Over the weekend, People shared the family's moving statement, which read, "The Stiller family is deeply saddened to share the beloved Anne Meara passed away last night at the age of 85. She is survived by her husband and partner in life, Jerry Stiller. The two were married for 61 years and worked together almost as long." Throughout her long Hollywood career, Anne appeared on several TV shows, including everything from The Ed Sullivan Show to Seinfeld to The King of Queens, frequently alongside her husband. On the big screen, Anne also starred with her son...

The never-ending saga of Ghostbusters 3 continues, and I’m almost too tired to care anymore. Make this unnecessary thing already, just stop talking about. Pass the torch to young kids with perfect teeth, breasts and forearms and call it a day. Stir up headlines with the notion of going with an all-female cast – oh wait, you’re doing that? Ok then, here we go.

THR is reporting that Paul Feig ( is being targeted to direct Ghostbusters 3, and that while formal discussions have yet to take place, Feig has expressed interest in the project. A total Ghostbusters reboot that will “most likely” focus on female characters played by comedic actresses, adding that the script will be started over from scratch.

So take that for what it’s worth, which I imagine isn’t much these days. There will be new Ghostbusters news next week about it being a found footage horror...

Summer camp starts for kids everywhere this week, and that got us thinking about great summer-camp movies. There are the classics that show us the traditional camp experiences, including Meatballs, Little Darlings, Meatballs II, The Parent Trap, Meatballs 4, Ernest Goes to Camp and Lolita, as well as the horror flicks Friday the 13th and its sequels, and Sleepaway Camp and its sequels. There's also Indian Summer for nostalgic adults.  Now, though, there are all kinds of niche overnight camps, and occasionally we get movies specificaly tied to, say, fat camps (Heavy Weights), magic camps (Magic Camp) and musical theater camps (Camp). We're even starting to get horror flicks tied to niche camps, a la this year's Stage Fright. And thanks in part to Mark...

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While Alan Ball has been better known in recent years for his TV shows -- True Blood, Six Feet Under and Banshee -- the writer/producer is shifting back to feature work for I Am Chippendales, which may include Ben Stiller among its stars. Stiller (Heavy Weights) is in talks to star in the film, which is said to be a "true-life story of how the male dance club became one of the most famous adult entertainment shows in the world." If Magic Mike has taught us anything, it's that there's an audience for movies about male strippers. But it sounds like I Am Chippendales will go beyond the stage to dig into the founding and expansion of the Chippendales night club and the eventual controversy related to attempted arson, racketeering and murder-for-hire, linked co-owner Somen "Steve" Banerjee. Variety says Ben Stiller (Keeping the Faith), is in negotiations to play...