Entertainment
“SNL” alum Kate McKinnon on quirky theme in new book and the importance of comedy
Kate McKinnon, who starred on “Saturday Night Live” for 11 seasons and earned two Emmy Awards, is sharing details about her new book for young readers, her inspiration and the importance of comedy in today’s world.
McKinnon’s book, “Secrets of the Purple Pearl,” is part of “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” series. It follows the Porch sisters, who again team up with their professor, Millicent Quibb, to save the guests of the Purple Pearl Hotel from a looming threat.
“The bad guys have gone to the Purple Pearl Hotel and they’ve got to find the legendary purple pearl and rescue everybody before stuff goes down,” the bestselling author explained in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.
McKinnon said there’s a central theme among the characters, saying, “they are quirky girls and they are under the tutelage of Millicent Quibb, the infamous mad scientist who is also quirky – kind of a theme running through the work if you can … piece it together.”
She encourages those reading her book to embrace their quirky personality, acknowledging sometimes it feels isolating.
“I would say just you got to keep doing it,” she said. “Do not hide it because that’s what the world wants from you ultimately, even if it says don’t do it, that’s what we need to move forward is just for people to be themselves.”
McKinnon said she finished recording the audiobook with her sister, who she said is also a comedian.
“Everything for me starts with a voice and a hairdo,” she said. “I do it out loud and then I think of what the hairdo is and then I know everything that I need to know about that character. “
She called her sister “the love of my life” and dedicated the book to her.
“She’s my best friend. She’s my everything and that’s really how the girls in the book feel about each other and what carries them through,” McKinnon said.
Comedy in today’s world
When asked about comedy and its place in the world today, the McKinnon said, “political satire is a very important part of a functioning society.”
“I also think that just goofiness and laughter are vital, not only art, but in between people. It is healthy and I think just kindness and joy and laughter are such important things and just the reason we are alive, and so that’s what I like to bring to people,” she said.
The SNL alum said she misses her former colleagues, but added, “I miss it, but I really love to go to bed early and that’s what I have been doing more of and I really enjoy it. … I miss the people so much.”
“Secrets of the Purple Pearl” is on sale now.
Entertainment
Cole Sprouse reacts to brother Dylan confronting house intruder
Cole Sprouse addressed the recent burglary attempt at his brother Dylan Sprouse’s house in a new, but quite an unexpected statement.
The 33-year-old actor and photographer took to Instagram on Saturday, April 18, and responded to the incident which involved Dylan, 33, tackling the intruder at his home in Hollywood Hills.
Cole had a humorous take on the situation, as he shared one of his own old photos holding up a gun, and wrote, “Dylan Sprouse when he hears any noise at his house.”
In the following Story, the Riverdale alum shared a screenshot of a fan’s comment, writing, “Cole would have told the burglar ‘this isn’t you.”
The former Friends star’s reaction sparked laughter from fans who is loved for his distinct sense of humour.
Apart from the rare glimpses of life on his main account, Cole runs a separate Instagram account, called Camera Duels where he posts pictures of fans trying to take pictures of him, and publicly shares them with lengthy humorous captions.
Despite the funny commentary on the situation, Dylan and his wife Barbara Palvin – who was present in the house at the time of the break-in, were reportedly left quite “shaken” after the incident.
Entertainment
Humans far behind as robot breaks record at Beijing half marathon
A humanoid robot competing against flesh-and-blood runners broke the world record at a Beijing half marathon on Sunday, showcasing the rapid technological advancement achieved by Chinese makers.
Spectators lined the roads in Yizhuang in the capital’s south to watch the machines and their human rivals race, each group in a separate lane to avoid accidents or collisions.
Some of the robots were highly agile, moving like famous runners such as Usain Bolt, while others had more basic capabilities.
The winning humanoid, equipped with an autonomous navigation system and running for Chinese smartphone maker Honor, completed the roughly 21-kilometre (13-mile) course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, at an average speed of about 25 kilometres per hour, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
That was far faster than the top human in Sunday’s race, while also surpassing the current men’s world record of 57:20 held by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo.
The result represented spectacular progress from last year, when robot-runners fell repeatedly and the best took more than two hours and 40 minutes to finish.
The number of humanoid entries jumped from around 20 last year to more than 100, according to organisers, a sign of the sector´s growing popularity.
‘Pretty cool’
Han Chenyu, a 25-year-old student who watched the race from behind a safety barrier, barely had time to take out her phone and snap a picture of the leading robot as it whizzed past.
She told AFP she was enthusiastic about such leaps in technology and thought the event was “pretty cool”.

But, she added, “as someone who works for a living, I’m a little worried about it sometimes. I feel like technology is advancing so fast that it might start affecting people’s jobs”, particularly with artificial intelligence growing increasingly sophisticated.
Humanoid robots have become a common sight in China in recent years, in the media as well as in public spaces.
Xie Lei, 41, who watched Sunday’s race with his family, said robots could “become part of our daily lives” within several years, potentially used for “things like housework, elderly companionship or basic caregiving” or “dangerous jobs, even firefighting”.
The humanoid half marathon aims to encourage innovation and popularise the technologies used in creating and operating such machines.
In a sign of the industry’s strength, investment in robotics and so-called embodied AI amounted to 73.5 billion yuan ($10.8 billion) in China in 2025, according to a study by a government agency.
“For thousands of years, humans have been at the top on planet Earth. But now, look at robots. Just in terms of autonomous navigation, at least in this specific sport event, they´re already starting to surpass us,” Xie said.
“On one hand, it does make you feel a little bit sad for humanity. But at the same time, technology, especially in recent years, has given us so much imagination.”
Entertainment
Karachi Kings win toss, opt to bowl first against Multan Sultans
Karachi Kings won the toss and decided to bowl first in the 28th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Sunday.
The Sultans, led by Ashton Turner, are placed third on the points table, having secured four wins from their six matches so far in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the Kings sit seventh with an even record, winning three and losing three in six games.
Squads
Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Jason Roy, Haroon Arshad, Reeza Hendricks, Ihsanullah and Rizwanullah.
Multan Sultans: Ashton Turner (c), Shan Masood (vc), Mohammad Nawaz, Shehzad Gul, Faisal Akram, Imran Randhawa, Arafat Minhas, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Philippe, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Shahzad, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ismail and Atizaz Habib Khan.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
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