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The Big Bang Theory Doubles UCLA STEM Scholar Support

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After creating the first-ever university scholarship endowment — The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment at UCLA — named after a television series four years ago, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation (TCLFF) announced today that in honor of the show’s final season, it has doubled down on its support of The Big Bang Theory endowment for undergraduate scholars in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Established in 2015, the Endowment initially provided for five annual scholarships, in perpetuity, for students in financial need. It was originally funded via a founding donation by TCLFF combined with gifts from more than 50 individuals associated with the series — including the show’s stars, executive producers, writers and crew — plus partners such as Warner Bros. Television, CBS, ICM Partners, United Talent Agency and more. With renewed donations to celebrate the end of the series, more than 80 individuals have made contributions to date, allowing for The Big Bang Theory scholarship to now fund 10 scholars each year in perpetuity. The Endowment currently supports 35 TBBT scholars and has raised more than $5.5 million for UCLA students in financial need studying in STEM fields.

Dell Technologies, a longtime supporter of advancing science and technology skills, has also made a donation to the undergraduate Endowment and will be gifting the first graduating class of TBBT/UCLA scholars with new Alienware m15 laptops at a special celebration on The Big Bang Theory set with the producers, cast and crew.

Additionally, TCLFF has announced the establishment of The Big Bang Theory Graduate School Fund. This fund will provide four-year scholarships of up to $15,000 per year exclusively for graduating TBBT/UCLA scholars who will be continuing their STEM education in graduate school within the University of California system. TBBT/UCLA graduating scholars who will be pursuing their graduate studies outside of the UC system will be eligible for a one-time grant of $15,000.

The first class of 20 scholars was selected for the 2015–16 academic year, with the endowment initially committed to support an additional five scholars in each future academic year — in perpetuity. With today’s announcement, The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment will now support 10 undergraduate scholars at UCLA in each future academic year — in perpetuity.

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need to low-income students who have earned admission to UCLA based on academic merit but need additional support to bridge the gap between typical levels of financial aid and the cost of attendance. Each year, the students visit the show’s set to be honored by the cast and crew, and the scholars have created an official UCLA on-campus club which provides mentorship and weekly study groups.

Beginning with the 2019–20 academic year, The Big Bang Theory Graduate School Fund will provide up to $15,000 per year for four years of scholarship support exclusively to qualified TBBT/UCLA graduating scholars who are pursuing advanced degrees in STEM fields within the UC system. TBBT/UCLA scholars attending graduate school outside the UC system will be eligible to receive a one-time grant of $15,000.

In addition to its financial contribution to the Endowment, Dell Technologies has gifted each of the inaugural graduating class of Big Bang Theory scholars with Alienware laptops, which have been featured in many TBBT episodes. The new Alienware m15 is the lightest and thinnest 15” gaming laptop ever from Alienware, with powerful performance for both gaming and their future careers. The laptops include eighth generation Intel Core i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce graphics, AlienFX and the Alienware Command Center software.

This continues Dell Technologies’ long-standing relationship with The Big Bang Theory, as the company has provided computers for use on-screen by the show’s characters throughout the 12 seasons of the hit comedy.

In addition to centering many of its episodes in the worlds of science and technology, The Big Bang Theory enjoys a healthy appreciation and support from the scientific community at large. And the show’s connection to UCLA extends beyond the scholarship fund: Series star Mayim Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA, while professor of physics and astronomy David Saltzberg, Ph.D., serves as the show’s science consultant.

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS and five nights a week in syndication. The acclaimed comedy ranks as the #1 entertainment series on broadcast network television among Adults 18–49 and Total Viewers for the 2018–19 television season to date. It will conclude its 12th season in May 2019 as the longest-running multicamera comedy in television history, with 279 episodes.

At UCLA, more than 50 percent of all undergraduate students receive need-based scholarships, grants or other aid. That includes approximately 35% of undergraduates who receive Pell Grants, federal aid for students from low-income families. More than one-third of UCLA graduates are the first in their family to graduate from a four-year college or university.

In addition to its support for The Big Bang Theory Scholarship Endowment at UCLA, The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation recently created a new public school grant program —The Young Sheldon STEM Initiative — inspired by the hit comedy series Young Sheldon. The program was created to foster excitement for learning in STEM fields, specifically in support of U.S. public schools, teachers and students. The program funds two-year educational grants totaling more than $600,000.00 which are awarded to 19 select elementary, middle and high schools in Southern California, where Young Sheldon is produced, and East Texas, where the show is set.

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The electric state

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“The Electric State,” now streaming on Netflix, is a science fiction adventure directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The screenplay, crafted by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, is loosely based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel of the same name. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Millie Bobby Brown as Michelle, Chris Pratt as Keats, and features voices from Anthony Mackie and Woody Harrelson. With a runtime of 128 minutes, the movie transports viewers to a retro-futuristic 1990s America, where a teenage girl embarks on a quest to find her missing brother amidst a landscape populated by sentient robots.

Despite its ambitious premise and substantial $320 million budget, “The Electric State” has garnered predominantly negative reviews from critics. Many have pointed out the film’s lack of emotional depth and coherence. For instance, The Guardian described it as a “bogglingly expensive dud,” criticizing its soulless storytelling and lack of artistic merit. Similarly, Vulture labeled the film a “$320 million piece of junk,” highlighting issues with direction, character development, and overall execution. 

The narrative follows Michelle, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, as she ventures into a dystopian version of the late 1990s, accompanied by Keats, a smuggler played by Chris Pratt. Their mission leads them into an exclusion zone inhabited by defeated robots, all in search of Michelle’s younger brother, Christopher. While the film’s special effects have been acknowledged for their quality, these visual achievements are overshadowed by a storyline that many found lacking in engagement and originality. 

Audience reactions have been mixed, with some viewers appreciating the visual spectacle and performances, while others echo the critics’ sentiments regarding the film’s shortcomings. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a critic score of 17%, reflecting the overall negative critical reception. 

In conclusion, “The Electric State” presents a visually impressive but narratively deficient experience. Despite the high-profile cast and substantial investment, the film struggles to deliver a compelling and cohesive story. Based on the critical consensus and audience feedback, I would rate this film a 4 out of 10.

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Renfield; A Fangtastic Time

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Nicholas Cage is not the Dracula we deserve, but the Dracula we need!

With Nosferatu dominating the box offices with all its gothic, avant-garde glory you may need something a little more light-hearted to cleanse the palette. 2023’s Renfield is a fantastic recipe of dark comedy, satire, and not a small amount of heart (beating or otherwise). Renfield has recently been added to Netflix UK’s menu; for us all to feast upon! 

Both Nick (Hoult and Cage respectively) give fantastic performances as master and long-suffering servant, proving that toxic relationships take many forms. Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) has been in the service of Dracula (Nicolas Cage) for ninety years. Renfield does everything short of cleaning the count’s iconic cape (it’s dry-clean only apparently) and he’s quite frankly sick of it. 

After ninety years the duo’s options, and bank account, have become quite limited. This is why they are holed in an abandoned hospital in New Orleans. Renfield leaves most evenings to supply the ancient vampire with victims to drain blood, preferably of the pure variety. Hoult’s Renfield is a charming soft boy, a 6 ft 2 soft boy, who has some reservations about killing innocent people. He cleverly gets around this moral quandary by joining a support group for the victims of narcissistic abuse held in a local church and eh…dispatching the group members’ abusers to bring to his master. This works well until one night he gets tangled up with the criminal underworld on a ‘routine’ dispatching.

Awkwafina plays the pint-sized police officer with a foul mouth and a strict(ish) moral compass; Rebecca Quincy. Rebecca and Renfield cross paths and it’s up to them to save the city from both criminal and supernatural corruption. This results in many impressively choreographed fight scenes and not a small amount of blood, gore, and sarcasm! It’s strangely heartwarming to watch Renfield try to break the cycle of Dracula’s narcissistic abuse and create a place for himself in the world. As Rebecca states: sometimes you just fall under the thrall of a vampire for a few decades!

Nicholas Cage is every bit as fabulous and camp as you’d expect of a truly iconic Dracula performance. His delivery is as cutting and precise as his debonair velvet suits. One of the best things about the film is you can tell the cast is having fun with their characters, particularly Cage, I would bet my own soul that a lot of his lines were ad-libbed. Special shout-out goes to Brandon Scott Jones who played the painfully sincere narcissistic survivor group leader. Jones proves there is no part too small to make an impact!

Renfield takes the usual Dracula tropes and puts a hilarious spin on them. Asking the real questions like; do vampires need a verbal invite or will a ‘welcome’ mat suffice to enter a home? Quick someone page Buffy! 

Even with the gratuitous gore and violence Renfield manages to be touching at times and ironically breathes fresh life into the reanimated corpses of both Dracula and Renfield.

Three and a half stars.

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Nandamuri Kalyan Ram’s Upcoming Film Builds Massive Hype

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The much-anticipated film Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi, produced by NTR Arts and Ashoka Creations, is all set to unveil its official teaser on March 17, 2025. Featuring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram in the lead role and veteran actress Vijayashanthi making a powerful comeback, the film is expected to deliver a gripping action-packed family drama.

The Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi teaser launch event is scheduled for:

Date: March 17, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM IST

Venue: AAA Cinemas (Screen 1), Hyderabad, India

Fans who cannot attend in person can watch the teaser across YouTube, Twitter (X), and other social media platforms, as it will be released online simultaneously.

Pre-Teaser Hints at High-Octane Action

Ahead of the teaser launch, the makers released a gripping pre-teaser, which showcased Kalyan Ram in an intense look—seated on a boat, shirt bloodied, signaling an impending storm of action. Complemented by Ajaneesh Loknath’s electrifying background score, the clip has already generated significant buzz online.

Directed by Pradeep Chilukuri, Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi promises to blend action, family drama, and strong emotional elements, making it a highly awaited release for Telugu cinema fans. With Vijayashanthi portraying a powerful IPS officer, the film is expected to bring a strong narrative backed by stellar performances.

Nandamuri Kalyan Ram’s New Action Avatar Vijayashanthi’s Comeback in a Fierce Role High-Quality Production Backed by NTR Arts Intense Pre-Teaser That Has Raised Expectations

Stay Updated on Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi For the latest updates, teasers, trailers, and exclusive insights into Arjun S/O Vyjayanthi, follow NTR Arts’ official pages and stay tuned for March 17!

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