Problem: Kavanaugh’s Relativity return near as bid is accepted

Relativity Media’s Ryan Kavanaugh has pulled a rabbit out of a hat.

The founder and chief executive of the Hollywood mini-studio who guided it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July — and was hours away from losing the reins of the company — won back control of its non-TV assets on Sunday when an 11th-hour bid was accepted by the company.

The offer, with an ample assist from billionaire Ron Burkle, who had previously invested in Relativity, will look to gain Bankruptcy Court approval at a hearing on Monday.

The post-Chapter 11 business will have just $30 million in debt. The amount of the bid, from the TJ Group, as the winning consortium calls itself, was not released.

Relativity plans to close on the transaction on Oct. 20 and continue to operate “business as usual” until then, it said in a statement.

Relativity will soon announce release dates for “Masterminds,” “The Disappointments Room,” “Before I Wake,” “The Crow” and “Kidnap,” it said in a statement.

The films’ releases were postponed during the bankruptcy.

As part of the reorganization, a creditor group will buy Relativity’s TV assets — considered the company’s crown jewel — for $125 million.

The group’s switch, from an effort to buy all the assets for $250 million to buying just the TV assets for half that much, opened the door for Kavanaugh to return.

The group claimed to be “excited” by winning the TV division, headed by Tom Forman, and, despite earlier predictions of a quick flip, let it be known it plans to be a long-term owner.

Kavanaugh will remain chairman and CEO.

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Summary: Relativity Media’s Ryan Kavanaugh has pulled a rabbit out of a hat. The founder and chief executive of the Hollywood mini-studio who guided it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July — and was hours awa...


Problem: How many cockroaches would you hold in your mouth ... for charity?

By Alisha Green, The Lansing State (Mich.) Journal

Sean Murphy stuffs them in one by one as they hiss. The small barbs on the cockroaches' kicking legs cut his lip and the inside of his mouth, but he is doing this for a cause.

Murphy, a pet store employee, will attempt to set a Guinness World Record for holding Madagascar hissing cockroaches in his mouth for 10 seconds on Sunday.

The record attempt will be part of the Halloween Spectacular at Preuss Pets, where Murphy works, to raise money for the Harris Nature Center.

After seeing a video of the unofficial cockroach record holder, Murphy said he knew he could top it. That inspired his attempt last October, when he held 16 hissing cockroaches in his mouth for 10 seconds, but it was not verified as an official Guinness World Record because it did not meet several guidelines.

The official Guinness World Record for this feat is six cockroaches, and Sean hopes to officially double that by putting 12 of the insects in his mouth Sunday.

Earning a title is not his primary motivation though, he said.

"To raise money for the nature center is even better," Murphy said.

Money raised at the event will go toward building a new river outlook for educating classes at the Harris Nature Center.

"We knew we could turn it into something useful and helpful," said Rick Preuss, store manager of Preuss Pets.

The previous unofficial record was held by Travis Fessler, a 37-year-old member of the Pickled Brothers Sideshow, based in Kentucky, who fit nine of the hissing cockroaches into his mouth in October 2008. Fessler did the stunt to promote a haunted house that benefited a charity called "Shop with a Cop," he said.

"I acknowledge that it was something silly I did, but it was for a charity and to bring attention to the show," he said.

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Summary:
A Michigan man will attempt to hold 12 hissing cockroaches in his mouth for 10 seconds to set the new Guinness World Record and raise money for Harris Nature Center.