Weekends are great for unwinding, and maybe even unplugging for a little while. Here’s what trended that you might have missed if you weren’t on social media the last couple days.

6 Months Ago

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4 Months Ago

 

Remembering Joseph Wapner and Bill Paxton

The world lost two celebrated men over the weekend – actor Bill Paxton and Judge Joseph Wapner.

[Gerald Martineau/The Washington Post]

In 1984, Joseph Wapner of the "People’s Court" TV program posed in front of the Supreme Court. Wapner died of natural causes Sunday at the age of 97.

Wapner, judge on the reality court show The Peoples Court, died Sunday in his Los Angeles home of natural causes. He was 97.

Wapner famously presided over cases for 12 years beginning in 1981, inspiring years of similar shows like Judge Joe Brown and Judge Judy. 

[Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP]

Bill Paxton, prolific and charismatic actor who played an astronaut in "Apollo 13" and a treasure hunter in "Titanic," died Saturday from a stroke following a heart procedure, his family said.

Bill Paxton, beloved star of blockbusters like Apollo 13 and Twister passed away Saturday after he suffered a stroke following a heart operation, his family says. He was 61. 

He was viewed by many as a versatile actor, mastering roles in comedies and dramas. While his string of hits go on to include movies like True Lies and Titanic, Paxton also worked on the smaller screen, starring in shows like HBO’s Big Love – a role that earned him three Emmy nominations.

 

Trump says he will not attend annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced – on Twitter – that he will not attend the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April 29.

The move wasn’t a total shock as it comes amid a hostile climate between the president and the press. Trump has famously dubbed the media "the enemy of the people" due to negative coverage of his administration. Several news organizations have pulled out of the event in protest of Trump’s treatment of the media.

 

The dinner is sponsored by The White House Correspondents Association and is usually attended by the president, a mix of celebrities, and scores of media outlets. 

The last president to sit out of the event, which raises money for journalism scholarships, was Ronald Reagan, who was recovering from an assassination attempt in 1981. Yet, Reagan still managed to deliver his remarks over the phone. 

Maybe the most notable portion of the dinner, considering Trump’s decision, is the routinely funny address by the president and the comedian roast. At the event two years ago, President Obama took the stage with comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who played the former president’s "anger translator."

 

Denzel Washington "marries" engaged couple from blindsided tour group at the 2017 Oscars

While the 2017 Oscars almost went off without a hitch Sunday night *cough* ..And the winner of best picture is….not La La Land *cough* host Jimmy Kimmel had a few tricks up his sleeve.

Besides dropping mini bags of candy on nominees or lifting up child actor Sunny Pawar from Lion to recreate the Lion King scene, Kimmel ushered in a tour group that apparently had no idea they would be walking through the front row of the live award show.

As the starstruck group rubbed shoulders with A-listers and took selfies, Kimmel discovered an engaged couple in the group. When the woman pointed out Denzel Washington as her favorite actor, the star got up out of his seat, stood between the couple and pronounced them "man and wife."

 

There was also this business of Ryan Gosling "whispering" in her ear that churned up fresh material for social media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact Samantha Putterman at sputterman@tampabay.com. Follow her on Twitter @samputterman. 

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