The singer Lady Gaga and the actor Vince Vaughn plunged into the icy waters of Chicago's Lake Michigan along with thousands of other participants at a fundraising event. Special Olympics Chicago's president Casey Hogan said that they took the plunge with more than 4,500 other people. He added that Gaga's appearance was "a very nice surprise". The pop star recently announced her engagement to the Chicago Fire actor Taylor Kinney, who went into the water with her. Vaughn, a native of the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, wore a Chicago Blackhawks jersey and jeans for his dip. He waded in up to his knees, then lay down in the water. Last year, the comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Fallon jumped in wearing a suit and tie, helping raise more than US$1 million (Dh3.67m) for the Special Olympics. The temperature was a very chilly -6°C at the time of the plunge, the National Weather Service said. – AP
Time for a big-screen adventure
Adventure Time, the weird and wonderful – and phenomenally popular – animated TV show, is heading for the big screen. The Lego Movie's animation director Chris McKay and its producer Roy Lee will oversee the development of the film for Warners, alongside the TV show's creator, Pendleton Ward, EmpireOnline reports. The surreal animated series, which debuted on the US Cartoon Network in 2010, follows the adventures of 12-year-old Finn and his canine pal Jake as they battle to protect their homeland, Ooo, from a variety of villains, including the Ice King, who is himself searching for his beloved Princess Bubblegum. – The National staff
New sitcom role for Craig Ferguson
The former talk-show host Craig Ferguson has signed up to star in a sitcom pilot. The Scottish-American comedian, who left The Late Late Show in December after 10 years as host, will take the lead role in The King of 7B, as an agoraphobic recluse who is motivated to leave his home for the first time in 20 years when he sees a woman he thinks could be his soulmate move in across the road. The role marks a return to acting for Ferguson, who first found fame in the United States in the mid-1990s, co-starring in eight seasons of The Drew Carey Show. He has also written and starred in several movies, including The Big Tease (1999), Saving Grace (2000) and I'll Be There (2003). – The National staff
Disabled punk rockers aim for Eurovision glory
Four punk rockers with learning disabilities will represent Finland in the semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 19 after winning the country's national qualifying contest. Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat, or PKN, were formed in 2009 at a workshop organised by an association that provides support for people with disabilities. The members have conditions such as autism and Down syndrome. They will compete with a protest song called I Always Have To that is only 90 seconds long. PKN won more than 36 per cent of the votes in the national competition. Finland won the 2006 Eurovision competition courtesy of the death-metal act Lordi. – AP
