document_title: Harry Lauder

question_text: when was keep right on to the end of the road written

text: Harry Lauder

text: Biography[edit]

text: Early life[edit]

text: Lauder was born on 4 August 1870 in his maternal grandfather's house in Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland,[6] the eldest of seven children.[7] His father, John Lauder, was the grandson of George Lauder of Inverleith Mains & the St Bernard's Well estate,[8] Edinburgh, descendants of the feudal barons the Lauders of the Bass;[9] and his mother, Isabella Urquhart Macleod née McLennan, was born in Arbroath to a family from the Black Isle.[8] Lauder's father moved to Newbold, Derbyshire, in early 1882 to take up a job designing porcelain, but died on 20 April from pneumonia. Isabella, left with little more than John's life insurance proceeds of £15, she and the children moved to be with her family in Arbroath.[10] To finance his education beyond age 11, Harry worked part time at a flax mill. He made his first public appearance, singing, at a variety concert at Oddfellows' Hall in Arbroath when he was 13 years old, winning first prize for the night (a watch!).[11] In 1884 the family went to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, to live with Isabella's brother, Alexander, who found Harry employment at Eddlewood Colliery at ten shillings per week; he kept this job for a decade.[12]

text: Marriage and early career[edit]

text: On 19 June 1891 Lauder married Ann, daughter of James Vallance, a colliery manager in Hamilton.[6] Lauder often sang to the miners in Hamilton, who encouraged him to perform in local music halls. While singing in nearby Larkhall, he received 5 shillings—the first time he was paid for singing. He received further engagements including a weekly "go-as-you please" night held by Mrs. Christina Baylis at her Scotia Music Hall/Metropole Theatre in Glasgow. She advised him to gain experience by touring music halls around the country with a concert party, which he did. The tour allowed him to quit the coal mines and become a professional singer.  Lauder concentrated his repertoire on comedic routines and songs of Scotland and Ireland.[13]

text: By 1894 he had turned professional and performed local characterisations at small, Scottish and northern English music halls, but had ceased the repertoire by 1900. In March of that year, Lauder travelled to London and reduced the heavy dialect of his act which according to a biographer, Dave Russell, "handicapped Scottish performers in the metropolis". He was an immediate success at the Charing Cross Music Hall and the London Pavilion, venues at which the theatrical paper The Era thought he generated  "[a] great furore" among his audiences with three of his self-composed songs.[1]

text: He was initiated a Freemason on 28 January 1897 in Lodge Dramatic, No.571, and remained an active Freemason for the rest of his life.[14]

text: Career peak years; 1900–1920[edit]

text: In 1905 Lauder's success in leading the Howard & Wyndham pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow, for which he wrote I Love a Lassie, made him a national star, and he obtained contracts with Sir Edward Moss and others. Lauder then made a switch from music hall to variety theatre and undertook a tour of America in 1907. The following year, he performed a private show before Edward VII at Sandringham, and in 1911, he again toured the United States where he commanded $1,000 a night.  In 1912, he was top of the bill at Britain's first ever Royal Command Performance, in front of King George V, organised by Alfred Butt.[15][16] Lauder undertook world tours extensively during his forty-year career, including 22 trips to the United States—for which he had his own railway train, the Harry Lauder Special, and made several trips to Australia, where his brother John had emigrated. Lauder was, at one time, the highest-paid performer in the world, making the equivalent of £12,700 a night plus expenses.[17] He was paid £1125 for an engagement at the Glasgow Pavilion Theatre in 1913 and was later considered by the press to earn one of the highest weekly salaries by a theatrical performer during the pre-war period.[1] In January 1914 he embarked on a tour that included the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.[18]

text: Australia[edit]

text: Possibly Lauder's strongest connexions were with Australia. Both Lauder, his wife and son, brother Matt and his wife, were all in Australia when The Great War broke out.[19][20] Their brother John had already emigrated, about 1906, to Kurri Kurri (and, later, Newcastle), New South Wales[21], and Matt's eldest son John would also emigrate there in 1920. Lauder wrote that "every time I return to Australia I am filled with genuine enthusiasm.....it is one of the very greatest countries in the world."[22]

text: Lauder was next in Australia (with his wife and her mother) in 1919, arriving at Sydney on 1 March on board the Oceanic Steamship Company's liner S.S. Ventura, from San Francisco, and he was in situ at the Hotel Australia when he was formally notified that he was to be knighted upon his return to Britain.[23][24] His next visit was in 1923 when his brother John was on hand in Sydney, with their nephew John (Matt's son), to welcome Lauder, his wife and her brother Tom Vallance, after a four-year absence from Australia.[25] He visited and stayed with his brother John in Newcastle on several occasions, two well-known visits being in 1925[26], when he gave several performances at Newcastle's Victoria Theatre for three weeks commencing on 8 August[27], and again in 1929[28] arriving in Newcastle for a brief visit on 25 July.[29] Lauder departed Sydney for the USA on board the liner SS Ventura on Saturday 27 July 1929,[30] a ship he was familiar with. In 1934-5, his brother John spent 10 months with him in Scotland.[31]

text: South Africa[edit]

text: Sir Harry Lauder's 1925 reception in South Africa has never been equalled in that country. En-route to Australia, he and his wife arrived in Cape Town at Easter. Over twenty thousand people had lined the streets for hours beforehand and it was reported that every policeman in the city plus mounted police were required to keep order. All traffic came to a standstill. He played for two weeks at the Opera House to packed audiences every night, figures "which staggered the management". He moved on to Johannesburg where his reception was equally amazing, described by a reporter who said "never, as long as I live, shall I forget it!"[32][33]

text: First World War[edit]

text: The First World War broke out while Lauder was visiting Australia.[34] During the First World War Lauder promoted recruitment into the services and starred in many concerts for troops at home and on the western front: he led successful charity fundraising efforts, organised a recruitment tour of music halls, and entertained troops in France with a piano. Through his efforts in organising concerts and fundraising appeals he established the charity, the Harry Lauder Million Pound Fund,[35][36] for maimed Scottish soldiers and sailors to help servicemen return to health and civilian life,[37] and for these many services he was knighted in May 1919.[38][39]

text: Campaigning for the war effort, in 1915 he wrote "I know that I am voicing the sentiment of thousands and thousands of people when I say that we must retaliate in every possible way regardless of cost. If these German savages want savagery, let them have it".[40]

text:
His only son John, who had been educated at the City of London School followed by a degree from Jesus College, Cambridge University, became a Captain in the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed in action on 28 December 1916 at Pozières.[41][42] Nonetheless, with his wife's encouragement Lauder returned to the stage three days after learning of John's death.[34] He wrote the song "The End of the Road" (published as a collaboration with the American William Dillon, 1924) in the wake of John's death, and built a monument for him in the private Lauder cemetery in Glenbranter. (John Lauder was buried in the war cemetery at Ovillers, France).
Winston Churchill wrote that Lauder, "... by his inspiring songs and valiant life, rendered measureless service to the Scottish race and to the British Empire."[43]

text: Later years[edit]

text: Lady Lauder died on 31 July 1927, at 54, a week after an operation.[44] She was buried next to John's memorial in the private Lauder cemetery on his 14,000 acre Glenbranter estate in Argyll,[45] where her parents would later join her. Lauder's niece, Margaret (1900–1966), subsequently became his secretary and companion until his death.

text: After the First World War, Lauder continued to tour the variety theatre circuits; his last tour was in North America in 1932. He made plans for a new house at Strathaven, to be built over the site and ruin of an old manor, called Lauder Ha'.[46] He was semi-retired in the mid-1930s, until his final retirement was announced in 1935. He briefly emerged from retirement to entertain troops during the war and make wireless broadcasts with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

text: Lauder's understanding of life, its pathos and joys, earned him his popularity.[47] Beniamino Gigli commended his singing voice and clarity. Lauder usually performed in full Highland regalia—kilt, sporran, tam o' shanter, and twisted walking stick—and sung Scottish-themed songs, including Roamin' in the Gloamin'.[48]

text: His works[edit]

text: Lauder wrote most of his own songs, favourites of which were Roamin' In The Gloamin', I Love a Lassie, A Wee Deoch-an-Doris, and The End of the Road, which is used by Birmingham City Football Club as their club anthem. He starred in three British films: Huntingtower (1927), Auld Lang Syne (1929) and The End of the Road (1936). He also appeared in a test film for the Photokinema sound-on-disc process in 1921. This film is part of the UCLA Film and Television Archive collection; however, the disc is missing. In 1914, Lauder appeared in 14 Selig Polyscope experimental short sound films.[49] In 1907, he appeared in a short film singing "I Love a Lassie" for British Gaumont.[50] The British Film Institute has several reels of what appears to be an unreleased film All for the Sake of Mary (c. 1920) co-starring Effie Vallance and Harry Vallance.[51][52]

text: He wrote a number of books, which ran into several editions, including Harry Lauder at Home and on Tour (1912), A Minstrel in France (1918),[53] Between You and Me (1919), Roamin' in the Gloamin' (1928 autobiography),[54] My Best Scotch Stories (1929), Wee Drappies (1931) and Ticklin' Talks (circa 1932).

text: Recordings[edit]

text: Lauder made his first recordings, resulting in nine selections, for the Gramophone & Typewriter company early in 1902.[55] He continued to record for Gramophone until the middle of 1905, most recordings appearing on the Gramophone label, but others on Zonophone.[55] He then recorded fourteen selections for Pathé Records June 1906.[55] Two months later he was back at Gramophone, and performed for them in several sessions through 1908.[55] That year he made several two and four-minute cylinders for Edison Records. Next year he recorded for Victor in New York. He continued to make some cylinders for Edison, but was primarily associated with His Master’s Voice and Victor.[55] In 1910 Victor introduced a mid-priced purple-label series, the first twelve issues of which were by Lauder.[56] In 1927 Victor promoted Lauder recordings to their Red Seal imprint, making him the only comedic performer to appear on the label primarily associated with operatic celebrities.[55][57] Lauder is one of three artists shown on Victor’s black, purple, blue and red Seal records (the others being Lucy Isabelle Marsh and Reinald Werrenrath).[58] His final recordings were made in 1940, but Lauder records were issued in the new format as current material when RCA Victor introduced the 45rpm record.[55][57]

text: Portraits[edit]

text:
Lauder is credited[by whom?] with giving the then 21-year-old portrait artist Cowan Dobson his opening into society by commissioning him, in 1915, to paint his portrait. This was considered to be so outstanding that another commission came the following year, to paint his son Captain John Lauder, and again another commission in 1921 to paint Lauder’s wife,[59] the latter portrait being after the style of John Singer Sargent. These three portaits remain with the family. The same year, Scottish artist James McBey painted another portrait of Lauder, today in the Glasgow Museums.[60]
In the tradition of the magazine Vanity Fair, there appeared numerous caricatures of Lauder. One is by Al Frueh (1880–1968) in 1911 and published in 1913 in the New York World magazine,[61] another by Henry Mayo Bateman, now in London's National Gallery,[62] and one of 1926 by Alick P.F.Ritchie, for Players Cigarettes, today in the London National Portrait Gallery (ref:NPG D2675).[63]

text: Death[edit]

text: Lauder leased the Glenbranter estate in Argyll to the Forestry Commission and spent his last years at Lauder Ha (or Hall), his Strathaven home, where he died on 26 February 1950, aged 79.[6][64][65] His funeral was held at Cadzow church in Hamilton on 2 March.[66] It was widely reported,[67] notably by Pathé newsreels.[68] One of the chief mourners was the Duke of Hamilton, a close family friend, who led the funeral procession through Hamilton, and read The Lesson. Wreaths were sent from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and Winston Churchill. Lauder was interred with his brother George and their mother in the family plot at Bent Cemetery in Hamilton.[69]

text: In 1932 he had placed the land at Strathaven where Lauder Hall would stand, and its park, in the name of his niece and secretary, Margaret Lauder to avoid high death duties should he die, as he wanted it preserved as the family seat and a museum to himself.[70] This proved to be a wise move as although he left moveable estate of £358,971, the death duties on this amounted to £207,581. After personal bequests to family totalling £27,000 the residue went to Margaret Lauder.[71]

text: Posthumous[edit]

text:
Websites carry much of his material and the Harry Lauder Collection, amassed by entertainer Jimmy Logan, was bought for the nation and donated to the University of Glasgow.[72]
When the A199 Portobello bypass opened, it was named the Sir Harry Lauder Road.[73][74]

text: On 28 July 1987, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh hosted a luncheon at the Edinburgh City Chambers to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Lauder receiving the Freedom of the City. On 4 August 2001 Gregory Lauder-Frost opened the Sir Harry Lauder Memorial Garden at Portobello Town Hall.[75] BBC2 Scotland broadcast a documentary, Something About Harry, on 30 November 2005. On 29 September 2007, Lauder-Frost rededicated the Burslem Golf Course & Club at Stoke-on-Trent, which had been formally opened exactly a century before by Harry Lauder.[76]

text: In the 1990s, samples of recordings of Lauder were used on two tracks recorded by the Scottish folk/dance music artist Martyn Bennett.[77] The Corkscrew Hazel ornamental cultivar of common hazel (Corylus avellana) is sometimes known as Harry Lauder's Walking Stick, in reference to the crooked walking stick Lauder often carried.[78]

text: Selected filmography[edit]

text:
Huntingtower (1927)
Auld Lang Syne (1929)
The End of the Road (1936)


document_title: List of most streamed artists on Spotify

question_text: most listened to artist on spotify in the world

root

text: Monthly[edit]

text:
Rank

Artist

Monthly listeners(millions)

Country

Ref(s)

1.
Drake
60
 CAN
[1]

2.
J Balvin
47
 COL
[2]

3.
Maroon 5
43
 USA
[3]

4.
Calvin Harris
41
 GBR
[4]

5.
Khalid
 USA
[5]

6.
Ed Sheeran
40
 GBR
[6]

7.
Ariana Grande
39
 USA
[7]

8.
Bad Bunny
38
 PRI
[8]

9.
Imagine Dragons
 USA
[9]

10.
Dua Lipa
 GBR
[10]

11.
David Guetta
37
 FRA
[11]

12.
Demi Lovato
 USA
[12]

13.
Post Malone
36
 USA
[13]

14.
Justin Bieber
 CAN
[14]

15.
Cardi B
34
 USA
[15]

16.
DJ Khaled
 USA
[16]

17.
Sia
33
 AUS
[17]

18.
Clean Bandit
32
 GBR
[18]

19.
Nicki Minaj
 TTO
[19]

20.
Camila Cabello
 USA
[20]

As of August 27, 2018

tag: table

text: On the Spotify Global Top 200[edit]

text: This list enumerates the streams artists' song accrued on the Spotify Global Top 200, which is less than the artist's total streams.[21]

tag: p

text:
| align="center" | 3. || Justin Bieber || align="center" | 8.73 ||  CAN
|-
| align="center" | 4. || Post Malone || align="center" | 6.00 ||  USA
|-
| align="center" | 5. || The Weeknd || align="center" | 5.83 ||  CAN
|-
| align="center" | 6. || style="background:#DDF4FF " | J Balvin || align="center" | 5.67 ||  COL
|-
| align="center" | 7. || The Chainsmokers || align="center" | 5.21 ||  USA
|-
| align="center" | 8. || style="background:#DDF4FF " | Ozuna || align="center" | 4.67 ||  PRI
|-
| align="center" | 9. || Kendrick Lamar || align="center" | 4.62 ||  USA
|-
| align="center" | 10. || Rihanna || align="center" | 4.49 ||  BAR
|-
| align="center" | 11. || style="background:#DDF4FF | Daddy Yankee || align="center" | 4.44 ||  PRI
|-
| align="center" | 12. || Calvin Harris || align="center" | 4.35 ||  GBR
|-
| align="center" | 13. || style="background:#DDF4FF " | Bad Bunny ||  align="center" | 3.80 || PRI
|-
| align="center" | 14. || Future || align="center" | 3.76 || rowspan="4" |  USA
|-
| align="center" | 15. || Selena Gomez || align="center" | 3.72
|-
| align="center" | 16. || Ariana Grande || align="center" | 3.61
|-
| align="center" | 17. || Khalid || align="center" | 3.60
|-
| align="center" | 18. || Nicki Minaj || align="center" | 3.56 ||  TTO
|-
| align="center" | 19. || Sia || align="center" | 3.48 ||  AUS
|-
| align="center" | 20. || Imagine Dragons || align="center" | 3.45 ||  USA
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;" | As of August 20, 2018
|}

text: All-time[edit]

text: This list enumerates the number of streams artists' albums (LP & EP) have accrued on Spotify.

text:
Rank

Artist

Total streams
(billions)

Country

1.

Francesca Michielin

17.1

 ITA

2.

Justin Bieber

11

 CAN

As of July 27, 2018

text: Most followers[edit]

text: It has been suggested that this section be split out  into another article titled List of most followed artists on Spotify. (Discuss) (July 2018)

text:
Rank

Artist

Followers(millions)

Country

Ref(s)

1.
Ed Sheeran
31.1
 GBR
[6]

2.
Rihanna
26.1
 BAR
[22]

3.
Drake
25.1
 CAN
[23]

4.
Justin Bieber
24.5
 CAN
[24]

5.
Eminem
19.2
 USA
[25]

6.
Ariana Grande
17.7
[7]

7.
Bruno Mars
15.8
 USA
[11]

8.
David Guetta
15.5
 FRA
[11]

9.
Beyoncé
15.1
 USA
[26]

10.
Taylor Swift
14.5
 USA
[27]

11.
Coldplay
13.9
 GBR
[28]

12.
Shakira
13.1
 COL
[29]

13.
Calvin Harris
12.8
 GBR
[5]

14.
Maroon 5
12.6
 USA
[3]

15.
Nicki Minaj
12.2
 TTO
[19]

16.
The Weeknd
11.9
 CAN
[30]

17.
Maluma
11.6
 COL
[31]

18.
Imagine Dragons
11.6
 USA
[9]

19.
Shawn Mendes
11.1
 CAN
[32]

20.
Selena Gomez
11
 USA
[33]

As of August 17, 2018

text: Peak position on chart[edit]

text: Timeline of artists who have held the peak position each month as the most streamed artist since September 2015, when the feature was first made public.[34]

text: Indicates most streamed artist of the year

text:
Year

Month

Artist

Ref(s)

2015
September
The Weeknd
[37]

October

November

December
Justin Bieber
[42]

2016
January

February

March

April
Rihanna
[43]

May
Drake
[44]

June.

July

August

September

October

November

December
The Weeknd

2017
January

February
Ed Sheeran
[48]

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2018
January
Ed Sheeran

February

March
Drake
[49]

April

May

June
J Balvin
[50]

July
Drake

text: Most streamed artists by year[edit]

text: Spotify's most streamed artist of 2017 was Ed Sheeran with 6.3 billion streams that year. This was his second year topping the list.[51]

text:
Rank

Chg

Artist

Country

1.

Ed Sheeran
 GBR

2.

Drake
 CAN

3.

The Weeknd

4.

Kendrick Lamar
 USA

5.

The Chainsmokers

text: Spotify's most streamed artist of 2016 was Drake with 4.7 billion streams that year. He topped the list for a second year in a row.[52]

text:
Rank

Chg

Artist

Country

1.

Drake
 CAN

2.

Justin Bieber

3.

Rihanna
 BAR

4.

Twenty One Pilots
 USA

5.

Kanye West

text: Spotify's most streamed artist of 2015 was Drake with 1.8 billion streams that year.[53]

text:
Rank

Chg

Artist

Country

1.

Drake
 CAN

2.

Ed Sheeran
 GBR

3.

The Weeknd
 CAN

4.

Maroon 5
 USA

5.

Kanye West

text: Spotify's most streamed artist of 2014 was Ed Sheeran with 860 million streams that year.[54]

text:
Rank

Chg

Artist

Country

1.

Ed Sheeran
 GBR

2.

Eminem
 USA

3.

Coldplay
 GBR

4.

Calvin Harris

5.

Katy Perry
 USA

text: Spotify's most streamed artists of 2013 were Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.[55]

text:
Rank

Artist

Country

1.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
 USA

2.
Avicii
 SWE

3.
Daft Punk
 FRA

4.
Eminem
 USA

5.
Imagine Dragons

6.
Jay-Z

7.
Bruno Mars

8.
Rihanna
 BAR

9.
Calvin Harris
 GBR

10.
Drake
 CAN


document_title: Fastest recorded tennis serves

question_text: who has the fastest serve in female tennis

text: Fastest recorded tennis serves

text: Men[edit]

text: Not recognized by ATP  Not formally recognized by ATP and/or unsourced

text:
Rank
Player
Speed
Event

Type

Round

Source

1
 Samuel Groth[note 1]
263 km/h (163.4 mph)
2012 Busan Open Challenger Tennis

Singles

2R

[7]

2
 Albano Olivetti
257.5 km/h (160 mph)
2012 Internazionali Trofeo Lame Perrel–Faip

1R

[8]

3
 John Isner
253 km/h (157.2 mph)
2016 Davis Cup

1R

[9]

4
 Ivo Karlović
251 km/h (156.0 mph)
2011 Davis Cup

Doubles

1R

[10]

 Jerzy Janowicz[note 2]
2012 Pekao Szczecin Open

Singles

1R

[12]

6
 Andy Roddick
155 mph (249.4 km/h)
2004 Davis Cup

SF

[13]

6
 Milos Raonic
249.4 km/h (155 mph)
2012 Sap open

SF

[14]

8
 Joachim Johansson
244.6 km/h (152 mph)
2004 Davis Cup

Doubles

1R

[15]

 Feliciano López
2014 Aegon Championships

Singles

1R

[16]

10
 Marius Copil
244 km/h (151.6 mph)
2016 Antwerp

QF

[17]

11
 Hubert Hurkacz
243 km/h (151.0 mph)
2016 Davis Cup

1R

[17]

12
 Taylor Dent
240 km/h (149.1 mph)
2010 French Open

?

[14]

13

 Juan Martín del Potro
240 km/h (149.1 mph)
2017 Stockholm Open
F

[18]

14
 Greg Rusedski
239.8 km/h (149 mph)
1998 Newsweek Champions Cup

SF

[19]

16
 Dmitry Tursunov
237.0 km/h (147.25 mph)
2006 Davis Cup

?

 Frances Tiafoe
2018 Estoril Open

F

 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2014 Rogers Cup

QF

[20]

18
 Gaël Monfils
235 km/h (146 mph)
2007 Legg Mason Tennis Classic

QF

[14]

 Dušan Vemić
2008 Countrywide Classic

?

[14]

 Marin Čilić
2016 Davis Cup

Singles

1R

[citation needed]

21
 Ričardas Berankis
234 km/h (145.5 mph)
2011 Open d'Orléans

QF

[21]

 Stan Wawrinka
2014 Davis Cup

Doubles

F

[22]

23
 Ivan Ljubičić
233.4 km/h (145 mph)
2007 Pacific Life Open

Singles

?

[14]

 Grigor Dimitrov
2013 Aegon Championships

[citation needed]

 Reilly Opelka
2016 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships

[citation needed]

 Viktor Troicki
2017 Davis Cup

[citation needed]

27

 Fernando Verdasco

232 km/h (144.2 mph)
2009 French Open

[14]

 Dominic Thiem
2017 Gerry Weber Open

[citation needed]

29
 Mardy Fish

231.7 km/h (144 mph)
2007 Pacific Life Open

[14]

 Marcin Matkowski
2009 ATP World Tour Finals

[citation needed]

31
 Martin Verkerk
230 km/h (143 mph)
2003 Breil Milano Indoor

[citation needed]

 Robin Söderling
2010 ATP World Tour Finals

[citation needed]

 Daniel Brands
2011 Intersport Heilbronn Open

[citation needed]

 Jiří Veselý
2014 Wimbledon

[citation needed]

 Nicolás Almagro
2016 Argentina Open

[citation needed]

text:
Jump up ^  In the match, Groth also hit serves recorded at 255.7 km/h (158.9 mph) and 253.5 km/h (157.5 mph)[6]

Jump up ^ His fastest verified serve clocked in at 149.3 mph (240 km/h) in the 2013 Davis Cup and he produced a 150.4 mph (242 km/h) serve during his run in the 2012 Paris Masters, but it was a let.[11]

tag: ol

text: Women[edit]

text: The WTA does not recognize, nor keep tabs of speed records set outside selected main draw segment of WTA Tour tournaments (where at least one of the tennis courts has a speed gun installation in place). Therefore even records that have been achieved during qualifications in those same places but not in main draw matches as well as records documented at other matches like  ITF tour events, Fed Cup ties, Olympics tennis and other tournaments are not counted as part of women's speed record.

text: Not recognized by WTA

text:
Rank
Player
Speed[23]
Event[note 1]

1

 Georgina Garcia Pérez
220.0 km/h (136.7 mph)
2018 Hungarian Ladies Open[24]

2
 Sabine Lisicki
210.8 km/h (131.0 mph)
2014 Stanford Classic[25]

3
 Venus Williams
207.6 km/h (129.0 mph)
2007 US Open

4
 Ivana Jorović
207.0 km/h (128.6 mph)
2017 Fed Cup

5
 Serena Williams
207 km/h (129 mph)
2013 Australian Open

6
 Julia Görges
203.0 km/h (126.1 mph)
2012 French Open

 Caroline Garcia
2016 Fed Cup

8
 Brenda Schultz-McCarthy
202.7 km/h (126.0 mph)
2007 Indian Wells Masters

9
 Nadiya Kichenok
202.0 km/h (125.5 mph)
2014 Australian Open

10

 Lucie Hradecká

201.2 km/h (125.0 mph)
2015 Wimbledon

 Naomi Osaka
2016 US Open

12
 Anna-Lena Grönefeld
201.1 km/h (125.0 mph)
2009 Indian Wells Masters

13
 Ana Ivanovic
201.0 km/h (124.9 mph)
2007 French Open

 Denisa Allertová
2015 Australian Open[26]

15
 Kristina Mladenovic
200.0 km/h (124.3 mph)
2009 French Open

text: Jump up ^ "IDS[clarification needed] only collects serve speed data on show courts at certain events (11 in 2014) and started doing so in 1989 ... Players who have had multiple Top 10 fastest serves only have their top one listed, and if they hit that top speed multiple times, just the first time they did it is listed." http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/1978722/title/ids-serve-speed-leaders


document_title: Matthew Leitch

question_text: who played floyd talbert in band of brothers

text: Matthew Leitch

text:
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text:
Matthew Leitch

Born
(1975-03-19) 19 March 1975 (age 43)
London, England, UK

Occupation
Actor

Years active
1998 - Present

text: Matthew Leitch (born 19 March 1975) is an English actor perhaps best known for his portrayal of Floyd Talbert in the award winning HBO mini-series, Band of Brothers. After Band of Brothers, he starred in the action flick "The Detonator". He is currently busy in filming Country of Hotels.

text: Biography[edit]

text: He started his acting career in the television series Renford Rejects on Nickelodeon and then in Miami 7.

text: His breakthrough role was on Band of Brothers as Floyd Talbert. He then went on to star in the British film AKA, with his Band of Brothers co-star Peter Youngblood Hills.

text: Leitch has also had minor roles in the films Below and The Dark Knight.

text: Mat(t) recently guest starred as a judge in an episode of "Pasty Bake-off" where he later admitted that a Virginia baker tried to bribe him for his vote.[1]


document_title: List of largest producing countries of agricultural commodities

question_text: turkey is the worlds largest producer of this fruit

text: Produce types[edit]

text: Cereal[edit]

text: As of  2016[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:[1]

text:
Cereal

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Barley

 Russia

 Germany

 France

 Ukraine

 Australia

Buckwheat

 Russia

 China

 Ukraine

 France

 Poland

Maize (corn)

 United States

 China

 Brazil

 Argentina

 Mexico

Millet

 India

 Niger

 China

 Mali

 Nigeria

Oats

 Russia

 Canada

 Australia

 Poland

 Finland

Rice, paddy

 China

 India

 Indonesia

 Bangladesh

 Vietnam

Rye

 Germany

 Russia

 Poland

 Belarus

 Denmark

Sorghum

 United States

 Nigeria

 Sudan

 Mexico

 Ethiopia

Triticale

 Poland

 Germany

 Belgium

 France

 Russia

Wheat

 China

 India

 Russia

 United States

 Canada

text: Vegetables[edit]

text:
Vegetable

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Lettuce and chicory

 China

 United States

 India

 Spain

 Italy

Dry Bean

 Myanmar

 India

 Brazil

 United States

 Tanzania

Onion (dry)

 China

 India

 Egypt

 United States

 Iran

Cabbage and other brassicas

 China

 India

 Russia

 South Korea

 Ukraine

Green bean

 China

 Indonesia

 India

 Turkey

 Thailand

Chickpea

 India

 Australia

 Myanmar

 Ethiopia

 Turkey

Pulses (total)

 India

 Poland

 Mozambique

 United Kingdom

 Pakistan

Cauliflowers and Broccoli

 China

 United States

 India

 Spain

 Mexico

Eggplant

 China

 India

 Egypt

 Turkey

 Iran

Potato

 China

 India

 Russia

 Ukraine

 United States

Spinach

 China

 United States

 Japan

 Turkey

 Indonesia

Cassava (yuca)

 Nigeria

 Thailand

 Brazil

 Indonesia

 Ghana

Soybean

 United States

 Brazil

 Argentina

 India

 China

Carrots and turnips

 China

 Uzbekistan

 Russia

 United States

 Ukraine

Cucumber

 China

 Russia

 Turkey

 Iran

 Ukraine

Ginger

 India

 Nigeria

 China

 Indonesia

   Nepal

Pumpkin, squash and gourd

 China

 India

 Russia

 Ukraine

 United States

Rapeseed

 Canada

 China

 India

 France

 Germany

Safflower

 Russia

 Kazakhstan

 Mexico

 United States

 Turkey

Yams

 Nigeria

 Ghana

 Ivory Coast

 Benin

 Togo

Sugar cane

 Brazil

 India

 China

 Thailand

 Pakistan

Sweet potato

 China

 Nigeria

 Tanzania

 Indonesia

 Uganda

Sesame

 Tanzania

 Myanmar

 India

 China

 Sudan

Okra

 India

 Nigeria

 Sudan

 Mali

 Pakistan

text: Fruits[edit]

text:
Fruit

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Apricot

 Turkey

 Uzbekistan

 Iran

 Algeria

 Italy

Olive

 Spain

 Greece

 Italy

 Turkey

 Morocco

Pear

 China

 Argentina

 United States

 Italy

 Turkey

Banana

 India

 China

 Indonesia

 Brazil

 Ecuador

Mango, mangosteen, guava

 India

 China

 Thailand

 Mexico

Template:???

Coconut

 Indonesia

 Philippines

 India

 Brazil

 Sri Lanka

Fig

 Turkey

 Egypt

 Algeria

 Iran

 Morocco

Grapes

 China

 Italy

 United States

 France

 Spain

Oranges

 Brazil

 China

 India

 United States

 Mexico

Papaya

 India

 Brazil

 Mexico

 Indonesia

 Dominican Republic

Peach

 China

 Spain

 Italy

 United States

 Iran

Apple

 China

 United States

 Poland

 Turkey

 India

Pineapple

 Costa Rica

 Brazil

 Philippines

 India

 Thailand

Gooseberry

 Germany

 Russia

 Poland

 Ukraine

 United Kingdom

Lemon

 India

 Mexico

 Argentina

 China

 Brazil

Raspberry

 Russia

 United States

 Poland

 Mexico

 Serbia

Plum

 China

 Romania

 Serbia

 United States

 Turkey

Strawberry

 China

 United States

 Mexico

 Egypt

 Turkey

Blueberry

 United States

 Canada

 Mexico

 Poland

 Germany

Kiwifruit

 China

 Italy

 New Zealand

 Iran

 Chile

Currant

 Russia

 Poland

 Ukraine

 Germany

 United Kingdom

Date

 Egypt

 Iran

 Saudi Arabia

 Algeria

 United Arab Emirates

Cherry

 Turkey

 United States

 Iran

 Chile

 Uzbekistan

Avocado

 Mexico

 Dominican Republic

 Peru

 Colombia

 Indonesia

Tomato

 China

 India

 United States

 Turkey

 Egypt

Quince

 Uzbekistan

 Turkey

 China

 Iran

 Morocco

Watermelon

 China

 Turkey

 Iran

 Brazil

 Uzbekistan

text: Dairy[edit]

text: As of  2016[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [2]

text:
Product

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Milk (cow)

 United States

 India

 China

 Brazil

 Germany

Milk (buffalo)

 India

 Pakistan

 China

 Egypt

   Nepal

Milk (goat)

 India

 Sudan

 Bangladesh

 Pakistan

 France

Milk (sheep)

 China

 Turkey

 Greece

 Syria

 Romania

Milk (camel)

 Somalia

 Kenya

 Mali

 Ethiopia

 Niger

text: Drinks[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [1]

text:
Product

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Milk

 India

 United States

 China

 Pakistan

 Brazil

Tea

 China

 Bangladesh

 India

 Sri Lanka

 Vietnam

Coffee

 Brazil

 Vietnam

 Colombia[3]

 Indonesia

 Ethiopia

Wine

 Spain

 Italy

 France[4]

 United States

 Chile

Beer

 China

 United States

 Brazil

 Russia

 Germany

text: Meat[edit]

text: As of  2014[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [2]

text:
Product

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Chicken

 Brazil

 United States

 China

 Russia

 Mexico

Beef

 Brazil

 United States

 China

 Argentina

 Australia

Pork

 China

 United States

 Germany

 Spain

 Vietnam

Sheep

 China

 Australia

 New Zealand

 Turkey

 United Kingdom

Goat

 China

 India

 Pakistan

 Nigeria

 Bangladesh

Turkey

 United States

 Brazil

 Germany

 France

 Italy

Duck

 China

 France

 Malaysia

 Myanmar

 Vietnam

text: Nuts[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [3]

text:
Nut

Largest Producer

Second Largest Producer

Third Largest Producer

Almond

 United States

 Australia

 Spain

Cashew nut

 Vietnam

 Nigeria

 India

Chestnut

 China

 South Korea

 Turkey

Hazelnut

 Turkey

 Italy

 United States

Peanut

 China

 India

 Nigeria

Pistachio

 Iran

 United States

 Turkey

Sheanut

 Nigeria

 Mali

 Burkina Faso

Walnut

 China

 Iran

 United States

text: Spices[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [4]

text:
Spice

Largest Producer

Second Largest Producer

Black pepper

 Vietnam

 India

Chili pepper

 India

 China

Cinnamon

 Indonesia

 China

Cloves

 Indonesia

 Madagascar

Ginger

 India

 China

Nutmeg

 Guatemala

 Indonesia

Saffron

 Iran

 Spain

Vanilla

 Madagascar

 Indonesia

text: Others[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [5]

text:
Product

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Cocoa

 Ivory Coast

 Ghana

 Indonesia

 Nigeria

 Cameroon

Egg

 China

 United States

 India

 Japan

 Mexico

Honey

 China

 Turkey

 Argentina

 Ukraine

 Russia

Tobacco

 China

 Brazil

 India

 United States

 Indonesia

text: Non-food products[edit]

text: Fibers[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.[5][6]

text:
Fiber

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Abaca (manila)

 Philippines

 Ecuador

 Costa Rica

 Indonesia

 Equatorial Guinea

Agave fibre

 Colombia

 Mexico

 Nicaragua

 Ecuador

 Philippines

Cotton

 Bangladesh

 China

 United States

 Pakistan

 Brazil

Flax

 France

 Belgium

 Belarus

 Russia

 China

Jute

 Bangladesh

 India

 China

 Uzbekistan

   Nepal

Kapok (2012 data)

 Indonesia

 Thailand

none reported

none reported

none reported

Ramie

 China

 Laos

 Philippines

 Brazil

none reported

Rubber

 Thailand

 Indonesia

 Vietnam

 India

 China

Silk

 China

 India

 Uzbekistan

 Thailand

 Iran

Sisal

 Brazil

 Tanzania

 Kenya

 Madagascar

 China

Wool

 Bangladesh

 Australia

 New Zealand

 United Kingdom

 Iran

text: Forest products[edit]

text: As of  2013[update], FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [6]

text:
Wood and forest products

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth

Wood fuel1

 India

 China

 Brazil

 Ethiopia

 Democratic Republic of the Congo

Sawnwood2

 United States

 China

 Canada

 Russia

 Germany

Wood-based panels3

 China

 Russia

 United States

 Germany

 Brazil

Paper and Paperboard4

 China

 United States

 Japan

 Germany

 Sweden

Dissolving wood pulp5

 United States

 South Africa

 Canada

 Sweden

 Austria

text:
1Wood fuel includes all wood for fuel as firewood, wood pellets, and charcoal
2Sawnwood includes all sawn wood, dimensional lumber
3Wood-based panel includes all plywood, particleboard, fiberboard and veneer sheets
4Paper and Paperboard includes all paper, sanitary paper, and packaging materials
5Dissolving wood pulp includes cellulose extracted from wood for making synthetic fibres, cellulose plastic materials, lacquers and explosives[7]

text: Notes[edit]

text:
^ Jump up to: a b c http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize

Jump up ^ http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QL/visualize

Jump up ^ https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/091415/5-countries-produce-most-coffee.asp/

Jump up ^ https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/240307/the-worlds-biggest-wine-producers-in-2018-including-south-africa/

Jump up ^ http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/rankings/countries_by_commodity/E

Jump up ^ http://faostat3.fao.org/browse/Q/QL/E

Jump up ^ Forest Products Definitions, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS, Statistics Division


document_title: Billions (TV series)

question_text: how many episodes in season 1 of billions

text: Billions (TV series)

text: Cast[edit]

text: Main cast[edit]

text:
Damian Lewis as Robert "Bobby" Axelrod, an ambitious billionaire manager of a hedge fund called Axe Capital and a Hofstra University graduate who came from humble beginnings. He was one of the survivors of the September 11 attacks, and pays the college tuitions of the children of his colleagues who died in the World Trade Center. He is extremely charitable and generous in public, but uses insider trading and bribery to grow his firm's enormous wealth. Character is loosely based on Steve "Stevie" Cohen and his former hedge fund SAC.
Paul Giamatti as Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Rhoades is ruthless, and has a particular distaste for wealthy criminals who try to buy their way out of justice. Despite his significant power as U.S. Attorney, Rhoades struggles not to be overshadowed both by his higher-earning wife, Wendy, and by his well-connected and very rich father. He went to Yale (as did Giamatti and his father) and has a blind trust of which his father is a trustee. In private, he and his wife engage in BDSM role play, with Chuck as Wendy's "slave". Character is loosely based on Eliot Spitzer and Preet Bharara.
Maggie Siff as Wendy Rhoades, M.D, a psychiatrist, in-house performance coach at Axe Capital and wife of Chuck Rhoades. She is self-possessed, motivated and extremely successful. She has a strong relationship with Axelrod, her boss, with whom she has been working for more than 15 years.
Malin Akerman as Lara Axelrod, wife of Bobby Axelrod and a former nurse (who maintains her professional license). She is from a lower-class, blue-collar upbringing, but has left her former self behind. She is devoted to her husband and their children. Her brother Dean was a firefighter who died during the 9/11 attacks. Lara strongly dislikes Axe's close relationship with Wendy.
Toby Leonard Moore as Bryan Connerty, the Chief of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force for the Southern District of New York and Rhoades' point man.
David Costabile as Mike "Wags" Wagner, COO of Axe Capital and Axelrod's right-hand man.[5]
Condola Rashād as Kate Sacker, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York.

tag: ul

text: Recurring cast[edit]

text:
Jeffrey DeMunn as Charles Rhoades Sr., Chuck's father, a very wealthy and well connected city power player who often uses his position to meddle in his son's affairs.
Terry Kinney as Hall, a fixer on Axelrod's payroll.
Glenn Fleshler as Orrin Bach, Axelrod's legal counsel
Jerry O'Connell as Steven Birch, a hedge fund rival of Axelrod's
Dennis Boutsikaris as Kenneth Malverne
Rob Morrow as Adam DeGiulio, a Harvard graduate who worked for the Attorney General and became a federal judge.
Susan Misner as Agent Terri McCue
Dan Soder as Mafee, Axe Capital employee
Stephen Kunken as Ari Spyros, an investigator for the SEC.
Kelly AuCoin as 'Dollar' Bill Stearn, an Axe Capital employee
Malachi Weir as Lonnie Watley, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York.
Nathan Darrow as Mick Danzig, Axe Capital employee whom Axelrod gets out of an automatic weapons charge.
Sam Gilroy as Michael Dimonda, a Wall Street Journal reporter.
Eric Bogosian as Lawrence Boyd, CEO of fictional investment bank Spartan Ives.
Ben Shenkman as Ira Schirmer, an attorney and friend of Chuck.
David Strathairn as 'Black' Jack Foley, a power player in the New York State political arena.
Mary-Louise Parker as George Minchak, a specialist in candidate-vetting for Foley.
Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor Amber Mason, a nonbinary analyst at Axe Capital, who becomes close to Axe and is appointed CIO of Axe Capital. (Season 2) Taylor is widely considered to be the first nonbinary character on mainstream North American television.[6][7][8]

text: Episodes[edit]

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired

First aired
Last aired

1
12
January 17, 2016 (2016-01-17)
April 10, 2016 (2016-04-10)

2
12
February 19, 2017 (2017-02-19)
May 7, 2017 (2017-05-07)

text: Season 1 (2016)[edit]

text: Showtime released the pilot episode online on January 1, 2016, and the second episode on January 17, 2016.

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

1
1
"Pilot"
Neil Burger
Brian Koppelman & David Levien & Andrew Ross Sorkin
January 17, 2016 (2016-01-17)
0.904[9]

Bobby "Axe" Axelrod is a charismatic 9/11 survivor who heads up Axe Capital, a hedge fund based in Connecticut. Despite his acts of generosity, the SEC asks Chuck Rhoades, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to investigate him. Chuck's wife, Wendy, works as a motivational coach/psychiatrist at Axe Capital, and the prospect of Chuck investigating her boss causes tension between them. Chuck decides to bait Axe into buying an expensive oceanfront house to turn public favor against him. Axe realizes that an old friend, Dan Margolis, is cooperating with the FBI. Axe and his fixer, Hall, move to frame another trader, Steven Birch, for Axe's wrongdoing. Axe and Chuck finally meet face-to-face at an investment conference. Axelrod buys the house, but is told by Hall that the FBI have opened a case against him.

2
2
"Naming Rights"
Neil Burger
Brian Koppelman & David Levien
January 24, 2016 (2016-01-24)
0.950[10]

Axe installs rigorous compliance measures to gird the company against Chuck's investigation. When Wendy questions Axe's methods, he compels her to prove her loyalty. Chuck's probe is temporarily derailed when he has to divert resources to a case against Birch. Hall finds a mole inside the U.S. Attorney's office, while Axe makes an aggressive move under the guise of a charitable contribution in order to settle an old score.

3
3
"YumTime"
Scott Hornbacher
Willie Reale
January 31, 2016 (2016-01-31)
1.282[11]

Chuck discovers that while he pursued Birch, the rival Eastern District has made inroads in the Axe case and that he needs to get it back. Axe makes an activist play for a family-owned bakery - a move reverberates back to Chuck by way of a very personal connection. Meanwhile, Wendy is thrown into a moral dilemma during a confidential session. Axe's wife Lara tries to protect her husband's reputation from a potentially damaging "tell-all" book.

4
4
"Short Squeeze"
James Foley
Young Il Kim
February 7, 2016 (2016-02-07)
0.851[12]

After getting one of his portfolio managers out of trouble with the police, Axe spontaneously goes to a Metallica concert with his childhood friends. While there, he meets a free-spirited young woman who makes him face the limits of his own freedom. He also must fend off a short squeeze-an attack on one of his important holdings-led by Chuck's father. Back in New York, Chuck has an epic day-long proffer session with Pete Decker, learning important facts about the inner workings of Axe Capital. But Chuck must also take action against his own father for his stock manipulation. Axe reckons with a cold betrayal by one of his friends, and upon his return, makes a momentous decision about the direction of his firm.

5
5
"The Good Life"
Neil LaBute
Heidi Schreck
February 14, 2016 (2016-02-14)
1.010[13]

Axe orders his traders to unload their positions and unceremoniously disappears from Axe Capital. As Axe questions his life choices and plans a trip on his new yacht, Wendy and Axe's lieutenant, Wags, struggle to maintain morale and order amid the chaos. Meanwhile, Chuck intensifies his investigation in response to Axe's disappearance and is led to a farm in Iowa, where he discovers a key witness to a questionable trade. Armed with the damning evidence, Chuck sends the FBI into Axe Capital to make a surprising arrest.

6
6
"The Deal"
James Foley
Wes Jones
February 21, 2016 (2016-02-21)
1.172[14]

Axe plans a scorched-earth defense against the public attack on his company - threatening his relationship with Wendy in the process. Chuck's interrogation of Dollar Bill does not go as planned, and political pressure mounts for him to recuse himself in the face of a protracted legal battle. Wendy, caught in the middle, engages in deft shuttle diplomacy to facilitate a deal in the best interests of both men. But everything hinges on a face-to-face meeting between Chuck and Axe to finalize the agreement.

7
7
"The Punch"
Stephen Gyllenhaal
Brian Koppelman & David Levien
March 6, 2016 (2016-03-06)
1.051[15]

The pressure from the U.S. Attorney starts to affect Axe, who gets into a physical altercation with an acquaintance over an incident involving his kids. Chuck continues to conceal his involvement with the case while using the past to get the upper hand. Wendy meets with an attractive headhunter to consider a career change - and more than just job opportunities arise. And the case against Axe Capital gains a powerful weapon when Connerty turns a member of Axe's inner circle into an informant.

8
8
"Boasts and Rails"
John Dahl
Wes Jones
March 13, 2016 (2016-03-13)
1.093[16]

Axe receives a tip about a mole inside his company, throwing Chuck's case into jeopardy. Connerty faces a moral dilemma in how to respond, leading to conflict with Chuck, who finds himself reconsidering his position as both he and Wendy look toward a future without Axe Capital looming between them. As the investigation begins to encroach on Lara's private life, a secret from Axe's past surfaces, threatening everything he has built.

9
9
"Where the F*** is Donnie?"
Susanna White
Peter K. Blake
March 20, 2016 (2016-03-20)
1.127[17]

The repercussions of the revelations come home to roost with public demonstrations, inside insurrection, and fleeing investors. A sudden and mysterious disappearance sends both Axe and Chuck spinning. Connerty, Chuck and the FBI go into manhunt mode. Meanwhile, Lara has to contend with the brotherhood of firefighters who are furious about Axe's behavior - and in an effort to circle the wagons, makes a painful sacrifice.

10
10
"Quality of Life"
Karyn Kusama
Willie Reale
March 27, 2016 (2016-03-27)
1.103[18]

The death of a member of the Axe Capital family forces both Axe and Wendy to do some soul searching, while creating a devastating setback for Chuck. Much to the dismay of the Southern District, they take another loss when an insider trading case is dismissed by a corrupt judge. In a brilliant counter move, Chuck enlists Lonnie Watley to expose the judge, while greasing the rails for a future move. Axe takes his revenge on some of his defecting employees.

11
11
"Magical Thinking"
Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck
Story by : Wes Jones & Heidi Schreck
Teleplay by : Wes Jones
April 3, 2016 (2016-04-03)
1.080[19]

Axe loses hundreds of millions of dollars on a bad trade and turns to Wendy for help. Chuck sets out on an odyssey to secure powerful allies in the fight against Axe. Lu balks at Lara's suggestion she become the new chef at Axe Capital -- and takes her sister back to the old neighborhood to remind her of their roots. Meanwhile, Sacker and Connerty close down the Axe Capital investigation just as Chuck finds evidence -- right in his own home -- that could salvage the case.

12
12
"The Conversation"
Michael Cuesta
Brian Koppelman & David Levien
April 10, 2016 (2016-04-10)
1.013[20]

Axe learns that Chuck has new evidence against him that could land him in prison. As Lara makes plans for the Axelrod family to flee the country, Axe accuses Wendy of leaking the info to Chuck. A defiant Wendy realizes how far Chuck has gone in his pursuit of Axe and threatens to expose him. Having sacrificed so much to this case - including possibly his marriage - Chuck finds Axe for an explosive confrontation.

text: Season 2 (2017)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

13
1
"Risk Management"
Reed Morano
Brian Koppelman & David Levien
February 10, 2017 (2017-02-10) (online)
February 19, 2017 (2017-02-19) (Showtime)
0.753[21]

Season 2 begins with Chuck facing scrutiny within his office and from the Attorney General. Meanwhile, Axe refortifies Axe Capital and weighs his options for retaliation; the fund wrestles with a precarious economic landscape that threatens the very existence of Axe Cap; Wendy entertains an offer from a rival hedge fund manager; and Lara intervenes in an emergency at her children's school.

14
2
"Dead Cat Bounce"
Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden
Wes Jones
February 26, 2017 (2017-02-26)
0.512[22]

Axe publicly spars with a rival hedge fund manager and with the help of a talented intern initiates a new financial play to hurt the competition. Meanwhile, Chuck deploys his team to quickly find a high-profile case that might save his sinking status; and Wendy navigates a minefield of questioning that could result in disaster for Chuck, who is living at the Yale Club of New York City during their separation.

15
3
"Optimal Play"
Alex Gibney
Willie Reale
March 5, 2017 (2017-03-05)
0.851[23]

Axe considers buying an NFL franchise, and finds a new ally. Chuck begins a last ditch case against a banking titan by developing a low-level informant. Meanwhile, Wendy makes a controversial appearance at the Alpha Cup Charity Poker Tournament by accompanying Axe's competitor as his performance coach. Lara launches her new business.

16
4
"The Oath"
Noah Emmerich
Adam R. Perlman
March 12, 2017 (2017-03-12)
0.981[24]

Under pressure to make progress, Chuck develops a new strategy. Wendy helps a tech billionaire assess a candidate for a special project. Axe considers pledging half his net worth to charity. Lara's new business faces a rival. Meanwhile, Axe and Chuck find themselves together in a room for the first time since their face off.

17
5
"Currency"
Steph Green
Brian Chamberlayne
March 19, 2017 (2017-03-19)
0.857[25]

Chuck, Connerty and Sacker must rely on an anxious insider who's willing to wear a wire. Meanwhile, Axe's numbers take a big hit, leaving him to scout ideas for a quick play with a huge payoff. Wendy rediscovers her passion for her former job at Axe Capital through an old colleague. The reality of Lara's business starts to affect her marriage.

18
6
"Indian Four"
Adam Arkin
Alice O'Neill
March 26, 2017 (2017-03-26)
0.922[26]

Axe negotiates with a reluctant seller, who is key to the success of Axe’s municipal bond play. Wendy makes a professional decision that adds further conflict to her relationship with Chuck. As attempts to reach a deal with a high profile defendant fail, Chuck’s office faces the uncertainty of jury selection. Tensions between Lara and Axe escalate.

19
7
"Victory Lap"
John Singleton
Brian Koppelman & David Levien & Alice O'Neill
April 2, 2017 (2017-04-02)
0.903[27]

Axe assembles a war room in the Hamptons following a disastrous setback in Sandicot for Axe Capital. The fate of the town hangs in the balance while Axe seeks counsel on how best to recoup his losses. Chuck capitalizes on a high profile victory, but alienates Wendy in the process, causing the couple to change the status of their separation.

20
8
"The Kingmaker"
Oliver Hirschbiegel
Adam R. Perlman
April 9, 2017 (2017-04-09)
1.029[28]

Axe investigates who was behind the breakdown in his Sandicot dealings but faces formidable opposition. Chuck digs up dirt on a political rival. Lara makes a PR trip to Sandicot to ease tensions between the town and the Axelrods. Wendy helps Taylor solve a problem at Axe Capital. Chuck and Senior curry favor with a powerful ally.

21
9
"Sic Transit Imperium"
Colin Bucksey
Wes Jones
April 16, 2017 (2017-04-16)
0.847[29]

Axe is offered inside information from a former employee and considers whether to use it. Chuck faces external pressure to drop an ongoing investigation. Lara plans a lavish birthday celebration for Axe only to discover he's lied to her about his relationship with Wendy. Chuck is willing to support Ira and Senior's investment in a company about to go public.

22
10
"With or Without You"
Ed Bianchi
Willie Reale
April 23, 2017 (2017-04-23)
0.912[30]

Axe deals with a major family disturbance involving Lara and the kids. Chuck considers the potential pitfalls of his personal life while being vetted for political advancement. Wendy tries to right a wrong she committed against Axe. At an impromptu dinner Chuck and Wendy open up to each other.

23
11
"Golden Frog Time"
Karyn Kusama
Story by : Brian Koppelman & David Levien & Brian Chamberlayne
Teleplay by : Brian Koppelman & David Levien
April 30, 2017 (2017-04-30)
0.974[31]

Chuck finds he has much at stake in the success of a new business venture; Senior, too, is heavily invested. Meanwhile, Axe takes out a massive short and takes steps to insure its failure. Wendy wrestles with a familiar and uncomfortable position: caught between Axe and Chuck.

24
12
"Ball in Hand"
Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden
Brian Koppelman & David Levien & Adam R. Perlman
May 7, 2017 (2017-05-07)
1.019[32]

Axe receives news from an unexpected source that he is in the crosshairs of law enforcement. While Axe moves quickly to safeguard his livelihood, Chuck arranges the last pieces of his long game in order to secure victory. Lara marshals her resources to protect what is hers. Wendy and Chuck make a momentous decision about the state of their marriage.

text: Reception[edit]

text: Billions has received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series has a rating of 82%, with a rating of 75% for season 1 and 90% for season 2. The site's critical consensus for the first season reads, "Despite a lack of likable characters, Billions' soapy melodrama and larger-than-life canvas offer plenty of repeat viewing potential." For season 2 it reads, "An influx of new characters and a fresh narrative twist give Billions an added boost during its thoroughly entertaining second season."[33] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 69 out of 100, based on reviews from 37 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[34]

text: Development[edit]

text: The series was ordered by Showtime in March 2015 with a 12-episode pick up[35] and premiered on January 17, 2016.[36] On January 26, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season,[37] which premiered on February 19, 2017.[38]

text: Showtime confirmed in April 2017 that Asia Kate Dillon would be a series regular in season 3.[39] It is considered to be the first American TV series to have a gender non-binary character.[40]

text: Broadcast[edit]

text: The first episode was made available on January 1, 2016, via video on demand services in the U.S. and via CraveTV in Canada.[41][42] It premiered on Stan in Australia on January 27, 2016 and in Canada on The Movie Network on January 17, 2016, simultaneous with the American broadcast.[43]