twitter.com/justinbieber

(Reuters) - Teen heartthrob Justin Bieber with his hordes of fans known of Beliebers became the King of Twitter on Tuesday, topping fellow pop star Lady Gaga as the user with the most followers.

Data from TwitterCounter.com showed that the 18-year-old Canadian singer jumped into the lead with 33.33 million followers, topping Lady Gaga's 33.32 million and ending her two-and-a-half year rule of the microblogging site.

A spokesman from TwitterCounter.com said Lady Gaga has held the top slot on Twitter since August 2010 when she overtook U.S. pop star Britney Spears.

Bieber rose to fame as a baby-faced pop star singing love songs such as "Baby" after being discovered on YouTube in 2008. He has released two No. 1 albums in the past 18 months - the holiday-themed "Under the Mistletoe" and "Believe."

Bieber was named by Forbes magazine in 2012 as the third-most powerful celebrity in the world and his huge following on Twitter was cited as a reason why marketers need to take notice of the 140-character micro-blogging site.

Lady Gaga has dropped to second in Twitter followed by singer Katy Perry in third with 31.49 million followers then Rihanna and Barack Obama with 26.17 million followers. Britney Spears has slipped to sixth place.

(Reporting by Belinda Goldsmith; editing by Patricia Reaney)

(You can see the Twitter top 100 list )

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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Chris Rock attends Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on May 21 at TD Garden in Boston.

Chris Rock gave a delightful interview in the New York Times, and while the bulk of the talk was about acting and fellow comedians, the fearless Saturday Night Live alum sounded off on the cameraphone epidemic plaguing clubs. He also had a few things to say about the oversensitivity of certain Twitter users.

Both recent technological phenomena, it seems, are causing problems for comedians who like to hone their craft in semi-private before hitting HBO and Comedy Central. Generally, top comedians go into clubs not to make money, but to workshop their routines. As Rock readily admits, "you're working on the edge." Stuff can be very raw — racist, sexist and homophobic. (And yes, he did bring up Tosh.)

The intent is to iron that stuff out before cameras are rolling.

But in the smartphone age, cameras are always rolling. This, says Rock, is cause for lamentation among the comedian ranks. "Every big stand-up I talk to says: 'How do I work out new material? Where can you go, if I have a half an idea and then it's on the Internet next week?" he told the Times.

"I'll go back to comedy clubs when they get a real no-camera policy, the same way they did with smoking," he said.

Rock got into a little Twitter dustup of his own when, on the Fourth of July, the comedian wished his followers a "happy white people's independence day." Addressing that, he complained that on social media, knee-jerk reactionary outrage and genuine offense are too easily confused. "Just because there's an alarm going doesn’t mean it's a fire."

Rock says that people who hate country music really don't have the right to judge a particular country album, and people who don't like his comedy have no right to take offense with it on social media. "You can't break up with me if we don’t date," he told the Times.

There are many more Chris Rock gems and a whole lot more Rock history in the NYT interview itself, so you should totally read it.

More from TODAY.com and NBC News:

• Chris Rock draws fire for July 4 tweet about 'white peoples independence day'
• Club owner defends 'Tosh.O' comic after rape joke fallout
• Comedian Dane Cook jokes about 'Dark Knight' shootings

Wilson Rothman is the Technology & Science editor at NBC News Digital. Catch up with him on Twitter at @wjrothman, and join our conversation on Facebook.

Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Samuel L. Jackson has taken to Twitter to root on the United States in the Olympics and give his unique take on everything from water polo to gymnastics judges.

Whether it's water polo “dopeness” or “seriously smokin’” women's beach volleyball, it’s clear that Samuel L. Jackson loves the Olympics more than a Royale with cheese.

The popular actor has been tweeting a steady stream of commentary on all types of Olympic events while rooting on the United States at every chance. Whether it’s women’s time trial cycling, water polo, gymnastics, or synchronized diving, Jackson has made his thoughts about most Olympic competitions known to his 1.1 million Twitter followers.

He gave a shoutout to swimmer Michael Phelps (“Big Mike”) for setting the Olympic record for most career medals on Tuesday, and provided his unique brand of commentary on the women’s gymnastics team finals: “Okay, that was Drunk Lady Staggering Flip dismount!" he tweeted. "Made famous by many girls missing the top step in da club!”

Jackson also let loose on the gymnastics judges (SHADY!!!) and gave his opinion of the on-air commentators. The language in his tweets is closer to Jules in “Pulp Fiction” than Mace Windu in “Star Wars,” so be warned that they are not entirely family-friendly.

Check out all of TODAY's Olympics coverage here! And follow TODAY on Twitter and Facebook for London 2012 behind the scenes!  

Read More:

Obama calls gymnasts, tweets Phelps: 'You make our country proud'
U.S. gymnast's dad 'embarrassed' watching viral video 
UK teen arrested after Olympic diver Tom Daley receivers Twitter death threat 

As news of the Aurora, Colo. shootings during a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" continues to develop, so celebrities have taken to Twitter to express their sorrow and support for the victims. Here's a selection of what we've found thus far:

Slideshow: Shooting at Batman screening in Aurora, Colo.

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Launch slideshow

@BlairUnderwood: "My heart & prayers go out to the victims & families of the terrible massacre at the movie theater in Colorado. Very sad."

@BryanCranston: "Priorities clarify when tragedy occurs. The joy of yesterday's Emmy news vanishes when faced with the fragility of life. Hug someone today."

@AliciaKeys: "My heart breaks for the victims, families and community of the Aurora shootings. My thoughts and prayers are with you all…"

@RebaMcEntire: "My heart and prayers go out to the folks in Aurora, CO. I'm so sorry this has happened. I don't understand it."

@JohnStamos: "what devastating news to wake up to. my heart is with everyone involved in the Aurora #theatershooting. what the world needs now is..."

@RyanSeacrest: "Thinking about the families who were affected by this horrible incident in Colorado. My thoughts and prayers are with you all."

@Oliviamunn: "My sincerest condolences to the victims and families in Colorado. So sad, so mindless."

@KaleyCuoco: "Colorado omg.. Praying for the families...this is sick"

@JohnLeguizamo: "My heart goes 2 all the victims families in colorado. No one should have to go thru that. When r we gonna get guns removed in this country?!"

@UncleRUSH (Russell Simmons): "praying for the people of Aurora, Colorado." 

@Alyssa Milano: "No. Colorado shooting. My heart aches. Prayers for the victims and families."

@KalPenn: "Such awful news to wake up to out in Colorado."

@JulieBenz: "in tears watching news footage of the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims & their families."

@TiaMowry: "My prayers and thoughts go out to the victims in Colorado. #prayersaregoingup!"

President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney also expressed their condolences.

Related content:

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AFP - Getty Images File

Charlie Sheen, shown in 2009, told his Twitter followers to "reach for the stars" before signing off.

Charlie Sheen, who made the Twitter hashtag "#winning" as popular as his account — he garnered 2 million followers after being on Twitter for less than a week — says he's signed off the microblogging site. Whether it's permanent remains to be seen.

A few days ago, the star of the new FX show, "Anger Management," posted this Twitter message Thursday, saying "reach for the stars everyone.
dogspeed cadre. c out" on Twitpic, then his Twitter account went dark:

msnbc.com

The former star of "Two and a Half Men," Sheen first got on Twitter to vent his rage after being taken off the show in March 2011. In addition to "#winning," another popular hashtag became "#tigerblood," something he told NBC's Jeff Rossen he had, in terms of being invulnerable to addiction.

Sheen was so intense on Twitter, he even hired a "social media intern" to help him manage his posts. At the time @charliesheen went dark, Sheen had 7.7 million Twitter followers, according to Twitter Counter. (No. 1 is Lady Gaga.) 

TMZ said Sheen said in an interview he wanted to thank his followers for their support. "hank you all for your amazing support. Trust me when I say please ‘follow’ me to my next endeavor. It’s gonna be epic" he told the entertainment website.

— Hat tip, New York Daily News

Related stories:

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• Charlie Sheen iPhone app: #notwinning

Check out Technolog, Gadgetbox, Digital Life and In-Game on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Richard Drew / AP

Howard Stern wished some fans a happy new year with a personal call.

Howard Stern fans who follow the radio host on Twitter had a chance to get up close and personal with the King of All Media on New Year's Eve.

Stern tweeted this message to his followers Saturday night: "Beth and I are drunk dialing. What's your phone number?"

Stern and wife Beth apparently followed through on that promise for the next few hours, at least according to Stern's Twitter feed, where he would tweet about who he spoke to. In numerous cases, he didn't reach the person, but tweeted that he left them a voicemail message.

One fan tweeted that he adopted his two cats because of advice from Stern, and Stern tweeted "Just called to hear about the cats. Got voicemail."

An equal opportunity pet lover, apparently, Stern also called two fans who mentioned their dogs, including one who said that he and his wife were staying home with a dog who'd just returned from the ICU.

 To another, Stern tweeted "sorry to interrupt the video games," and to another, he said "Drinking beer alone. What happened? You clammed up on me."

Some of the fans then reported on their calls via Twitter. The aforementioned video gamer wrote "Howard Stern just called me! This new year rules already!"

Another lucky fan tweeted after her call: "OMG! It was like the best thing ever! I started crying after we hung up!"

When he was finished, Stern tweeted "Just made my last call. Going to bed. Wishing everyone a happy new year. If u get a call after this...it's not me."

 Are you a Howard Stern fan? Tell us on Facebook.

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Apologist Bieber on Tumblr

Flanked by a SWAT team in full body armor, Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler of New York City's Special Victim's Unit swarmed Tumblr's Manhattan offices, armed with a warrant demanding the identification of the user of the popular blog platform who graphically threatened the life of Justin Bieber's ex girlfriend.

That’s how it happens in my "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" spec script anyway.

It didn’t go down like that in real life, obviously. Everyone knows Det. Stabler took early retirement last season after shooting that one girl in the line of duty. Alas, the real Bieber story — as with so many things on the Internet, especially things posted on TMZ — is actually kind of depressing.

Threats to skin alive Caitlin Beadles in her bed, accompanied by statements that the perp had cameras on the singer/actor 24/7, apparently came from a 14-year-old developmentally disabled girl living in Kentucky, TMZ reports.

Her identity was discovered after the Los Angeles Police Department issued a warrant to search Tumblr for the IP address associated with threats posted under the Tumblr user name, KILLSGANDCB. (TMZ helpfully points out that the nom de plume no doubt means kill Bieber’s current squeeze, Selena Gomez and ex, Caitlin Beadles. At least Mariah Yeater's initials can breathe a sigh of relief — the warrant’s Sept. 22 date occurred before Yeater publically accused the Biebs of being her Baby Daddy.)

Before you judge this girl harshly, remember: It’s common knowledge that the 10 percent of the Internet not composed of cats is made entirely of Justin Bieber-inspired death threats.

Over the summer, Bieber's defenders took to Twitter to threaten bodily harm against someone — maybe a cop, possibly a "crazed fan" — who allegedly brutally attacked the Canadian idol or something outside Macy's Herald Square in Manhattan, where the kid was shilling his new Bieber-branded stink juice, "Someone." 

Before that, Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Esperanza Spalding (who foolishly beat out Bieber for the"Best New Artist" Grammy), Greg Leuch (the dude who made ShavedBieber, the Firefox extension that blocks Bieber on the Internet) and that one girl who foolishly tore up the Justin Bieber poster on YouTube, were all briefly targets of Bieber-fan ire.

Why, if warrants were issued to investigate every Bieber-fueled death threat on the Internet, there’d be no official left to allegedly pepper-spray protesters at any of the Occupy movements nationwide. As it is, TMZ reports that the LAPD contacted KILLSGANDB’s mom, “who is now closely monitoring her Internet activities.”

Would that parents of adolescents everywhere do the same!

More on the annoying way we live now:

• Justin Bieber's 'attacker' dead ... if tweets could kill
• Bieber fans go on Grammy-fueled Wikipedia rampage
• Justin Bieber army invades Instagram
• Teen survives Justin Bieber-inspired death threats

Helen A.S. Popkin goes blah blah blah about the Internet. Tell her to get a real job on Twitter and/or Facebook. Also, Google+.