Month: July 2022

There’s a chance the Brittney Griner detainment story may be coming to a close. On Wednesday, CNN reported that the United States has signed off on a deal with Russia to bring Griner — as well as Paul Whelan, who’s been in their custody since 2018 — home. The plan, should it go through, is to swap both of them for one Russian prisoner: arms trafficker Viktor Bout, who’s been serving a 25-year sentence since 2012 in an Illinois prison. Strangely enough, this is where a semi-obscure Nicolas Cage movie comes in.

As noted by Entertainment Weekly, three years before Bout was arrested in Thailand, and later extradited to America and convicted on three counts, Bout served as the inspiration for Lord of War, a 2005 drama from The Truman Show writer Andrew Niccol. Cage played Yuri Olov, a self-hating arms dealer inspired by Bout. The movie ends with him detained by an Interpol agent (played by Ethan Hawke), only to [spoiler] be released thanks to his connections. Again, this movie was made a few years before Bout was rounded up and eventually thrown in jail.

Now Bout may be released so as to save the lives of two Americans seen by the U.S. government as being “wrongfully detained.” Griner has been in custody since February, after she was arrested for possession of hashish oil cartridges while flying into Moscow. The WNBA star pleaded guilty to the charges, though she told authorities she brought the offending items accidentally. The deal has yet to go through, but whatever happens, this is yet another strange twist in the strange life of one of America’s strangest (and greatest) actors.

(Via EW)

We’ve been inundated with Princess Diana content over the past few years. The renaissance of every attention-grabbing moment of the 1990s has created a kind of feeding frenzy that feels disgustingly appropriate for the era. Yet here we are, longing for another documentary event covering the late Princess of Wales because The Princess promises that the real subject is us. Namely, the British (and global) fascination with this one woman which, in its fervor and bottomless appetite, arguably doomed her marriage and sent her into the spiral that eventually led to her death. Supply and demand is a sick game in the world of paparazzi.

And guess what? It’s still wildly relevant today. We’re still doing this. Over and over and over again. Obsessing over celebrities (especially women) and building them up to tear them back down. We just spent another round in the barrel with the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial.

Where the first trailer for Ed Perkins’ archival footage doc gave us a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror, the latest goes for the throat. What does it say about us that we have this need?

We’ll face that question and more when the documentary hits HBO Max on August 13th.

One of the biggest — and weirdest — stories of 2019 concerned “Operation Varsity Blues,” in which a number of wealthy parents were involved in a conspiracy to get their kids into top universities. Felicity Huffman was one of them. So was Lori Loughlin, whose one part of the case dominated headlines for months and months. The former Full House actress wound up losing most of her gigs and spending two months in jail in late 2020. Now, a year-and-a-hgalf later, she’s finally speaking up, albeit briefly, about what she went through.

Over the weekend, Loughlin appeared on the telethon for Project Angel Food on Los Angeles’ KTLA, a nonprofit that works to provide food for those with food insecurity. She spoke about how working with the charitable organization made her feel better during a low point in her life.

“They welcomed me with such open arms at a time when I was feeling particularly down and broken,” Loughlin said. She said she’d “found a home” with the nonprofit, saying “they really do care.” She added, “It’s really a community. It’s more than just feeding people, it’s about loving people and helping people.”

Loughlin’s relatively short stint in prison was nothing compared to Huffman, who served a mere 14 days. Meanwhile, Loughlin’s YouTuber daughter Olivia Jade — who got into the University of Southern California as a result of her parent’s underhanded behavior — has parlayed her increased fame from the controversy into a Dancing with the Stars stint. She finished in eighth place.

(Via KTLA and The Daily Beast)

Fresh off the news that Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik will trade off hosting duties for the foreseeable future, Jeopardy! executive producer Michael Davies has announced that the show is getting its own official podcast. Inside Jeopardy! lands in podcast apps of all kinds August 1st, but what can we expect from an inside look at a world-class quiz show?

According to Davies, “On Monday’s podcast, we will announce all of the contestants who will be returning for a Second Chance to become a Jeopardy! Champion and I will share my vision for Jeopardy!’s future, including new developments in the areas of pop culture and sports, plans for a Jeopardy! Honors awards show and my biggest and most passionately held idea: a Jeopardy! Masters league in primetime or on a streaming platform.”

That feels more like housekeeping and news which comes with its own appeal — especially for those who want to know everything about Jeopardy! as early as possible — but doesn’t say much about what a sustained podcast will do to entertain and hold our attention. It’s not like they’re going to have casting news every week. Davies also promised “gameplay analysis and behind-the-scenes stories, to official announcements, and special interviews.”

Maybe it’s an unfair comparison, but it would be really cool to see Jeopardy! craft a podcast more akin to No Such Thing As A Fish, the QI podcast that is its own animal of facts and comedy and moss appreciation. Obviously Jeopardy! would have to craft its own version, but surely there’s a fun trivia podcast to be made by the makers of the most famous quiz show in America.

(via The Wrap)

Jimmy Butler is coming off of his 11th season in the NBA, becoming a bonafide superstar in Miami, leading the Heat to the 1-seed and the Eastern Conference Finals last season while averaging 27.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game in the postseason.

Butler is a recognizable face for NBA fans, diehard or casual, but when pics and videos from Butler’s latest offseason workout with Chris Brickley popped up on Instagram, fans had to do a double take. That’s because Butler, who has always kept his hair fairly short, suddenly appeared with long dreads, bleached at the end, which is a very different look from the Heat star than we are accustomed to.

Butler started wearing braids this season in Miami, which was the start of the hairstyle change, but I don’t think anyone was anticipating him taking that to a new level with the extra long look.

We’ll see if he sticks with the extensions going into next season, but it caught fans off guard and as always happens on the internet, it got plenty of reaction and, yes, lots of jokes.

There were at least some people who are fans of the look, but, mostly, the social media reaction was just people roasting the extensions.

Tupac‘s influence upon hip-hop is undeniable. Despite a very short career, halted by his death via gunshot, his DNA and legacy transcend the time he was actively releasing music. Several commemorative efforts have been released since the California rapper’s passing and the latest comes in the form of his very own Funko Pop! figurine, set to be released in correlation with the anniversary of his debut album, 2Pacalypse.

The official Pop In A Box Instagram account announced the release on July 26 with a photo of both the Funko Pop and the cover art for Tupac’s 1991 LP. People will notice that the outfit the figurine is wearing is the exact same one the rapper sported on the album’s cover. The special edition Tupac Funko Pop! figurine will be available for purchase on November 28, 2022 for $19.99.

2Pacalypse is a beloved record in Tupac Shakur’s discography, boasting the songs “Brenda’s Got A Baby,” “Trapped,” and “I Don’t Give A F***.” The album was released while he was signed to Interscope Records and TNT Recordings, in addition to being a member of Digital Underground. It would serve as the launchpad for a legendary, albeit short solo career.

Check out the Tupac special edition Funko Pop! above.

Donald Trump’s paranoia is really getting the best of him this week.

According to a new report from Rolling Stone, the twice-impeached former president is starting to suspect his closest allies at Fox News are turning on him and favoring his Republican opponent, Florida Governor Ron. DeSantis, in the next primary race. Though no official announcement has been made, plenty within the party expect both men to run during the Republican Primary and getting that nomination relies largely on how favored a candidate is by conservative America’s favorite network. According to insiders, Trump has started placing his former friends at Fox News in specific camps. Those who give him more airtime and positive press are in the “for Trump” group while those who don’t are labeled as being “against Trump.”

“In private discussions, Trump has cataloged which major on-air personalities, hosts, and shows he views as steadfastly all-in ‘for Trump,’ which ones he sees as possibly defecting, and which he deems ‘against Trump,’” the article reads. “For instance, Trump views Sean Hannity as firmly in his column and has expressed some doubt about which camp Laura Ingraham might end up in come 2024.”

Ingraham has been vocal about her doubts when it comes to a Trump 2024 run and whether she’d support the former president should he try for the White House again. But, she’s not the only Fox News personality Trump is worried about. Earlier this week, Trump took to his failing social media platform Truth Social to rant about Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, and Ainsley Earhardt after they pushed back on some of his more positive polling numbers by suggesting that DeSantis was still beating him in the race leading up to the Republican Primary.

This all comes as the Jan. 6th Committee continues to uncover more damning evidence against Trump and his administration regarding how the former president handled the insurrection he helped instigate. Still, knowing Trump, having Fox News turn on him probably hurts worse than hearing Ivanka’s deposition confirming she knew her father was a loser this whole time.

(Via Mediaite)

Sometimes, it’s easier to be our authentic selves when wearing a costume. That certainly seems to be the case for Freckled Zelda, who went from baffling judges to enchanting them on “America’s Got Talent.”

When the 19-year-old singer arrived on stage in full fairy attire (a look inspired by a popular Nintendo character), she initially earned some quizzical looks from the panel. Introducing her instrument, the ocarina, didn’t seem to improve anyone’s first impression leading up to the act. Cowell could only offer the word “interesting,” which, let’s face it, seemed like polite rejection, at best.

But then, she sang. And all bets were off.

Freckled Zelda delivered a soulful rendition of Disney’s “Colors of The Wind” that blew every single listener away. Including Cowell, who admitted, “When you walked out, I thought, ‘wow, this really is going to be terrible,’ and actually you’ve got a really great voice.” She went on to receive a “yes” from all four judges that evening, moving her onto the next round of the competition.

Freckled Zelda’s song choice, with its themes of not judging others who look and think differently, feels entirely appropriate for the moment. Over on TikTok, where it’s often cool to be weird, the self-proclaimed “music fairy” already has millions of fans who adore her ethereal persona. And yet, in the real world (and on a mainstream live television show, no less), being different isn’t always entirely welcomed.

Freckled Zelda and her unique act received a flood of praise not only from the “AGT” panel, but from the YouTube comments as well. One person wrote, “I love how different she is. She wasn’t swayed when they acted as if she was weird and when she said she can’t change at all; that she would always be a fairy. I love how confident she was! People will support you only if you know what you stand up for.“

At the end of the segment, Heidi Klum noted, “‘America’s Got Talent’ is a variety show and we don’t all have to be the same.” The show has lately had some really diverse triumphs, from a Lebanese belly dance troupe to a Black country singing trio. That list can now include music fairies as well, and we’re here for it.

Anything Drake does makes a huge splash. Whether it be new music, funny Instagram stories, theatrics at basketball games, executive production of films and tv shows, or fashion, the 6 God is guaranteed to make a headline. One of the least polarizing about him has been his fashion partnerships, especially his work with Nike. On July 27, the “God’s Plan” rapper revealed the third capsule of his Nocta collection, which is strictly for the hoopers.

Five days ago, fans got a sneak preview of what to expect in a promotional clip posted to the Official Nocta Instagram page. The video displayed Nike Elite Youth Basketball players showing off their skill on the court while sporting Nocta on-court gear. There was also a banner that read “Nocta Expands The Culture Of Basketball For A New Generation” true to Drake’s affinity for the sport.

This Nocta capsule includes arm sleeves, one-legged compression tights, a reversible Dri-FIT headband, finger sleeves, fleece sweatpants, socks, a basketball, and much more. If that isn’t enough to draw in new buyers, the slogan certainly will as it sounds like a Drake lyric: “Sometimes you. Sometimes me. Always us.”

The third Nocta capsule collection is now available for purchase here and here. Check out the promotional video above and close-ups of the pieces below.

Sean Hannity has done his best to make Donald Trump look good after the Jan. 6 riot — even after it was revealed he knew it was bad while it was going down. One of his most repeated claims has been that the former president had called thousands of National Guard troops to secure Capitol Hill before the failed insurrection. According to Media Matters for America, the Fox News host has repeated this 43 times. Anyway, turns out it was all bull.

On Tuesday, the Jan. 6 committee released audio from testimony provided by former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. “I was never given any direction or order or knew of any plans of that nature,” the ex-Trump staffer testified, “There was no direct—there was no order from the President.” He added, “We obviously had plans for activating more folks, but that was not anything more than contingency planning. There was no official message traffic or anything of that nature.”

Miller himself has been instrumental in keeping this line alive. On June 6, he went on Hannity’s show — along with former Pentagon chief of staff and Trump loyalist Kash Patel — where both claimed they told the exact opposite to the Jan. 6 committee. But of course, when they talked to Hannity, they weren’t under oath.

In other news, Trump himself is trying to distract from the ever-closing-in walls by trying to sue CNN for calling him out on some of his other nonsense. Perhaps Hannity still thinks the Jan. 6 hearings have made him look good.

(Via MMFA)