Month: May 2023

The sudden death of Bob Saget last year hit people hard. Needless to say, it especially affected his loved ones. John Stamos, one of his many fellow Full House alumni, made his grief very public while also making sure to honor him the way he would have preferred: He delivered a raunchy (but touching) eulogy, and he pointed out that the very blue comic inadvertently made one final d*ck joke from beyond the grave. Something good also came out of his tragic passing.

As per Insider, Stamos recently appeared on And That’s What You Really Missed, the podcast run by Glee stars Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz, where he admitted that he was initially “angry” when the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen decided not to return for Netflix’s sequel series Fuller House. But after Saget’s death, the twins paid Stamos a visit.

“They came over to my house. They brought a pork chop and sage. I don’t know why, but thank you?” Stamos reveealed. “It was a frozen pork chop, so that was really nice. So we stayed very close.”

Stamos said that it was Saget who was “very instrumental” in ensuring the cast stay in touch.

“Mary-Kate and Ashley, we didn’t see them much. I mean, we stayed in touch a little bit, but Bob really did,” Stamos explained. “And they were so great. You hear rumors, ‘Oh, they hated their childhood’ or ‘They hated being on the show’ or whatever…but they were like, ‘We loved our childhood. We loved being with you. We miss Bob.’”

Stamos has had a rocky relationship with the Olsen twins. When they were still babies, he recently revealed, he got so fed up with how much they cried that he got them fired. But a few days later they were back on set, and the rest is history.

(Via Insider)

Drake has found another way to profit off his love of sports. The collaboration between the “Search And Rescue” rapper’s OVO (October’s Very Own) record label and the Major League Soccer (MLS) is now available to the general public.

The limited-edition capsule merchandise collection pays homage to three league teams. Toronto Football Club, New York City Football Club, and Los Angeles Football Club’s signature colors (red, sky blue, and black) are featured across the athleisure garments. The range of hoodies, tees, sweatshorts, and socks will predominately feature the label’s unique owl logo and distinct font type.

In a statement, the organization spoke in greater detail as to why the Cartoon was selected for the collaboration, saying, “Cartoon began his career as a LA graffiti artist before branching into murals, album covers, logos, and now most famously known for his tattoos. His richly detailed, hand-rendered designs pull much of their inspiration from the Los Angeles of Cartoon’s youth. At one time, the black and grey, fine line style was synonymous with LA street life, and Cartoon’s work has helped bridge the gap between those hardscrabble beginnings and the style’s current global popularity.”

The new MLS x OVO capsule is available now online. However, the items will be made available in person at the BMO Field for Toronto FC fans. Find more information here.

It was a gamble, studio execs thought some 15 years ago, to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. But it paid off, and how. The character’s first big film kickstarted a still-expanding extended universe of films and TV shows. And it gave the actor’s career a shot in the arm. But what if he’d been cast as a different Marvel character? That’s what nearly happened.

As per Insider, Iron Man director Jon Favreau and MCU honcho Kevin Feige sat down for a retrospective on the first film, which earlier this month had its 15th anniversary. At one point they discussed how Marvel was toying with a new movie version of the Fantastic Four.

“I remember that Robert had come in for a general on it and I remember you had all met with him already for like Doctor Doom or something, on another project,” Favreau recalled. “I remember sitting down with the guy and I was like ‘Jeez, he’s just got it in him, he’s got that spark in him in his eye and he’s ready.’”

The two were blown away by Downey, who was already on a comeback trail with attention-nabbing turns in movies like Zodiac, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and A Scanner Darkly.

“We were pointing to his headshot and saying ‘We gotta try and figure this out,’” Favreau said.

And so they did, and the rest is history. But what would the current movie industry look like had they made a Fantastic Four movie instead of Iron Man, and cast Downey as the big bad, not as a big hero? Then again, it’s not too late to bring Downey back to the MCU for the Fantastic Four movie they’re making now. Then again, at least he was busy at the time Fox was making their own disastrous take on the team.

You can watch the retrospective chat in the video below. The Fantastic Four business begins around the 21-minute mark.

(Via Insider)

Rogers Waters has broken his silence following the backlash he received after a recent concert, issuing a formal statement over the Nazi-like outfit he sported onstage in Berlin, Germany. It wasn’t the first time the Pink Floyd co-founder’s actions have upset the public. However, the all-black outfit, featuring red accents and a Nazi-like armband, took it too far, as concertgoers considered the wardrobe grossly insensitive and offensive.

Waters opened the statement posted to Twitter: “My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad-faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles.”

He added, “The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms. Attempts to portray those elements as something else are disingenuous and politically motivated. The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s The Wall in 1980.”

Waters emphasized that he should not be branded a Nazi apologist, writing, “I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it. When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked. My parents fought the Nazis in World War II, with my father paying the ultimate price.”

He closed the statement, “Regardless of the consequences of the attacks against me, I will continue to condemn injustice and all those who perpetrate it.”

The Independent reported that due to his costume, Waters is now under investigation by Berlin police for the incident because it violates the German criminal code.

If you did a popular franchise film a few decades ago, congrats: There’s a good chance you’ll be asked to return to your role again (and get more money, of course). Just ask Michael Keaton. But for some, enough is enough. Mark Hamill has been playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars-verse for nearly half a century. That’s a good, long while, but now it sounds like he’s finally done.

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter (in a bit teased out by The AV Club), the actor — who’s also devoted a large chunk of his life to voicing Joker for DC — discussed what it was like getting his hands on the script for The Last Jedi.

“When I read [Episode] VIII, I knew it was over,” Hamill recalled. “So I was relishing every moment, but also saying goodbye to all those people that I had associated with over the years. So I still miss them.”

When asked point blank if he’ll ever return to the role, he responded, bluntly, “No, I don’t have any expectations of that happening.”

The Last Jedi wasn’t exactly Hamill’s farewell to the character that made his career. He appeared, briefly, as a Force spirit in The Rise of Skywalker. He later returned as a younger version of Luke, with the help of de-aging tech, on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

So unless something changes, sounds like the last time you’ll see Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker will be a digitized younger version of him. It’s an odd way to go out, but at least it gives him more time to troll Trump.

(Via THR and The AV Club)

Less than a week ago, the Boston Celtics were facing the prospects of one of the most embarrassing sweeps in recent memory, trailing 3-0 and coming off of a complete no-show in Game 3 in Miami. Now, they are headed to a Game 7 where they are heavy favorites (8 points at most books) to advance to the Finals for the second straight year.

Getting there required the Celtics to dig deep and find a level of play they hadn’t shown much of in the first three contests, particularly in the critical moments in the second half. They had to improve dramatically on defense, be more trusting of each other on offense, and get improved play from their stars. They also needed some incredible luck after another late game collapse in Game 6 allowed Miami to erase a double-digit deficit to take the lead on three Jimmy Butler free throws with three seconds to play.

On their final possession, Derrick White saved the season with a ridiculous tip-in that left his fingertips with 0.1 on the clock, as he crashed the glass after Marcus Smart put up a spinning, fading three (that almost went down itself). So many things had to happen for that sequence to play out as it did, including Smart not passing to a wide open White in the corner after the initial inbound pass, which would’ve led to an open three, but far from a guarantee of a make. The ball had to spin out of the rim quickly enough and at exactly the right angle to pop into White’s hands so he could toss it off the glass and in before the buzzer.

There also needed to be enough time on the clock to allow for a miss and tip-in, which was only there because of the review on Al Horford’s (awful) foul on Jimmy Butler in the corner, where officials gave Butler the third free throw for having his feet behind the line, but also tacked on 0.9 seconds because they review for the first illegal contact on a foul, not when the whistle was actually blown, which happened with 3.0 seconds on the clock.

Without that extra second or the perfect spin out of the rim, White’s tip-in never has a chance and the Celtics are heading into the offseason off a horrible fourth quarter collapse and the Heat are headed to the Finals. We would spending today talking, again, about what changes might be on the horizon for Boston and whether running it back with this core is their best option, and previewing Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo vs. Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic.

Instead, the series is shifting back to Boston where the Celtics have a chance to make history as the first team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series — and Butler and the Heat are staring at being on the wrong end of a trivia question forever. It is a reminder of how incredibly thin the margins can be come playoff time. White’s tip-in, pending what happens in Game 7, could join Kevin Durant’s foot being on the line as recent examples of playoff “What If?” moments that shift legacies and change how teams and players are discussed.

Durant’s toe meant Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks went to overtime, where Milwaukee won en route to a championship. In that Finals, Giannis Antetokounmpo shed all the questions about himself as a playoff performer, solidifying his legacy in the process. The Bucks, who somewhat ironically are making big changes this offseason because of losing in the first round to the Heat, might have made those changes two years ago instead had Durant kept his foot behind the line, with Giannis still chasing that elusive ring. It could’ve been Kevin Durant and the Nets that won a title, which might have meant their Big 3 with James Harden and Kyrie Irving doesn’t splinter the next season — and at the least, they are looked at far differently with a Finals appearance and possibly a ring for their troubles.

The ripple effect of these moments can be immense. In the immediate, Derrick White and the Celtics are simply happy to still be alive in this postseason, but his tip-in might be the difference in making this a legacy defining run for his star teammates rather than a failure that possibly led to major changes. Game 7 will determine whether White’s tip goes down in NBA Playoff lore or not, but if the Celtics finish the job, that 0.1 seconds will shift how we talk about three stars who weren’t even actively involved in the play itself — Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Jimmy Butler — and serve as a reminder of how fragile playoff legacies can be.

Selena Gomez is a proud Swiftie, but her love for other female musicians doesn’t stop there. The Only Murders In The Building actress was spotted at Beyoncé’s latest concert in Paris, France. Unfortunately, after a heated exchange with the security working the show, the event wound up being memorable for the wrong reasons.

While the performance featured a moving cameo from the “America Has A Problem” eldest daughter, Blue Ivy, social media is still worried about the incident. In a video circulating online, it appears that a fan was attempting to make contact with her. However, Gomez was not pleased with how security handled the situation. She hasn’t released a statement regarding the matter, so it is unclear if the guard was on her team or employed by the venue.

As a frequent concert attendee, Gomez usually takes to social media to share a sweet note about the performer. Although she did a general recap of her time in Paris, there was no mention of the concert.

On the other hand, Gomez did upload a post after attending Swift’s show with her younger sister. “Thank you, bestie, for having me and my sissy transported into your mystical, euphoric, and special world. Proud to know you! Love you forever and always,” wrote Gomez.

Donald Trump isn’t the only one in trouble these days. So are some of his cronies. On Saturday, Texas House representatives voted to impeach state attorney general Ken Paxton over accusations of bribery, corruption, and other abuses of his office. Paxton is suspended and a vote to expel him now moves to the state Senate. But before that happens Trump and others in his circle got mad.

As per Newsweek, the former president took to his rinky-dink Twitter clone, where he called out not the lawmakers trying to hold Paxton accountable but Greg Abbott. “MISSING IN ACTION! Where is the Governor of Texas on his Attorney General’s Impeachment?” Trump wrote.

Before the impeachment, Trump was already bracing for bad news. “The RINO Speaker of the House of Texas, Dade Phelan, who is barely a Republican at all and failed the test on voter integrity, wants to impeach one of the most hard working and effective Attorney Generals in the United States, Ken Paxton, who just won re-election with a large number of American Patriots strongly voting for him,” he wrote. He also vowed to “fight” any House Republicans who voted for impeachment.

The impeachment also enraged others in Trump’s circle. His son Eric tweeted, “This should never be allowed to happen to @KenPaxtonTX.”

So did Kimberly Guilfoyle, fiancée of Eric’s brother Don Jr. She called the move “absolutely disgusting” and described Paxton as a “GREAT ally” to her future father-in-law. She added, “Texans should stand with Ken Paxton because he always stands up for you!”

Paxton has always been a staunch MAGA-ite. He challenged Joe Biden’s win over Trump in 2020 and he’s come out against trans people and immigrants. Last year he gleefully celebrated the dismantling of Roe v Wade.

(Via Newsweek)

Ariana Grande is hard at work finishing her duties on the movie adaptation cast of Wicked. Although the film isn’t expected to hit theaters until November 2024, fans of the “The Way” singer might be treated to something special very soon. Earlier on Sunday, May 28, she sent supporters into a frenzy after she archived over 4,000 Instagram posts.

It’s become a common practice for musicians to wipe their Instagram completely planning to announce a new project is on the way. As per Pop Crave, Grande’s total post count went from 4,985 uploads to, currently, 114.

Immediately people speculated that Grande was about to release new music. However, others think she’s leaving the industry behind after unreleased music of hers was leaked last month. “Now I know this a stretch. But she did just meet with Scooter [Braun]. She is finishing the movie. And think of the POV video that was leaked, you saw her leaving behind her past eras. Could this be the same thing leading into something,” asked one person.

When addressing the recent leaks, Grande said, “You guys have heard every bad song and bullsh*t demo that I’ve ever made. Hilarious. It’s impossible to keep things from you. You gotta take some swings and misses.”

After being asked, “Any secrets soon to come?” The singer quickly said, “Hmm… no secrets. I’m all out of secrets. You’ve stolen all my unreleased music, it’s horrible [laughs].”

Quentin Tarantino is one of the last of the old school auteurs. He shoots on film, not digital. He has final cut to make whatever he wants. And he demands that his movies open the old-fashioned way: in theaters, not on a streamer, a route even Martin Scorsese has had to take. Speaking of, all those movies that do premiere on places like Netflix and Max? Well, in a way, he says, they don’t exist.

In a new interview with Deadline, Tarantino says that for The Movie Critic, his alleged swan song, he’ll probably make it for Sony, who released Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He calls the company “the last game in town that is just absolutely, utterly, committed to the theatrical experience. It’s not about feeding their streaming network.”

He continued: “They judge success by asses on seats. And they judge success by the movies entering the zeitgeist, not just making a big expensive movie and then putting it on your streaming platform. No one even knows it’s there.”

Tarantino then moved onto Netflix movies like The Adam Project. “I mean, and I’m not picking on anybody, but apparently for Netflix, Ryan Reynolds has made $50 million on this movie and $50 million on that movie and $50 million on the next movie for them,” he said. I don’t know what any of those movies are. I’ve never seen them.”

He argued “those movies don’t exist in the zeitgeist. It’s almost like they don’t even exist.”

Meanwhile, people are still talking about Once Upon a Time in Hollywood four years after it hit theaters. Tarantino himself recently revealed that its protagonist, struggling star Rick Dalton, died.

(Via Deadline)