Month: September 2023

Stephen A. Smith and the First Take crew talk about the Dallas Cowboys a whole lot, and usually, Smith is of the belief that bad things are destined to happen to the team on the football field. Of course, Smith uses that in the context of their pursuit of the Super Bowl and doesn’t cross any sorts of lines with things like injuries, but on Friday’s edition of the show, one panelist used it in a way that Smith, Ryan Clark, and a few NFL players all disliked.

On Thursday, starting cornerback Trevon Diggs was ruled out for the season after tearing his ACL in practice. It was a gigantic loss for a Dallas defense that looked dominant to start the year, and while breaking things down on First Take, ESPN analyst Bart Scott went a little too far for the rest of the panel.

After Scott dove into the Xs and Os behind why Diggs’ injury hurts the Cowboys, he decided to lean into the First Take schtick of cracking jokes about the Cowboys.

“This is a major, major blow for Dallas, and like Stephen A. always says: just wait, something bad always happens,” Scott said.

Clark made it a point to tell Scott “don’t start that,” while Smith likewise wasn’t having this.

“I wouldn’t do that right now, in all seriousness, RC,” Smith said. “This is a season-ending injury, so I’m certainly not gonna joke about that with Trevon Diggs, my brother, I got a lot of love for him.”

Unsurprisingly, a few folks weren’t fans of how Scott talked about the injury. Diggs’ teammate, Micah Parsons, called Scott out on Twitter, while his older brother, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, said Scott accomplished nothing other than coming off like a clown.

Scott did go on to Twitter and try to defend himself, claiming that Parsons took his statement out of context.

Kevin Bacon knows how to do creepy, quirky, and gross, but there is one thing he won’t mess with: ghosts. The actor recently went on Rob Lowe’s podcast where he told a story about how he bought some potentially haunted farmland in Connecticut in the ’80s. To be fair, if you are buying land in Connecticut, the odds are pretty good there is some weird energy there.

Bacon said that the owner told him, “I can’t sell it to you because it’s haunted and I’m afraid that you’ll get possessed and, you know, do some serious damage.” Eventually, Bacon was able to make an agreement with the landowner that he could buy the land on the condition that he had to destroy the home within a month. Sounds a bit like the first half of an Ari Aster movie.

While Bacon has not had any supernatural occurrences on the property, he confirmed that his wife would not even take anything from the house before it was demolished. “[We] went up there and there were some beautiful old pine boards and a banister and I said to Kyra [Sedgwick], ‘We’ve gotta take those out.’ And she’s like, ‘No you’re not. You’re not putting those f***ing things in our house.’” You know nothing good happens when you mess with potentially possessed objects.

As for the history of the home, Bacon said, “It was a long story that had to do with a Native American who, in the 1700s, had been murdered by a colonial soldier,” he recounted. “[The owner] had had ghostbusters there. It was a whole long thing.” It seems that Bacon has learned how to leave ghost-infested properties. Finally!!!!

(Via EW)

In June 2015 The Supreme Court of the United States declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

The legalization of gay marriage granted over 1100 statutory provisions to same-sex couples, many of them granting rights and privileges previously only afforded to heterosexual couples.

After the decision, President Barack Obama said the ruling will “strengthen all of our communities” by offering dignity and equal status to all same-sex couples and their families.

He called it a “victory for America.”

However, the law didn’t just benefit same-sex couples who want to get married, it also had a dramatic affect on LGBT youth. Two years after the legalization of gay marriage, the suicide attempt rate among LGBT youth declined significantly according to the Associated Press.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for U.S. teens. LGBT teens are five times more likely to make an attempt than their straight peers.

The study was conducted with over 26,000 LGBT youth participants in the 32 states where gay marriage was legalized up through the 2015 Supreme Court decision. The study found that suicide attempt rates dropped 7% among all students and 14% among gay kids after same-sex marriage was legalized in each state.

Part of the drop in suicide attempts by kids who didn’t publicly identify that they were gay could be because they were closeted or questioning.

There was no change in states where same-sex marriage wasn’t legalized.

While the change in suicide attempts doesn’t prove there’s a direct connection, researchers believe that the law made LGBT kids feel “more hopeful for the future.” They also believe the measures increased tolerance among their straight peers while reducing the stigmatization felt by gay kids.

A study out of Denmark and Sweden published in 2019 found similar results among married gay couples.

Same-sex marriage was made legal in 2009 in Sweden and 2012 in Denmark.

The study found that couples in same-sex unions saw a 46% decline in suicide suicide, compared to 28% of those in heterosexual unions.

“Although suicide rates in the general populations of Denmark and Sweden have been decreasing in recent decades, the rate for those living in same-sex marriage declined at a steeper pace, which has not been noted previously,” researchers noted.

These studies show the power that societal recognition can have on stigmatized minority groups. When one is protected by the “law of the land” it means a lot more than what happens in a courtroom or at city hall.

It shows that you are accepted by the community and protected by those in power. For to love flourish — whether it’s loving oneself or sharing it with a partner — first it must first be protected.

This article originally appeared on 01.24.20

If you’ve never seen a Maori haka performed, you’re missing out.

The Maori are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand, and their language and customs are an integral part of the island nation. One of the most recognizable Maori traditions outside of New Zealand is the haka, a ceremonial dance or challenge usually performed in a group. The haka represents the pride, strength, and unity of a tribe and is characterized by foot-stamping, body slapping, tongue protrusions, and rhythmic chanting.

Haka is performed at weddings as a sign of reverence and respect for the bride and groom and are also frequently seen before sports competitions, such as rugby matches.

The intensity of the haka is the point. It is meant to be a show of strength and elicit a strong response—which makes seeing a tiny toddler learning to do it all the more adorable.

Here’s an example of a rugby haka:

Danny Heke, who goes by @focuswithdan on TikTok, shared a video of a baby learning haka and omigosh it is seriously the most adorable thing. When you see most haka, the dancers aren’t smiling—their faces are fierce—so this wee one starting off with an infectious grin is just too much. You can see that he’s already getting the moves down, facial expressions and all, though.

@focuswithdan When you grow up learning haka! #haka #teachthemyoung #maori #māori #focuswithdan #fyp #foryou #kapahaka ♬ original sound – 𝕱𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍𝕯𝖆𝖓

As cute as this video is, it’s part of a larger effort by Heke to use his TikTok channel to share and promote Maori culture. His videos cover everything from the Te Reo Maori language to traditional practices to issues of prejudice Maori people face.

Here he briefly goes over the different body parts that make up haka:

@focuswithdan

♬ Ngati – Just2maori

This video explains the purerehua, or bullroarer, which is a Maori instrument that is sometimes used to call rains during a drought.

@focuswithdan Reply to @illumi.is.naughty Some tribes used this to call the rains during drought 🌧 ⛈ #maori #māori #focuswithdan #fyp ♬ Pūrerehua – 𝕱𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍𝕯𝖆𝖓

This one shares a demonstration and explanation of the taiaha, a traditional Maori weapon.

@focuswithdan Reply to @shauncalvert Taiaha, one of the most formidable of the Māori Weaponry #taiaha #maori #māori #focuswithdan #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – 𝕱𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍𝕯𝖆𝖓

For another taste of haka, check out this video from a school graduation:

@focuswithdan When your little cuzzy graduates and her school honours her with a haka #maori #māori #haka #focuswithdan #fyp #graduation @its_keshamarley ♬ Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngāti Ruanui – 𝕱𝖔𝖈𝖚𝖘𝖂𝖎𝖙𝖍𝕯𝖆𝖓

Heke even has some fun with the trolls and racists in the comments who try to tell him his culture is dead (what?).

@focuswithdan Credit to you all my AMAZING FOLLOWERS! #focuswithdan #maori #māori #followers #fyp #trolls ♬ original sound – sounds for slomo_bro!

Unfortunately, it’s not just ignorant commenters who spew racist bile. A radio interview clip that aired recently called Maori people “genetically predisposed to crime, alcohol, and underperformance,” among other terrible things. (The host, a former mayor of Auckland, has been let go for going along with and contributing to the caller’s racist narrative.)

@focuswithdan #newzealand radio in 2021 delivering racist commentaries 🤦🏽‍♂️ #māori #maori #focuswithdan #racism DC: @call.me.lettie2.0 ♬ original sound – luna the unicow

That clip highlights why what Heke is sharing is so important. The whole world is enriched when Indigenous people like the Maori have their voices heard and their culture celebrated. The more we learn from each other and our diverse ways of life, the more enjoyable life on Earth will be and the better we’ll get at collaborating to confront the challenges we all share.

This article originally appeared on 01.28.21

A retired merchant navy engineer in England has found a treasure that would have made his country’s most popular folk hero proud. Graham Harrison, a 64-year-old metal detector enthusiast, discovered a gold signet ring that once belonged to the Sheriff of Nottingham.

The discovery was made on a farm in Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire, 26.9 miles from Sherwood Forest. The forest is known worldwide for being the mythological home of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. A central road that traversed the forest was notorious in Medieval times for being an easy place for bandits to rob travelers going to and from London.

Today, the forest is a designated National Nature Reserve. It contains ancient oaks that date back thousands of years, making it an important conservation area.

“It was the first big dig after lockdown on a glorious day. We were searching two fields. Other detectorists kept finding hammered coins but I’d found nothing,” Harrison said according to the Daily Mail. “Then I suddenly got a signal. I dug up a clod of earth but couldn’t see anything. I kept breaking up the clod and, on the last break, a gold ring was shining at me. I broke out into a gold dance.”

Gold Ring that Belonged to Real Sheriff of Nottingham.nnRead more: https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/sheriff-nottingham-0016568u00a0u2026pic.twitter.com/K7rhf2E62O

— Ancient Origins (@Ancient Origins)
1648812786

Harrison sent the ring to the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme to have it authenticated. After doing some research they found that it was once owned by Sir Matthew Jenison, who was the Sheriff of Nottingham between 1683 and 1684.

The first accounts of Robin Hood, then known as Robyn Hode, first appear in the 12th century, a few hundred years before Sir Matthew served as sheriff.

But there’s no doubt that the archer and leader of Merry Men would have been delighted to know that an everyday guy came into possession of the Sheriff of Nottingham’s ring.

Sir Matthew was knighted in 1683 and acted as a commissioner to examine decaying trees in Sherwood Forest. He was later elected to Parliament in 1701. However, a series of lawsuits over shady land dealings would eventually be his ruin and he’d die in prison in 1734.

The gold signet ring bears the coat of arms of the Jenison family, who were known for getting rich off a treasure trove of valuables left for safekeeping during the English Civil War. The valuables were never claimed, so the Jenisons took them for themselves.

Harrison decided that he would sell the ring to someone who appreciates its importance.

“There can’t be many people who’ve found anything like that. I’m only selling it because it’s been stuck in a drawer,” Harrison said. “I hope it will go to someone who will appreciate its historical value.” It was sold at auction by Hansons Auctions for £8,500 ($11,115).

March Historica & Coin Auction. 24 March u2014 25 March. The Sheriff of Nottinghamu2019s gold signet ring #Historica #Auction @HansonHistoricannCheck out HansonsAuctions’s video! #TikTok https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLmGN476/u00a0pic.twitter.com/cbdwbWrqdH

— Hansons (@Hansons)
1648055052

WOW! The final moments as the Sheriff of#Nottingham ring goes under the hammer… @HansonHistorica @HansonsAuctionsn@[email protected]/NLssFdaksL

— Hansons (@Hansons)
1648124323

Let’s hope that the man who sold the ring does what Robin Hood would have done with a piece of jewelry that adorned the hand of a nobleman whose family came into money by taking other people’s loot. Surely, he’d take the proceeds from the auction and give them to the poor.

This article originally appeared on 04.06.22

Imagine your 12-year-old son is helping take part in his school’s Valentine’s Day fundraiser. You’d probably be proud and encouraged at the way he’s getting involved and doing something good, right?

Now imagine, as part of that effort, he decided to email the CEO of Costco, one of the most beloved big box retailers in the world. Well, that’s cute, right? But what if he told you the CEO not only wrote back but went out of his way to donate exactly what your son asked for?

It may sound too good to be true, but that’s exactly what happened when Grant Cerwin sent an email to Costco CEO Craig Jelinek. The sixth grader emailed Jelinek asking if he would donate one of Costco’s famous 93-inch teddy bears to his middle school’s fundraiser in Los Angeles:

“Hi Mr. Jelinek,

My name is Grant Cerwin and I am 12 years old. I go to [removed] Middle School and am the 6th grade class rep. We want to raffle one of your giant bears as a Valentine’s Day fundraiser for our school. We are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Is there any chance Costco might donate one? My dad has a truck and we could come get it at the store. I would make sure everyone knew you gave it to us in our school newsletter, on social media and with a big sign by the bear. I know it is a long shot but I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask. We are also seeing how we might get enough money to buy one. Thanks for considering. Your friend, Grant.”

Well, it turns out the long shot was perfectly timed.

Jelinek not only saw the email but jumped into action, asking his colleague “Can we find him a teddy?” Then his lieutenant emailed their colleagues to quickly find a bear for Cerwin’s school, writing: “Do whatever it takes to find a Big Bear and set up pick up for Lesley. Keep me posted.”

Grant then received the following message from Costco:

“Good morning Grant. I am the Toy Supervisor at our Costco’s LA Regional office. I have good news, Costco will be donating a 93” Plush Bear to your school to use in your Valentine’s Day fundraiser! We could have it delivered to the school directly so your parents don’t have to worry about transporting it.”

With time to spare, the Big Bear was delivered to Grant and his school was able to include it in their fundraiser. And while moments like this don’t happen every day, they are a great reminder that even the biggest companies are run by real people and those people often have big hearts. Big, as in 93” plush bear big.

And let’s be honest, we’re not entirely shocked that this happened at Costco, a company that has built a well-earned reputation for treating both its customers and its employees with dignity and respect.

“It speaks volumes about the leadership at Costco that Grant got the response he did,” Grant’s mother Lesley Cerwin told Upworthy. “He is a boundlessly optimistic child and as a parent you worry the world will chip away at that positivity. I’m grateful that the team at Costco reaffirmed my son’s belief that the world is full of good people.”

“I couldn’t believe that they responded so fast and that so many people helped,” Grant told Upworthy. “They didn’t want anything, just to help our school.”

Something as seemingly simple as a donated teddy bear might not sound like much, but it’s examples like this that show the power of bridge-building between companies and communities.

An act of kindness in itself can go a long way. And when that is coupled with the impact it had not only on Grant and his mom, but on Grant’s classmates, you can start to see a real impact that all started with a single email.

“My teachers and friends at school are excited,” Grant said. “We all can’t believe how big it is. It takes a bunch of us to move it around. Our ASB class is working on a thank you card.”

Plus, let’s be honest, a personal touch from someone as high-profile as Craig Jelinek and his team isn’t a bad way to build customer loyalty either. As Lesley told us, “I’ve always liked Costco. Will I be even happier to shop there now? You bet. It is a great store and now I am acutely aware that it is run by amazing people.”

This article originally appeared on 2.16.23

While IPAs, lagers, and even wheat beers seem to get all the press. There’s another darker, maltier beer just waiting in the wings, hoping for some shine. A beer that will always be there for you on those unseasonably cool summer nights, chilly fall afternoons, or even in the dead of winter. We’re talking, of course, about the brown ale.

While there are different types of brown ales (including American, English style, and beyond), in general, the beer style is known for its dark brown appearance, caramel, chocolate, or even toasted malt flavor with a minimal hop flavor. It’s a beer for all seasons and a favorite of bartenders, beer experts, and drinkers alike.

To find some of these warming, malty gems, we went to craft beer professionals for help. We asked a handful of brewers and beer experts to tell us about their favorite brown ales of all time. Keep scrolling to see all of their selections. Stock up now for the chilly days ahead.

Founders Underground Mountain Brown

Glenn Allen, head brewer at Pilot Project Brewing in Milwaukee

ABV: 11.9%

Average Price: $16 for a four-pack

The Beer:

Some of my favorite brown ales are the ones that are complimented with coffee. Underground Mountain Brown from Founders Brewing is their take on a barrel-aged Imperial Brown Ale infused with coffee.

Tasting Notes:

At 11.9% ABV it’s big and bold but has a great balance of dark chocolate, caramel, coffee, and moderate sweetness. These flavors make it a perfect beer to watch the leaves change colors.

Russian River Janet’s Brown Ale

Nico Freccia, co-founder at COO at 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco

ABV: 7.6%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Janet’s Brown Ale is about the best brown I’ve ever had. Originally brewed by the late great award-winning homebrewer Mike ‘Tasty’ McDole, the beer was brought out commercially by Russian River Brewing at the Great American Beer Festival’s Pro-Am competition in 2009. It’s now an occasional limited release from Russian River that you can find in 16oz cans if you’re lucky.

Tasting Notes:

It’s simply a delicious, perfectly balanced big brown ale with notes of chocolate, toffee, caramel, and just the right amount of hoppy bitterness.

Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale

Duncan Kral, innovation brewer at Half Acre Beer in Chicago

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: $17 for a four-pack

The Beer:

My pick is the Corsendonk Abbey Brown Ale. Fall weather has me craving Belgian-style ales for their complex yeast aromatics and warming high ABV. Corsendonk Brown is an underrated gem that fits the bill perfectly.

Tasting Notes:

Notes of raisins and plums combine with the spicy esters from Abbey ale yeast to make a perfect pairing for a chilly fall night.

Greenbush Doomslayer

Anthony Kisscorni, USBG bartender at Stella’s Lounge in Grand Rapids, Michigan

ABV: 8.5%

Average Price: $14 for a six-pack

The Beer:

I am forever a fan of Newcastle. It was one of the first beers that I enjoyed that didn’t come in rack form. However, in Michigan, there are a ton of good options, and you cannot go wrong with Greenbush’s Doomslayer. It’s 8.5% and filled with maple goodness.

Tasting Notes:

Made with maple sap instead of water, this unique brown ale is loaded with maple candy, caramel, and toasted malt sweetness.

Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale

Adam Lukey, head brewer at Eventide Brewing in Atlanta

ABV: 5.5%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Brown ales don’t get as much love as they used to but finding a prime example of one is a true joy. My favorite brown ale is Ellie’s Brown Ale by Avery Brewing Co. out of Boulder, Colorado.

Tasting Notes:

The beer is a beautiful, deep russet color dominated by chocolate and brown sugar maltiness with hints of vanilla and hazelnut.

Heist My Mind Is On The Coconut

Chad Henderson, head brewer and co-owner at NoDa Brewing Company in Charlotte

ABV: 5.4%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

My Mind is On the Coconut from Heist Brewery is a nice and hardy brown ale. It gets its roasted, sweet flavor from being conditioned on in-house toasted coconut.

Tasting Notes:

Featuring distinct biscuit and caramel notes. It strikes a perfect balance, avoiding excessive roastiness, while its coconut character and creamy texture elevate it into an awesome sweeter brown ale that doesn’t come across as overly heavy.

Sierra Nevada Tumbler

Chris Baum, head brewer and owner at Varietal Beer Company in Sunnyside, Washington

ABV: 5.5%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Tumbler from Sierra Nevada is an outstanding brown ale. It’s clean, crisp, nutty, and very drinkable. It’s a beer that was made to imbibe while you watch the seasons change from summer to fall. Buy some if you can find it.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a ton of caramel malt flavor up front, followed by chocolate, roasted malts, candied nuts, and gentle, floral hops at the finish.

Brooklyn Brown Ale

George Hummel, grain master at My Local Brew Works in Philadelphia

ABV: 5.6%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

There’s no better pint of American Brown Ale than the one brewed by Brooklyn Brewing Co. Brooklyn Brown and Pete’s Wicked Ale were the two craft brewers that transitioned the homebrewed Texas brown style into an American classic.

Tasting Notes:

It’s malty but not cloying. Crisp in the middle with a great flavor and nose of Cascade hops. It’s a true classic when it comes to American brown ales.

Wild Fields Pine Mountain Monolith

Bradley Miles, head of production at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, Arizona

ABV: 5.4%

Average Price: $6.50 for a 16-ounce can

The Beer:

Pine Mountain Monolith from Wild Fields Brewhouse. It’s nutty, malty, and has a hint of hop flavor. It’s light-bodied which makes it a great session beer. It’s bold and warming but light enough for warm fall days.

Tasting Notes:

Freshly baked bread, toffee, candied nights, tasted malts, and dried fruits start everything off nicely. The finish is sweet, crisp, and highly memorable.

Black Hog Granola Brown

Suzanne Schalow, CEO of Craft Beer Cellar in Belmont, Massachusetts

ABV: 5.7%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Black Hog Granola Brown is my pick. With a massive amount of malted barley, wheat, rye, and oats, this ‘chewy’ brown ale earns its name honestly.

Tasting Notes:

Toasty brown bread with a full, creamy, silky mouthfeel, this brown ale is darned near perfection with its sweet malt center, yet dry finish.

Out of all of Donald Trump‘s indictments, the charges in Georgia are the most likely to nail the former president to the wall, which is why his top aides are reportedly “dismayed” that Trump’s best attorney has already been forced out.

Drew Findling, “The Billion Dollar Lawyer” who was considered a surprising get for Team Trump due to his impressive record for high-profile clients, was reportedly ousted over the summer after clashing with the former president’s inner circle — namely, longtime grope-y and shady aide/adviser Boris Epshteyn. Findling reportedly refused to be controlled by Epshteyn, which led to the ousting of the “single most competent lawyer” on Trump’s team.

Also, at issue were Findling’s “politically liberal” views, which he had set aside to defend Trump, but still painted him as an outsider. Findling also wasn’t comfortable with how Team Trump planned to approach the Georgia indictment, which he was blamed for not stopping.

Via Rolling Stone:

For instance, Trump, Epstheyn, and some others in the inner circle grew frustrated with Findling’s apparent unwillingness to wage on the kind of flamboyant, scorched-earth pre-trial strategy that Trump often demands of his lawyers and aides in these cases, sources recount.

This decidedly Trumpian approach would have included embracing, or at least entertaining the former president’s anti-democratic lies about the 2020 election being “stolen” from him. It would have also included Findling and Trump’s Georgia legal team embarking on a mud-slinging, all-out campaign for the past year, such as aggressively assailing the character of Fulton County district attorney Fani Willis and others involved.

When reached for comment, Trump’s team did little to downplay its insular nature and devotion to the “Big Lie.”

“The Trump legal team is completely aligned in battling these illegal and un-Constitutional witch-hunts,” a spokesperson told Rolling Stone. “Those who are actually on the team are focused on the work necessary to ensure that President Trump is vindicated across the board, and that the corrupt hoaxes aimed at interfering with the 2024 Presidential Election will fail.”

(Via Rolling Stone)

The first Expendables movie was now, somehow, 13 years ago. Sylvester Stallone rounded up a bunch of his old action movie pals from the ’80s and ’90s (as well as contemporary action stars like Jason Statham) and put them all together and made a movie that grossed a quarter of a billion dollars.

By the third movie, though, a franchise that’s kind of a parody of action stars became a parody of itself as the movie seemed to care more about how big the cast was than entertainment. Not to mention the series decided to make the third installment PG-13 instead of R, kind of defeating the point of these in the first place. (Though, that third installment still make over $200 million.)

Now, Scott Waugh (Need for Speed, Hidden Strike) has a leaner and meaner Expendables team (featuring Stallone, Statham, Meagan Fox, 50 Cent, Dolph Lundgren) that is, again, very violent and back to being hard R. Ahead, Waugh explains why the Expendables needed to be an R rated movie and why it’s been his dream all these years to work with Sylvester Stallone.

But first, it should be noted that the Expendables do not play by the rules.

The Expendables do not play by the rules.

Nope. That’s true.

Where did you stand on this franchise before you directed a movie from it?

I enjoyed the candor and the tongue-in-cheek of the Expendables where they’re irreverent. They’re not afraid to make fun of themselves, and they’re great at still being badasses, doing really cool stuff.

Sylvester Stallone seemed to kind of want to hand off this franchise in this one. How did that work? Did you know from the beginning he wouldn’t be in the whole movie? Though he is in it for about 40 minutes, so it’s not a cameo.

Yeah, no, he’s in it for half of it. Look, I had already known that. They sent me the screenplay, so I already knew what his character did. I was kind of in the same vein as you were, which was I already knew he was in it for a lot of it still, but there was a storyline to it that really leans on Lee Christmas’s character – his revenge and redemption story. So I was just thrilled to work with Sly. He’s 77 years old now, so I wanted to check that box before it became an empty box. I was so excited to get that opportunity and just humbled that they would even ask me to come direct franchise. So it was a great opportunity.

I’m pretty obsessed with Sly. And he does have a tendency to take over movies from directors. So I’m guessing he had some opinions on set.

Well, he’s a prolific filmmaker.

Oh yes, he definitely is.

I think Sly and I have a great working relationship, so I understand and I’ve heard these stories. But it was definitely, luckily, different for me. He and I have a mutual respect that he knows I know he created the franchise and I’m going to lean on him, “Hey man, what do you think of this?” And he’s very candid about his opinions, but also I respect his opinion. So it was a collaboration that was fun. Sly and I have been trying to work together for a good five or six years, so this wasn’t the first time we’ve crossed our path.

Oh, what didn’t happen?

Well, he was supposed to do a Hidden Strike with Jackie Chan, the movie I did just came out earlier this year. His schedule had a conflict by the time we were able to get it up. So, unfortunately, he couldn’t come to do the film and we cast John Cena instead. And I just wanted that opportunity, man, to work with Sly. So I was thrilled when this came up.

The Expendables team is smaller this time than in the third one. In the third one, everyone in the world is in that movie.

When I signed on, I said I really wanted to do a throwback to the original Expendables. I really thought that was one of the best ones. I thought Simon West did a great job on 2. I just thought 3 was just a different departure with too many people. And it was PG13, it was softer. So I was excited they wanted to, like you say, contract the amount of characters. You can’t keep track of 30 people. It just kind of gets to the revolving door. And so, I go, I’d rather go a little bit less and focus on each member more. And I think that was the opportunity that we had with Expendables 4. It kind of pays homage back to the original.

When you signed on was it already rated R?

When they called me I said, “Are we going to continue with PG-13 or are you guys going to go back to hard R?” And they were like, “No, 100 percent we know we’re going back to R.” So they had already made the decision before I came on. “Oh yeah, we’re going back to the brand and going back to R and making it right.” So, they had made that decision before I even came on.

Dolph Lundgren’s character, Gunner, his storyline is he’s been sober, but he sucks now. He finally becomes good again once he takes a shot.

Have a drink, right? This is so against being politically correct right now, but it’s just so Dolph Lundgren’s character, Gunner. That character is just so irreverent anyway. And that was really, talking with Dolph, I mean, he had a major influence in that storyline.

Oh, what did he say? He is funny.

Very funny man. And I think he comes across great with that arc in his story. He’s like, “We’ve got to give his character a great arc.” And that was well paid off when he got his big moment.

Is there going to be a fifth movie? Is the plan for Jason Statham to take over as the leader?

Look, I think first and foremost, if the fans want another fifth one, the box office always tells us where the fan base is. So if it looks like there’s a desire for another one, I’m positive there’s a way we could figure it all out.

Who would you want to be on the team?

I mean, honestly, it depends on the story. I think we’ve combed through pretty much all of the ’80s action heroes now and they were the villains too, so like Mel and Jean-Claude, but they all died.

Van Damme played Vilain. I don’t know why I remember that.

So it would be looking at the next script and seeing what actors are out there now that are of the newer breed – or not really ’80s action stars, but ’80s actors, the brand. But, I don’t know. Like I said, I think the tagline, old blood meets new blood is really true and kind of putting all these heroes together. And I feel like if a fifth comes about, it would be awesome to be a part of.

I’m always wondering how Statham feels about these movies. He’s not in the generation of ’80s or ’90s action stars. He’s still kind of in his prime as an action star.

I don’t know. I know that he really loves Expendables. He really does. He enjoys the brand. He really feels like it’s part of his DNA. So he’s just a big quintessential element in it. He’s very funny. Jason’s hilarious. Jason’s sometimes more funny because he’s not trying to be funny, and that makes him hilarious.

Speaking of the rated R thing, I wasn’t really paying attention. I didn’t realize it was back to R until the first knife through the throat…

We’re there.

Also, there’s a plot point where I guy basically offends Stallone so that guy meets a gruesome end. He wasn’t really even a bad guy…

But that’s the beauty part of the brand, right?

He rubbed Sly the wrong way, so he dies in a fire.

Yeah, it’s fine.

‘‘The Expend4bles’ opens in theaters this weekend. You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

TV fans desperately searching for something to watch this Fall should probably pay close attention to Max in October. That’s because the streaming service is welcoming back some fan-favorite series not impacted by the Writer’s and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Shows like The Gilded Age, which returns with more drama as the status quo of the 19th-century Manhattan elite is thrown into chaos. Our Flag Means Death is also back to give us some period-set hijinks on the high seas while Doom Patrol gives its band of motley heroes one final world-saving mission.

Here’s everything coming to (and leaving) Max this month.

The Gilded Age: Season 2 (streaming 10/29)

A long hiatus means this Americanized version of Downton Abbey — focused on the industrial golden age of New York City — is returning with plenty of drama planned for its main players. The Russells continue to upend high society with their progressive social scheme why the Astors try to preserve the status quo and the younger gen ( Peggy and Marian) begins taking a keen interest in activism.

Our Flag Means Death: Season 2 (streaming 10/5)

Rhys Darby is back as 18th-century upper-crust-dandy-turned-wannabe-pirate Stede Bonnet in season two of this absurdist comedy. After choosing to rescue his crew, Stede is at odds with Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) whose renewed bad-boy phase puts a severe wrench in their budding love story.

Doom Patrol: Season 4 (streaming 10/12)

The final season of this delightfully weird DC superhero dramedy tasks the Doom patrol with confronting their worst fears and allying with some familiar faces in order to defeat Immortus and save the world. No pressure.

Here’s everything coming to Max this October:

Avail. 10/1
3 Godfathers (1948)
The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)
All About the Benjamins (2002)
The Amazing Panda Adventure (1995)
Angels in the Outfield (1951)
The Answer Man (2009)
Anthropoid (2016)
Appaloosa (2008)
The Apparition (2012)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
Badlands (1973)
Be Cool (2005)
Bee Season (2005)
Beetlejuice (1988)
The Benchwarmers (2006)
Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Blindspotting (2018)
Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)
Cesar Chavez (2014)
Charlie Wilson’s War (2007)
Control Room (2004)
Critters 3 (1991)
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Daphne & Velma (2018)
Dark Shadows (2012)
Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1969)
Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks, Season 1 (ID)
Father Figures (2017)
Final Destination (2000)
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Final Destination 3 (2006)
Final Destination 5 (2011)
The Final Destination (2009)
The Five Heartbeats (1991)
Flashdance (1983)
FLCL: Shoegaze, Season 5
Flight (2012)
Focus (2015)
Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991)
French Connection II (1975)
The French Connection (1971)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Furious 7 (2015)
Get Shorty (1995)
Gloria Bell (2019)
The Golden Child (1986)
The Grey (2011)
Hackers (1995)
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
The Haunting (1963)
Horror of Dracula (1958)
House of Sand and Fog (2004)
The House (2017)
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
In the Kitchen with Abner and Amanda, Season 2 (Magnolia Network)
Ismael’s Ghosts (2018)
Jack Osbourne’s Night of Terror, Season 1 (Travel Channel)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)
Jumanji (1995)
Just Wright (2010)
Kate & Leopold (2001)
The Last Stand (2013)
Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000)
The Letter (1940)
Looney Tunes: Back In Action (2003)
The Lost Boys (1987)
Love Jones (1997)
Meet Dave (2008)
Meg 2: The Trench (2023) *Starting 9/29
Men at Work (1990)
The Mod Squad (1999)
The Mummy (1959)
The Neverending Story (1984)
The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter (1991)
A Night at the Roxbury (1998)
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Oracle (2023)
Out of the Past (1947)
Paper Towns (2015)
Pet Sematary (1989)
Pet Sematary II (1992)
The Phantom of The Opera (2004)
Pleasantville (1998)
Poltergeist (1982)
Pootie Tang (2001)
The Pyramid (2014)
Ranch to Table, Season 4 (Magnolia Network)
The Ringleader: The Case of the Bling Ring (HBO)
Rock of Ages (2012)
Roger & Me (1989)
Running Scared (2006)
Scream (1996)
Scream 2 (1997)
Scream 3 (2000)
Skin (2019)
Small Soldiers (1998)
Son of the Mask (2005)
Soylent Green (1973)
Spartan (2004)
Species (1995)
Species II (1998)
Species III (2004)
Speedway (1968)
Spinout (1966)
Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye (1985)
Teen Spirit (2019)
Teen Titans Go!: Welcome To Halloween, Season 8 (Cartoon Network)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1993)
Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007)
Tom and Jerry: Santa’s Little Helpers (2014)
Trick ‘r Treat (2009)
Upgrade (2018)
Valerie’s Home Cooking, Season 14 (Food Network)
Warm Bodies (2013)
The Weekend (2019)
What’s Up, Doc? (1972)
The Whole Ten Yards (2004)
Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Season 10 (The CW)
Whose Streets? (2017)
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Avail. 10/3
Hostage 911, Season 1 (ID)

Avail. 10/4
Bering Sea Gold, Season 11B (Discovery Channel)
Ghost Adventures: Devil Island, Special (Discovery Channel)
Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America, Season 2 (Science Channel)

Avail. 10/5
BattleBots, Season 7B (Discovery Channel)
Oscar’s Handmade Halloween (Max Original)
Our Flag Means Death, Season 2 (Max Original)

Avail. 10/6
90 Day Fiance Pillow Talk: Before The 90 Days, Season 6 (TLC)
Bugs Bunny Builders: Hard Hat Time: Haunted Garage (Cartoon Network)
Deane’s Dynasty (Max Original)
HGTV Urban Oasis Special (HGTV)

Avail. 10/7
Jessica’s Big Little World, Season 1 (Cartoon Network)
Makeover by Monday, Season 2 (Magnolia Network)
Ready to Love, Season 3C (OWN)

Avail. 10/8
90 Day Fiance, Season 10 (TLC)
Last Stop Larrimah (2023) (HBO)
Teen Titans Go!: Haunted Tank, Season 8 (Cartoon Network)

Avail. 10/9
The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime (ID)

Avail. 10/10
No Accident (2023) (HBO)
Street Outlaws vs. The World (Discovery Channel)

Avail. 10/11
Crimefeed (ID)
Ghost Adventures, Season 20C (Discovery Channel)

Avail. 10/12
Doom Patrol, Season 4 (Max Original)
Frankelda’s Book of Spooks (Max Original)

Avail. 10/14
Symon’s Dinners Cooking Out, Season 5 (Food Network)

Avail. 10/15
Naked and Afraid, Season 9C (Discovery Channel)

Avail. 10/16
Wardens of the North (Animal Planet)

Avail. 10/18
Good Bones, Season 8 (HGTV)

Avail. 10/19
Candy Cruz (Max Original)
Peter & the Wolf (2023) (Max Original)
Teenage Kiss: The Future Is Dead (Max Original)

Avail. 10/20
Beach Cottage Chronicles, Season 3 (Magnolia Network)
Cabin Chronicles: Renovation (Magnolia Network)
Cuquin
First Time Fixer, Season 5 (Magnolia Network)

Avail. 10/22
aka MR. CHOW (2023) (HBO)

Avail. 10/23
30 Coins, Season 2 (HBO)
Justice League: Warworld (2023)

Avail. 10/24
Restoration Road With Clint Harp, Season 4 (Magnolia Network)
Silent House (2012)
Supermarket Stakeout, Season 5 (Food Network)

Avail. 10/25
Bargain Mansions, Season 5 (Magnolia Network)
Strange Evidence, Season 7 (Science Channel)
The Murder Tapes, Season 6A (ID)

Avail. 10/26
The Haunted Museum, Season 2 (Travel Channel)

Avail. 10/27
A Time to Kill, Season 4A (ID)
Diary of an Old Home, Season 3 (Magnolia Network)
Adult Swim Smalls, Season 5 (Adult Swim)

Avail. 10/28
Mecha Builders (Cartoon Network)

Avail. 10/29
The Gilded Age, Season 2 (HBO)

Everything leaving Max in October:

Leaving 10/3
Rx Early Detection: A Cancer Journey with Sandra Lee (2018) (HBO)

Leaving 10/5
Which Way Home (2009) (HBO)

Leaving 10/8
To Your Eternity, Season 1 (Subtitled) (Otter)

Leaving 10/11
The Bob’s Burgers Movie (2022)

Leaving 10/14
Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward (HBO)

Leaving 10/16
Mr. Pickles (Adult Swim)

Leaving 10/17
Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram (2018) (HBO)

Leaving 10/26
John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020) (CNN)

Leaving 10/31
13 Going on 30 (2004)
3 Godfathers (1948)
9 to 5 (1980)
A Discovery of Witches, Seasons 1-3 (AMC+)
Alpha Dog (2006)
Arthur (1981)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Belfast (2021)
Blame It on Rio (1984)
Blue Velvet (1986)
The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Cadillac Man (1990)
Calvary (2014)
Cat People (1942)
City by the Sea (2002)
Clean and Sober (1998)
Cloudy with a Chance Of Meatballs (2009)
Come and Find Me (2016)
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Dark Blue (2003)
Dark Winds, Season 1 (AMC+)
Dawson’s Creek
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Equals (2016)
Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
The Exorcist (1973)
Extortion (2017)
The Eye (2008)
Fear The Walking Dead, Seasons 1-7 (AMC+)
The Fly II (1989)
The Fly (1958)
Friday (1995)
From Hell (2001)
Gangs of London, Seasons 1-2 (AMC+)
Garfield (2004)
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties (2006)
The Getaway (1972)
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
I am Wrath (2016)
In the House
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013)
Interview With The Vampire (AMC+)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
It (2017)
It: Chapter Two (2019)
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993)
Killing Eve, Seasons 1-4 (AMC+)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
Knock Knock (2015)
Leatherface (2017)
Legion (2010)
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)
Line of Duty (2013)
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
The Long Riders (1980)
Marked for Death (1990)
Martin: The Reunion (2022)
The Meg (2018)
Mirrors (2008)
Morris from America (2016)
My Best Friend’s Girl (2008)
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Neighbors (2014)
Never Goin’ Back (2018)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
No Way Out (1987)
Ocean’s Eight (2018)
The Omega Man (1971)
The Parent ‘Hood
A Prayer Before Dawn (2018)
Pump Up the Volume (1990)
Raging Bull (1980)
The Replacements (2000)
Ride With Norman Reedus, Seasons 1-5
Rock Dog (2017)
Slice (2018)
Sliding Doors (1998)
Sorority Row (2009)
This Is Elvis (1981)
THX 1138 (1971)
Time After Time (1979)
The Time Machine (1960)
Transcendence (2014)
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)
Whiteboyz (1999)
Wild Wild West (1999)
Windtalkers (2002)
Wolf (2021)