Month: September 2024

The New York Jets offense finally came to life in their Week 3 game on Thursday night against the New England Patriots. Aaron Rodgers looked the best he has as a Jet in the first half against their AFC East rivals, going 15-for-20 for 170 yards and a touchdown, leading New York to a 14-3 advantage at the break.

Despite a fantastic half offensively (that could’ve looked better if not for a missed field goal at the end), it didn’t seem Rodgers was completely thrilled with everything going on with the Jets. After the Jets scored their second touchdown to go up 14-0, Rodgers came over to the sideline and was greeted Robert Saleh, but the veteran QB didn’t seem thrilled with his head coach, pushing away Saleh’s attempt at hugging him after a quick dap.

While we’ve seen celebrations where guys will push each other in excitement, this seemed like something a bit different, as Rodgers had a little something to say to Saleh as he pushed away. I would guess both parties will be asked about this after the game and brush it aside, so I wouldn’t expect any clarity on what really went on here (especially if New York cruises to a win), but it was a bit odd given how well the first half went for the Jets and will undoubtedly be something that gets talked about on Friday.

Shohei Ohtani is very good at baseball. We all know this — he’s one of the best hitters and pitchers on the planet — but on Thursday afternoon, he entered rarefied air in more ways than one. Ohtani had one of the best individual games that we have ever seen a baseball player have, as he went 6-for-6 with three home runs, 10 RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases in a 20-4 Los Angeles Dodgers win over the Miami Marlins.

Not only did Ohtani put up a ridiculous box score, but the multiple homers and stolen bases made him the first player in MLB history to enter the 50/50 club — he officially has 51 home runs and 51 steals on the season. He’s also the first player in the lengthy history of the Dodgers to go yard 50 times in a season. In every way, Ohtani is a phenom, and in fact, he’s so good that there was only one word that fellow Los Angeles star athlete LeBron James could use to sum him up: Wowzers.

Something about LeBron James saying “wowzers” is very funny to me, but also, it perfectly sums up just how much of a freak Ohtani is. Unfortunately, James did not use an all-time great LeBron-ism that he has used in the past while discussing baseball on Twitter: #JustMyThoughtsComingFromASportsJunkieRegardlessMyOwnSportIPlay.

The WNBA Playoff field was officially set after the Connecticut Sun blew out the Chicago Sky and the Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty on the final night of the regular season. Those results meant Connecticut was locked in as the 3-seed, while the Dream would make it as the 8-seed, ending any final day drama with the standings, even with three late games still yet to tip-off.

With those results, each team knew who they’d face in their best-of-3 first round series which will start with all four Game 1s on Sunday.

1. New York Liberty vs. 8. Atlanta Dream
2. Minnesota Lynx vs. 7. Phoenix Mercury
3. Connecticut Sun vs. 6. Indiana Fever
4. Las Vegas Aces vs. 5. Seattle Storm

The WNBA also was able to finalize the TV schedule for Games 1 and 2 in each first round series, which will be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. Game 3s, if necessary, will be played on ESPN2 on Thursday and Friday, but timing on those games will be dependent on whether there are one or two games that night. In the least surprising news, the lone ABC game will be Caitlin Clark’s playoff debut with the Fever in Connecticut, while the rest of the Game 1s (and all of the Game 2s) will be on ESPN.

Sunday, September 22

Atlanta at New York (1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Indiana at Connecticut (3:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
Phoenix at Minnesota (5:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Seattle at Las Vegas (10:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Tuesday, September 24

Atlanta at New York (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Seattle at Las Vegas (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Wednesday, September 25

Indiana at Connecticut (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Phoenix at Minnesota (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Thursday, September 26

New York at Atlanta (TBD, ESPN2)
Las Vegas at Seattle (TBD, ESPN2)

Friday, September 27

Connecticut at Indiana (TBD, ESPN2)
Minnesota at Phoenix (TBD, ESPN2)

Has anyone else noticed that there seems to be an increase in the sheer volume of musical biography films lately? Just in the past year, we’ve had Bob Marley: One Love, Back To Black, and Maestro, and looking forward, there are films in development about The Beatles, Pharrell, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, and Linda Ronstadt.

But hopefully, you’re not all biopicked out, because another name has been added to that list, and it’s one to actually get excited about: Queen Latifah. According to Deadline, an upcoming biopic about the Kennedy Center honoree co-produced by Will Smith will be the first of a slew of hip-hop-focused bio films from Flavor Unit Entertainment (Latifah’s production company), Westbrook Studios (Smith’s), and Jesse Collins Entertainment (which produced The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story).

Latifah and Smith have a long history together, as noted by both in their press release about the project, including the 1989 Grammys boycott that forced the Recording Academy to truly acknowledge hip-hop in its annual award show. “We all came into this industry together and Hip-Hop has shaped each and every one of us,” said Latifah. “Hip-Hop’s impact has expanded beyond just music and has created a lasting impression on culture and society overall. It is a dream to be able to collaborate with friends and colleagues that have not only a shared understanding, but are able to tell these stories that were the backdrop of our lives.”

Smith echoed. “When you bring talented people and teams together, you can create something truly special. I’m thrilled to work alongside Flavor Unit, Jesse Collins Entertainment and HarbourView, to highlight the incredible stories of some of our favorite artists and icons. There’s no better story to start with than the one of Queen Latifah, an undisputed legend who has both entertained and inspired us for so many years.”

Latifah’s previous production credits include films about Salt-N-Pepa and The Clark Sisters.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival is this weekend in Las Vegas, and concertgoers can look forward to a full lineup including Big Sean, Camila Cabello, Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, Gwen Stefani, and more, with headliners Chris Martin and The Weeknd. However, they will be missing out on a third headliner, ASAP Rocky, who today announced he is dropping out of the festival due to illness.

“UNFORTUNATELY, I ENDED UP GETTING SICK & I WON’T BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE @iheartfestival,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “IM SORRY TO MY FANS & THANKFUL TO @iheartradio FOR THE OPPORTUNITY! I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO PERFORMING SOME NEW MUSIC FOR YALL! ENJOY THE SHOW THE LINE UP IS ”

Look I don’t want to cast aspersions on anyone, but the Harlem rapper has had a bumpy 2024 when it comes to keeping commitments. After declaring an August 30 release date for his long-awaited album, Don’t Be Dumb, Billboard revealed that the project would be delayed in its feature on him. He’s been dropping songs that may or may not appear on the album, such as “Tailor Swif” and “Ruby Rosary” with J. Cole, but has not offered any updates on its release. While we hope he gets well soon, we also hope he’s using the weekend off productively.

It seemed a forgone conclusion that Shohei Ohtani would become the first player in MLB history to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in MLB history. Ohtani, the star outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, entered Thursday afternoon’s game against the Miami Marlins with 48 homers and 49 stolen bases, and with 10 games left to go in the season, the greatest baseball player on the planet had plenty of time to create the 50/50 club.

Instead of cutting it close, Ohtani decided to just take care of all his outstanding business on Thursday … and, in the process, put forth the greatest performance we’ve ever seen from a hitter in a single MLB game. After doubling to lead off the game, Ohtani stole third base, giving him 50 steals on the season.

Fast-forward to the top of the sixth inning where the Dodgers were up, 7-3, and Ohtani was 3-for-3 with a pair of steals on the day. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Ohtani moved one homer away from immortality by launching a pitch 438 feet into right center.

His next at-bat came in the top of the seventh, where he once again went yard to give himself 50 home runs on the year with an opposite field dinger.

Think he was done? Nope! Ohtani got one more at-bat, this one in the top of the ninth. He went yard again, driving in three runs with a 440 bomb to right center field.

On the day, Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, and two stolen bases as the Dodgers picked up a 20-4 win. This is where I remind you that he is one of the best pitchers in the world, and will go back to doing that next year. The Dodgers are paying him a lot of money, but he is truly worth every penny.

Just weeks after the death of Atlanta trap pioneer Rich Homie Quan, social media lit up with rumors that Quan’s former labelmate and fellow Atlanta trap rap fixture YFN Lucci had also died while serving out his sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering charges earlier this year.

However, the rapper’s attorney, Drew Findling, confirmed to TMZ that Lucci is still alive and kicking. Lucci, whose song “Everyday We Lit” with the late PnB Rock was his highest-charting hit at No. 33 on the Hot 10, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 10 on probation after being indicted on racketeering charges in 2021. Per the terms of his plea deal, he became eligible for parole sometime this summer after time served and good behavior, however, it’s unclear whether he truly was released, as he’s kept a low profile since that news.

The racketeering charges against Lucci were among several similar cases brought against a string of rappers in recent years, including the much-publicized case against Lucci’s chief rival, Young Thug. That case generated a wave of controversy from the public due to its use of lyrics as evidence against him, and although some speculated Lucci might be called to testify against his nemesis, his lawyer actually wound up speaking out against the use of Georgia’s RICO law to indict both, calling it racist.

It’s certainly a relief to that Lucci is alive and well, considering how many rap artists have died way before their times this year.

Oscar-nominated Colin Farrell has been on a career-defining hot streak over the last few years, so he could really take any role he wanted to, and he chose to stick with a Batman villain. That’s his right as an Irishman, as so many have done before him.

The Penguin follows Farrell as his Batman villain who is working his way to the top of the Gotham City underworld. For his role of Oz Cobb, Farrell had to be fully suited up to the point where he looked unrecognizable. “I had a bodysuit, so I was basically covered wrist to ankle. Only things that were me were my hands and feet,” he told People Magazine. “Everything else, including ears, were pieces. Everything was covered.” Unfortunately, he meant “everything.”

Farrell then revealed information that nobody asked for, but he was happy to share anyway. When talking about his prosthetics needed during a nude scene, the actor praised artist Mike Marino, who also worked on The Batman. “Marino is so twisted and brilliant. He was like, ‘I made you a penguin penis,’” Farrell recalled. “I said, ‘Really? They’re not even going to see it. I don’t know if I want to walk on set with a penguin penis.” It gets weirder.

He continued to describe the detachable addition: “And he was like, ‘No, no, no, dude. It’s detachable, it’s Velcro. It’s got a beak at the end of it.’ So I had a penguin penis,” Farrell said.

Luckily, this can’t be seen on screen, because that would make The Penguin a different type of TV show that HBO probably isn’t on board with. But it’s nice that Farrell got a laugh! Especially since it seems like he won’t ever wear the suit again.

Still, it was important for the character. Farrell said, “If it wasn’t for Mike’s design, I’m telling you now, if it was just me with a f***ing cigarette and a top hat and a bit of a limp and an umbrella that was a machine gun, we wouldn’t have had the HBO show.” He’s was joking, but that show would definitely have been a cult favorite on The CW.

The Penguin premieres Thursday, Sept. 19, at 9 pm on HBO and Max.

(Via People)

After playing a sketchy neurosurgeon on Dr. Death, Joshua Jackson probably thought he was done with the whole doctor stuff. But in Doctor Odyssey, Jackson isn’t just any doctor… he’s a doctor on a luxury cruise ship line. Are you hooked yet?! Who wouldn’t want Pacey by their side during some choppy waves?

Doctor Odyssey is Murphy’s latest venture beyond his usual horror wheelhouse. The drama stars Jackson as the world-renowned Dr. Max Bankman who takes a gig working on the seas. While it might seem like your typical ABC drama similar to Grey’s Anatomy, the trailer is already pulling some impressive numbers worth singling out even though Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez is the Murphy show that actually released this week.

According to Deadline, the Doctor Odyssey trailer logged 77.8 million views within its first 48 hours of release after premiering at The Emmys. The makes it the most-watched trailer for a new broadcast TV show ever. It can only be compared to the trailer for the smash hit This Is Us, which drew similar numbers in 11 days.

The most surprising part of all? The trailer reportedly performed best on TikTok, of all places, where hoards of Dawson’s Creek fans are discussing the Joshua Jackson Renaissance and whether they want to tune in to the nautical drama. The fans are seemingly all in, saying that his character gives “Pacey vibes.”

On top of Jackson, the show stars Don Johnson, Philipa Soo, and Sean Teale. The show also features an impressive batch of guest stars including Shania Twain, John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Kelsea Ballerini, Chord Overstreet, and Cheyenne Jackson. The series will premiere on Thursday, September 26 at 9pm ET on ABC. Check out the trailer above.

With the final day of the WNBA regular season upon us, the playoff picture is mostly set. The New York Liberty (32-7) have the 1-seed locked up, while the Lynx (30-9) have pulled away with the 2-seed, as their 7-game winning streak has cemented their place in the standings.

The Sun (27-12) and Aces (26-13) are still technically battling for the 3-seed, as the Aces hold the tiebreaker over the Sun, but Vegas’ injury report lists a number of top players as doubtful for the final game as they seem fine holding down the 4-seed and facing the Storm (24-15) in the first round. Indiana (20-19) and Phoenix (19-20) are locked in as the 6- and 7-seeds respectively as the Fever have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mercury, no matter if they both finish 20-20.

The real battle on the final day of the season is for the 8-seed, where the Dream (14-25) hold a one-game lead on the Mystics (13-26) and Sky (13-26) for the final playoff position. Here, we’ll go over the scenarios that can lead to each team getting the 8-seed, starting with the most likely team in that spot, Atlanta.

Atlanta Dream Clinch Scenarios

Atlanta win

If the Dream win, they’re in. It’s that simple, and while facing the best team in the league isn’t the ideal spot to be in for that scenario, they will be getting a New York team likely looking to just get out of the regular season finale healthy and ready to go for the playoffs. Still, the Liberty might not want to give the Dream any ideas that they could win a first round series with New York, as that’d be the matchup, so we’ll have to see exactly how the Liberty play it.

Atlanta loss, Chicago loss, Washington loss

If all three teams lose, then the Dream also clinch as they already have a 1-game lead for eighth.

Atlanta loss, Washington win, Chicago loss

If Atlanta loses and Chicago loses to the Sun, the Dream are in no matter what happens between the Fever and Mystics. That’s because the Dream and Mystics split their season series 2-2, which pushes the tiebreaker to “record against teams above .500”, which favors Atlanta (who would be 4-18) over Washington (who would be 3-17).

Washington Mystics Clinch Scenario

Washington Win, Chicago Win, Atlanta Loss

Mystics fans hoping for a postseason berth will be rooting not only for Washington against Indiana, but also will need the Sky to beat the Sun. That is because this scenario triggers the three-way tie-breaker, which is the combined head-to-head records of each team, which favors Washington (5-3) over Atlanta (4-4) and Chicago (3-5).

Chicago Sky Clinch Scenario

Chicago win, Atlanta loss, Washington loss

There’s also only one way for the Sky to get into the postseason, and that is to beat the Sun and have both the Dream and the Sky lose. The Sky have a 2-2 record against Atlanta on the season, which pushes it to the second tiebreaker and Chicago would be 5-17 against above-.500 competition, while the Dream would be 4-18, giving the Sky the 8-seed.