Category: News

The Phoenix Suns and their former No. 1 overall pick have reportedly come to an impasse regarding a potential contract extension. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, talks on a contract extension for standout center Deandre Ayton have “stalled,” as the team is hesitant to offer him a maximum rookie extension and Ayton would like to get the kind of deal that has been given out to a number of other members of his draft class.

Ayton, who played a major role in the Suns’ run to the NBA Finals last season, could potentially become a restricted free agent next summer should the two sides not come to terms on an extension in less than two weeks.

Ayton, 23, is eligible for a five-year, $172.5 million extension, with escalators that could reach $207 million — a deal that many executives league-wide expected would be complete in short order this offseason. But now, with a looming Oct. 18 deadline for rookie extensions, sources said the talks between the Suns and Ayton’s representatives are slowed by ownership’s current assertion that Ayton doesn’t deserve to be included in that group of players — and a belief by the 7-footer that his performance, potential and the marketplace dictate that he does.

So far, four players from the 2018 draft — Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Michael Porter Jr. — have put pen to paper on max extensions. Ayton, of course, was drafted before all of those players, and has become one of the more promising two-way big men in the league. He averaged 14.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game for the Suns last year, and seemed to take his game to another level in the postseason, serving as a reliable outlet for Chris Paul and a menace on the defensive end of the floor.

Ainsley Earhardt often stays out of the line of fire when fellow Fox and Friends co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy are going at it. She sure does say a lot, though, during other moments, and The Daily Show decided to document a certain habit for one of the Fox News personalities who’s very upset that Christmas is ruined because no one wants to work. The same host who declared Trump a super hard worker tends to revert to a telling habit: mentioning “my friend” in countless instances to support her points.

As the Trevor Noah-hosted Comedy Central show phrased things, “Ainsley Earhardt takes the ‘friends’ part of ‘Fox & Friends’ very seriously.” From there, this clip functions as a compilation of every time that the co-host has mentioned her friends, her best friend, her anti-vaxxer friends, her friends with kids, and well, you get the point. The routine quickly grows tedious while one watches the exhaustive repetition, which is punctuated by this awkward reaction face from Brian Kilmeade around the 1:30 mark.

It must be noted that Kilmeade doles out his fair share of idiosyncrasies on-air, too, mainly in the form of tantrum-y outbursts and baffling claims about reading Hitler in school and whatnot. Still, Ainsley deserves the spotlight where The Daily Show is concerned. Or at least, her “friends” (if they all really exist) deserve it.

As Media Matters writer Bobby Lewis put it on Twitter, “‘i have a friend’ = ‘i saw someone say this online.’”

After teasing The Suicide Squad fans during the Emmys with a tiny glimpse of the new spinoff series, Peacemaker, HBO Max has released an extended clip that builds on the scene from last month’s sizzle reel. More importantly, it answers the questions of how the heck Cena’s character actually has friends to meet for dinner, and it turns out, he doesn’t. They’re co-workers forced to work with him.

After arriving in his souped up patriotic ride, with a live bald eagle in the backseat, Peacemaker gets ruthlessly dunked on by the support team for Amanda Waller’s Task Force X. They have a lot of questions about why Cena’s character walks around in a bright red costume all day, and what’s up with the eagle. When Peacemaker reveals the bird’s name is “Eagly,” he’s bombarded yet again with another round of jokes.

The clip also dropped a new logline for the douchetastic series: “He’s got the looks, the car, and the best sidekick ever — all in the name of peace.” However, it doesn’t look like any of those things are as badass as Peacemaker thinks they are.

Here’s how creator James Gunn announced the Peacemaker series, which he created while bored out of his mind during quarantine:

“Peacemaker is an opportunity to delve into current world issues through the lens of this superhero/supervillain/and world’s biggest douchebag,” Gunn said in a statement. “I’m excited to expand The Suicide Squad and bring this character from the DC film universe to the full breadth of a series. And of course, to be able to work again with John, Peter, and my friends at Warner Bros. is the icing on the cake.”

Peacemaker starts streaming January 16, 2022.

For the first time in 25 years, Donald Trump is off the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. The former-president’s net worth is $2.5 billion, so he’s doing fine, but he’s $400 million short of making the list — and down $600 million since the start of the pandemic due to his portfolio largely being made up of empty big-city properties.

Of course, it’s his own dang fault that he tumbled off the list.

If he paid the maximum possible capital gains tax — 23.8% to the federal government, plus 8.8% to the New York State authorities on every penny he owned — that would have shaved about $1.1 billion off his fortune, leaving him with $2.4 billion on the first day of his presidency. But what would have appeared to be a huge sacrifice at first could have turned into a lucrative realignment. By plowing that $2.4 billion in an index fund tracking the S&P 500, for example, Trump’s fortune would have ballooned to $4.5 billion by now, leaving him 80% richer than he is today. His refusal to divest, in other words, cost him $2 billion.

This is not going to sit well with Trump, who once lied his way onto the Forbes 400 (the fascinating story involves an alter ego named “John Barron,” because even his fake names aren’t subtle). Trump was in the top half of the ranking every year from 1997 to 2016, but he started to tumble during his presidency and now he’s entirely off it. At least there was one repercussion for his bungled administration…

The Forbes 400 is topped by Jeff Bezos ($201 billion), Elon Musk ($190.5 billion), Mark Zuckerberg ($134.5 billion, although that may have dropped after yesterday), Bill Gates ($134 billion), and Larry Page ($123 billion). You can find the full ranking here.

(Via Forbes)

Kacey Musgraves stole the show during Saturday Night Live this past weekend with her performance of “Justified.” The stage design was simple: Musgraves sat with a guitar on her lap, but notably, it appeared she wasn’t wearing any clothes (except for a pair of boots). It was hard to tell for sure if she was actually naked, though, as the stage lighting was dark and there wasn’t a large variety of camera angles used during the broadcast.

Now, though, we know for sure: Musgraves was in fact nude during the performance. Musgraves’ confirmed as much with Variety, saying, “She was nude. Precautions were taken, and this was the first time it’s happened on the show.”

Fans noticed the performance was visually similar to a scene from Forest Gump, in which Robin Wright’s character Jenny sings and plays guitar naked as “Bobbi Dylan.” After the performance, Musgraves seemingly confirmed the Forest Gump inspiration by sharing a still frame from the movie, of Jenny’s fateful nude performance.

Meanwhile, fans will get to see Musgraves perform in person (presumably fully clothed) in 2022, as she recently announced a string of North American tour dates for early next year.

Revisit Musgraves’ performance of “Justified” here.

Star-Crossed is out now via Interscope/MCA Nashville. Get it here.

When Coldplay and BTS’ paths converged on their collaborative single “My Universe,” the bands were on two very different paths. While BTS is in the midst of an impressive string of No. 1 singles, Coldplay’s last chart-topper came over 13 years ago, with 2008’s “Viva La Vida.” Now, though, both bands are back on top: On the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 9, “My Universe” debuts at No. 1.

Along with being Coldplay’s first No. 1 in 13 years and 3 months, “My Universe” is BTS’s sixth No. 1 in just over a year and a month. That’s the fastest an artist has ever racked up six chart-topping sings since The Beatles did so over the course of a year and two weeks from 1964 to 1966.

As BTS songs tend to do, this one made history. Aside from the aforementioned accolades, BTS has now had five songs debut at No. 1, tying them with Drake and Ariana Grande for the most ever. “My Universe” is Max Martin’s 23rd No. 1 song as a producer, tying him with George Martin for the most of all-time. Also worth noting is that “My Universe” is the first collaboration by two lead groups to ever go No. 1 on the Hot 100.

Coldplay is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

This article originally appeared on 07.11.19

Young entrepreneur Darius Brown is on a mission to find homes for shelter animals, and he’s doing it with style—literally. The 14-year-old makes bow ties for dogs and cats in the hopes that it will help more of them find homes.

Many people find it hard to resist a puppy. But a puppy with a bowtie? That’s just not even fair.

Brown, who goes by Sir Darius Brown on social media, wears a bow tie himself most of the time. “Literally everywhere I go, I wear a bow tie” he says.

It all started when he was eight and his older sister started making hair bows in cosmetology school. Brown had been diagnosed at age two with comprehension, speech, and fine motor skills delays, and helping out with his sister’s sewing projects seemed to help him.

“With his fine motor skills, he wasn’t able to really use his hands well—tying a shoe was challenging,” his sister told the Today Show. “My mother and I came up with the idea that if he helped us with things like prepping the ribbon or cutting it, and sewing fabric together, it would help him. And it did—it worked!”

Brown started making his own bow ties to wear, and eventually his love of animals led him to make them for his furry friends also. He has now donated hundreds of ties to animal shelters all over the country.

“It helps the dog look noticeable, very attractive,” Brown told Today. “It helps them find a forever, loving home…I love everything about dogs and cats.”

Seriously, though. So. Not. Fair.

Brown has created his own organization called Beaux and Paws, and he’s begun fundraising to be able to provide more ties. He’s also received donations of fabric and supplies from people who support his mission. “The donations help a lot because we were just digging in our pockets, buying the fabric ourselves,” his mother told Today.

And the good work doesn’t stop there. During the pandemic, he created over 100 face coverings for essential workers and the homeless as well as created koala mittens for koalas bears that burned their hands due to the Australian bushfires. Sir Darius hopes to continue bringing more awareness to pet adoption, finding new ways to support shelters and pet adoption, and encouraging youth to get involved with volunteering at shelters.

The preteen’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Former President Barack Obama even sent him a letter of praise in 2018.

“Dear Darius,” Obama’s letter reads. “After hearing your story, I wanted to reach out to commend you for your commitment to community service. From founding Beaux and Paws to lifting up the lives of those around you, it’s clear you are doing your part to look out for your fellow citizens. And I trust you take tremendous pride in all you have accomplished.

As long as you stay engaged in the world around you, continue looking for ways to help others, and never give up on yourself, I’m confident our future will be bright. Know that I’m rooting for you in all you do, and I wish you the very best.”

Well done, Sir Darius! Keep up the inspiring work.

Sean Baker, the acclaimed director of Tangerine and The Florida Project (one of the best movies of the 2010s), returns with Red Rocket. The film follows Mikey Saber, a middle-aged adult film star who returns to small-town Texas where his estranged wife and mother-in-law live. He disrupts the lives of everyone around him, including a teenage girl working at the donut shop who he becomes infatuated with. Mikey is played by Simon Rex, the former solo porn performer who became an MTV VJ and Scary Movie and What I Like About You star, and is now getting Oscar consideration for Red Rocket.

“A24 is taking it domestically in the United States, and you know they’re a fearless company, and I think they’re going to take anything that comes our way head on. But I don’t want to be negative about it. I know we’re tackling tough subjects here, and I know there are themes and images that are triggering in this film, I get it,” Baker told Deadline about Red Rocket. “We’re just going to see how audiences take it. I understand it’s going to be divisive, and I understand I’m going to get some hate mail, it’s OK.”

Here’s the official plot synopsis:

The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, Red Rocket is a darkly funny and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.

Red Rocket, which also stars Suzanna Son, Bree Elrod, Brenda Deiss, Ethan Darbone, Brittney Rodriguez, and Judy Hill, opens on December 3. That ain’t no lie.

“Dreams didn’t make us kings. Dragons did.”

Did you get a chill or two during that line? You’re not alone. HBO Max has released the first teaser trailer for the first Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon, which will take us back to the days when House Targaryen filled itself with all manner of blonde wigs, rather than the few we saw during the franchise’s flagship series.

The teaser arrived during the HBO Max’s Europe launch event, and we’re finally seeing the first footage of the prequel. In less than one minute, we see “gods, kings, fire, and blood,” as flashes of Targaryen hair give way to swordplay. Do we see any actual dragons? Nope, but they get namedropped by Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, and George R.R. Martin previously promised that, don’t worry, we will see plenty of dragons. Also important, however, is the visual presence of fire here, which is quite suggestive, since Martin previously clarified that the Targaryen bunch isn’t immune to fire, other than Daenerys, who emerged from the flames like it ain’t no thing.

The prequel also stars Emma D’arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, niece to Daemon and the daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen (he will be portrayed by Paddy Considine), who was the fifth king of the Targaryen dynasty to sit on the Iron Throne. In addition, HBO announced the following cast members during the Tuesday event:

Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon – Younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy

John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen

Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velayron – Daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen

Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon – Son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen

George R.R. Martin is on hand here, not only as co-creator but also co-showrunner, so we can expect to soon see plenty of interviews about when he might finish writing Winds of Winter. (Sorry, George R.R. Martin.)

House of the Dragon debuts in 2022.

Once upon a time — for over five decades — televisions were in a different shape than they are now. TV sets used to be box-shaped. The shows that aired on them, of course, were, too. Widescreen TVs became popular in the aughts, and now any show made in the before-time runs into a problem: They’re often re-shaped for modern TVs. That means cropping and removing chunks of the image. And it means incurring the wrath of those who notice, such as the Simpsons fans who successfully pressured Disney+ into making sure there was an option to watch older episodes of the show in their original form.

Now it’s happening to Seinfeld. All 180 episodes of the ‘90s landmark debuted on Netflix over the weekend. But fans of the show quickly noticed a problem: The show had been reformatted to fit modern screens. That meant jokes had been ruined, like one involving a pothole.

Another eagle-eyed viewer seemed to figure it out: The image was not only cropped but also ever-so-slightly stretched out.

People wondered why Netflix spent a princely sum to show a censored Seinfeld. (Incidentally, HBO Max did the same with Friends, which streams in a similarly cropped form.)

Thing is, it’s probably not Netflix’s fault. As per The Verge, Seinfeld has been shown in its cropped form since 2008, when a new HD master started being shown on syndication and, later, on Hulu, where the show lived before its new move.

That also means that Seinfeld heads have had a tough decision to make for years: Watch it in HD in the wrong aspect ratio, or in substandard quality in the correct shape.

There is hope that a change could come. Again, Disney+ caved to pressure and made older Simpsons episodes available in their original 1.33:1 shape. But it’s unclear if there are HD/4K scans of Seinfeld in its classic shape. And if there aren’t, will Netflix shell out the dough to make new ones, just to appease some people on social media? (And, of course, to do the right thing.) Then again, it’s not like they’re strangers to burning gobs of money.

(Via The Verge)