Category: News

After weeks of anticipation, Chloe Bailey’s long-awaited debut solo single is finally here, arriving with an exciting video. Chloe shined as a part of a duo with sister Halle, but now it’s time for her to impress as a solo act, something she looks to do with her brand new single, “Have Mercy.” Chloe shows off her dance moves and twerking abilities as a cast of guys watch in awe. The singer is also accompanied by a group of female dancers that keep up with her and seductive moves.

Chloe impressed for years through music and on the small screen in shows like Freeform’s Grown-ish. An excellent example of Chloe’s musical talents came last year with the release of last year’s Ungodly Hour as a part of the Chloe X Halle duo.

“Have Mercy” will appear on the singer’s upcoming album and prior to the track’s release, Chloe delivered an update on the project and teased what kind of music fans can expect to hear on it. “It’s 90% done,” she said about the project, adding that the album “is definitely more pop.” “I’m creating my own lane, as well as paying homage to the ones who have inspired me,” she continued. “It has been fun finding my voice.”

You can watch the video for “Have Mercy” above.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night to open the 2021 NFL regular season, as Tom Brady and company began their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions. On the other side, Dak Prescott was looking to show he was all the way back after missing most of last year with a broken ankle — and dealing with some shoulder issues this training camp.

Both offenses showed out in what became a high-scoring affair, led by the two star quarterbacks. Prescott was sensational for the Cowboys, throwing for 403 yards (on 42-of-58 passing), three touchdowns, and one interception, as he seemed to quickly regain his form. On the other side, Brady was likewise excellent with 379 yards (32-of-50), four touchdowns, and two interceptions, and down the stretch the two traded big drives in what ultimately ended in a 31-29 Bucs win.

The craziness started with the Bucs looking to go up two scores with five minutes to play, as Brady connected with Chris Godwin, who fought his way near the goal line but tried too hard to reach the end zone, getting hit and fumbling to give Dallas new life.

On the ensuing drive, Prescott was magnificent in pushing the Cowboys down the field, with some help from his playmakers like CeeDee Lamb who made a tremendous play on 3rd and 11 to get Dallas into Tampa territory.

However, once they got it into field goal range, the Cowboys got conservative, most notably with an inside handoff on 2nd and 10 that only netted them four yards and seemed to signal that, despite a monster game from Prescott and an inability to run the ball all night, the Cowboys were not about to put the game fully in Dak’s hands. After a hold and a short pass to get back to where they started, Greg Zuerlein, who had missed two field goals and an extra point already, came on and drilled the go-ahead field goal, but everyone aside from Mike McCarthy seemed to know what was coming with Tom Brady getting the ball back with over a minute to play and a timeout at his disposal.

After Brady and Gronk got them inside Dallas territory, it was Chris Godwin’s turn for redemption with the most controversial play of the drive, as he hauled in a back shoulder throw from Brady to get them firmly into field goal range thanks to what many felt was a pushoff that should’ve resulted in offensive pass interference.

From there, Brady threw it away three straight times, setting up a Ryan Succop game-winner.

It was a terrific opening game for the NFL, as the stars showed out in big ways, but the talk of the game will be how conservative Dallas got once in field goal range despite Tampa having all of their timeouts at the time, as well as the Godwin no-call on the Bucs game-winning drive.

More than two years removed from his last project, Baby Keem has arrived with a new body of work for his growing cast of supporters to enjoy. The Melodic Blue is out now and it comes with a small, yet star-filled cast of guest acts. Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, and Don Toliver each stand beside Keem at various points on the album, with Lamar marking the most appearances on the 16-track project. The new album arrives after Keem stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to debut “Issues,” while he follows up with a desolate video with a similar setting.

In addition to “Family Ties,” a previously-released single that ramped up anticipation for The Melodic Blue and Kendrick’s own upcoming fifth album, the TDE rapper also connects with Keem on “Range Brothers” and “Vent.”

“Range Brothers” arrives as a two-part track that begins with Keem delivering laid-back raps over bass-heavy production. Things take an odd and chaotic turn in the second half as Lamar arrives join Keem as they deliver off-kilter bars that, if anything, sound more like a troll as Lamar checks in and repeatedly chants “top of the morning.” As for “Vent,” that collaboration between Lamar and Keem is quite the bashful single as the duo combines their energies for a mosh pit-friendly track.

You can watch the “Issues” video and listen to Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar’s additional collaborations in the videos above.

The Melodic Blue is out now via PgLang/Columbia. Get it here.

A female assassin, the dashing Devil, and a chemistry-laden duo who’s ready to reenact a classic miniseries with a contemporary spin. The streaming game nearly sees a tie this week from Netflix and HBO Max. The former’s got loads of variety for you, including Mary Elizabeth Winstead as a female assassin who’s plight might remind you of a few Jason Statham movies, along with Tom Ellis bringing back Lucifer Morningstar to tie up loose ends while dispensing with a few final mysteries. Meanwhile, HBO Max has more than enough entertainment from a pair of teamed-up A-listers while James Wan’s latest will spook you for an early Halloween. Following behind are Disney+ and Amazon Prime with new options that will satisfy MCU zombie and voyeuristic cravings, respectively.

Meanwhile, AMC+ debuts an action-packed Irish TV series starring Charlie Cox, and Hulu has the return of Wu-Tang: An American Saga and a buffet of new current TV offerings and (in case you missed it) The Only Murders In The Building. Don’t count out Apple TV+ or Peacock this week, either. Here’s the best of the new streaming selections for this weekend.

Netflix

Lucifer: The Final Season (Netflix series) — The Devil is back for one last dance-of-a-rodeo in Season 6, and naturally, Lucifer Morningstar is still a total pain in the tush, and you’ll love him for it. Fortunately, he’s no longer attempting to be a detective. Lucifer is now God (don’t ask), and if he doesn’t get with the new program, he’s liable to trigger the apocalypse of all apocalypses. This is one last, fan-requested hurrah for a Netflix-resurrected series, and Neil Gaiman’s creation will live on in fans’ hearts and, most likely while resolving that Unresolved Sexual Tension, their pants as well.

Kate (Netflix film) — Granted, this movie sounds a whole lot like Crank (those infamous Jason Statham flicks), but it’s got Mary Elizabeth Winstead kicking enormous ass, so are we really complaining about derivative stories here? Nope. Here, Winstead stars as the title character, who’s taking revenge upon a criminal organization after being poisoned and only having 24 hours to live. Woody Harrelson’s also on board here, and let’s hope that Kate gains some vengeance against her killers before the clock expires.

Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali (Netflix film) — This documentary shines light on the friendship of the iconic twin-figures of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali, whose extraordinary friendship (and falling out) reverberated throughout the 20th century. Kenya Baris and director Marcus A. Clarke celebrate the legendary bond in question with the help of family members and luminaries including Cornel West and Al Sharpton. In the end, their positions within the Nation of Islam’s leadership sees ups and downs and, overall, a legendary retelling of what went down.

Metal Shop Masters (Netflix series) — Finally, we’ve got the welder-focused reality-competition series . There’s fire and fierceness between welding legends who are building futuristic vehicles and the coolest grills of all time, and yeah, they’ve totally got both heat and hustle. This might be the greatest reality show of all time (or not).

Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space (Netflix limited series) — Elon Musk’s SpaceX Dragon missions have seen some typical setbacks with some atypical ones (the pandemic, obviously), but on September 15, they’ll launch off on the Inspiration 4 mission, and this limited series is here to help people prepare to observe the three-day orbit trip. They’ll travel higher than the International Space Station, and this marks a new era of civilian space exploration. And yep, Musk is on the scene.

UNTOLD: Breaking Point (Netflix film) — The destigmatization of anxiety is the name of the (sports) game here when it comes to the story of tennis figure Mardy Fish. From his quasi-humble days at the Saddlebrook academy to his rivalry with Andy Roddick to his near-miss with success (while gazing toward John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, and Andre Agassi), this documentary-series installment digs deep into how the formerly number-one ranked American male tennis player evaporated from the public eye. These days, Fish serves at the US Davis Cup and, on a daily basis, hopes to help other athletes who struggle with similar mental health issues to come together and crush stigmas.

The Circle: Season 3 (Netflix series) — Get ready for yet another round of eight contestants who wield social media platforms in order to beat each other out while also flirting and befriending and hating and conquering each other while possibly catfishing each other. $100,000 is on the line, as well as the title of top influencer. Let the most fake among them win!

HBO Max

Scenes From A Marriage (HBO limited series on HBO Max) — Here’s the project that Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain were firing up on the red carpet last weekend. This miniseries remakes Ingmar Bergman’s 1970s project original as directed by HBO regular Hagai Levi with a contemporary spin, including all of the love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage, and divorce that one would expect. Considering the Isaac-Chastain chemistry on hand, it’s a remake worth perusing.

Malignant (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — The Conjuring Universe architect and Aquaman director goes back to horror to scare the pants off you in your own living rooms. This time around, James Wan brings us the story of a woman who’s tormented by what she believes are mere waking visions of murders, yet they turn out to be all too realistic. Wan doesn’t swing and miss when it comes to terrifying tales, and Warner Bros. is encouraging us to get into the Halloween spirit early.

Elliott from Earth: Season 1 (Cartoon Network series on HBO Max) — This British-American animated sci-fi comedy follows an inquisitive boy and his mom who travel across the universe (not of their own will) and ends up encountering loads of freaking aliens. Fortunately, there’s one other Earth-sourcing being on hand, and that just happens to be a stegosaurus. Makes sense.

The Other Two: Season 1 (HBO Max series) — Lorne Michaels of SNL fame executive produces this series that’s created, written, and also executive produced by Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider (formerly co-head writers of SNL). The cast includes Drew Tarver, Heléne Yorke, Case Walker, Ken Marino, and Molly Shannon, and the plot follows a showbiz family, in which a 14-year-old pop star decides that it’s time to officially retire. Meanwhile, the family’s 53-year-old matriarch (Shannon) is enjoying ubiquity of her own, so “The Other Two” will do everything they can to shine as well.

Amazon Prime

The Voyeurs — (Amazon Prime film) — Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) is seemingly everywhere after her intimidating turn in The White Lotus, and here, she plays one half of a couple who become obsessed with another couple, who happens be very steamy neighbors. Naturally, dark secrets surface, and that doesn’t scare away the obsessive factor at work which could very spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r. Yikes.

LuLaRich — (Amazon Prime docuseries) — This four-parter from the Fyre Fraud documentarians asks the question of what happens leggings become the subject of a pyramid scheme. Well, it ain’t good, and this project tells the cautionary tale of ruined lives and vast social-media circles that became embroiled in one tacky hot mess.

Cinderella (Amazon Prime film) — Pop star Camila Cabello stars in this slight reimagining of the classic fairytale. Expect all of the familiar beats, however, with the royal ball, attended ty the evil stepsisters, and a changed fortune for the orphaned main character. Co-stars include Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Minnie Driver, James Corden (who can’t avoid a musical), and Pierce Freaking Brosnan. Don’t turn into a pumpkin.

Disney+

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.: Season 1 (Disney+ series) — This reboot (of the original ABC Doogie Howser show that launched Neil Patrick Harris’ career) series stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha, a high-school medical prodigy. Notably, this series isn’t a direct continuation but, instead, a tribute of sorts from the show’s characters, who actually nickname the new protagonist as “Doogie.” It’s highly referential, and that’s part of the fun.

Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles (Disney+ film) — Billie Eilish headlines this concert film that follows her newest album, Happier Than Ever, with an intimate performance from the Hollywood Bowl stage. Robert Rodriguez and Patrick Osbourne co-direct, and expect some dreamlike and animated elements as Eilish celebrates her Los Angeles roots with help from singer-songwriter FINNEAS.

What If…? (Disney+ series) — We’re in the multiverse, baby. The MCU’s officially launching headfirst into that realm after Loki‘s season finale, and this show’s Twitter account clarified official participation as well. Enjoy this show full of alternate realities that stand separate from the existing canon (thus far), including Agent Carter taking the super-soldier serum, T’Challa materializing as Star Lord, and Black Widow and Nick Fury taking on a murder mystery while Tony Stark eats a donut. Dr. Strange gets the tearjerking treatment, and this week… zombies.

AMC+

Kin: (AMC+ series) — Charlie Cox stars in this new Irish series about a tight-knit crime family that’s drawn into wartime mode with a mighty drug kingpin. The family soon discovers that this is an unwinnable war, yet as the losses begin to mount, it becomes clear that the cartel is at one distinct disadvantage: they’re not bound by unbreakable blood bonds. The cartel does, however, have a host of exotic pets and some snazzy costumes and celebrity status, so this is a heck of a story.

The Walking Dead: Season 11A (AMC series) — This zombie-apocalypse universe’s flagship series returns for one final rodeo with two spinoffs still in motion, so it’s time to wrap this puppy up before the various shows’ timelines begin to intersect. Negan’s no longer the show’s villain, Alpha’s been vanquished, and Carol’s about to split from the group. When one really thinks about all the careers that this show has bolstered (Steven Yeun, Dania Guerra, Andrew Lincoln, Jon Bernthal, and so on), it’s impressive that Norman Reedus has stuck it out for the long haul, so Daryl and Carol must end this show by literally riding off into the sunset by motorcycle. We’ll accept nothing else.

Hulu

Wu-Tang: An American Saga: Season 2 (Hulu series) — The Clan is back, although they’re feeling disillusioned by their current lives in the projects, all while Bobby dreams of musical-industry success that will change everything. However, infighting within the group threatens success, even in the face of their undeniable talent. Real life always gets in the way, right? Fortunately, Bobby’s fight for authenticity can prevail and help overcome music-business challenges, if only the Clan can choose to prevail.

Only Murders In The Building: Season 1 (Hulu series) — Only a few short years ago, Selena Gomez stood awkwardly in a designer gown alongside t-shirt clad co-stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James at a photocall, and let’s just say that her current co-stars would never. Here, she stars alongside the legendary Steve Martin and Martin Short, and the three portray NYC neighbors who aim to unravel an apparent murder inside their apartment building. Yes, they’re all podcasting because everyone does it (duh), and before long, the killer might be after them, too. Martin hasn’t written a feature film since the Pink Panther movies and Shopgirl, and I don’t wanna come out and call this trio a “much cooler Three Amigos” update, but Martin wrote that, too, so why not?

What We Do in the Shadows (FX, 10:00 & 10:30pm) — Well, well, well. Guillermo turned out to be a vampire killer, which sure as heck came as a surprise to Nandor, Nadja, and Laszlo, and Colin. The four Staten Island roommates must figure out how to handle this conundrum, along with tackling the other challenges of this season. Those include dealing with wellness cults and gym culture, along with gargoyles, werewolves who play kickball, casinos, and more. In addition, the vamps also receive a higher level of powers while Nandor experiences an eternal-life crisis, which forces him to examine whether he should be a bachelor for eternity or embrace love. This week, an ancient vehicle and an old flame both see resurrection.

Archer (FXX, 10:00pm) — Season 12 continues with snakes, crocodiles, and mercenaries who face off with Archie and Lana as a family reuinites.

American Horror Story: Double Feature (FX, 10:00pm) — Alma takes matters into her own hands while Harry meets up with an unexpected visitor, who’s attracted by his newfound talent.

Reservation Dogs: (FX on Hulu) — Taika Waititi’s FX on Hulu followup to What We Do in the Shadows brings us a comedy series that’s co-written by Native American filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. Yes, the lead quartet in this show rocks suits that look strikingly similar to the characters of Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, yet they’re four Indigenous teens who fight crime and also commit it. The show (which has some Atlanta vibes) was shot in and near Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Apple TV+

Come From Away — (Apple TV+ film) — The smash Broadway show production filmed a live version of these true stories about the thousands of airline passengers who found themselves stranded outside of the United States, on and around 9/11. The action includes accounts from a group stuck in a small Canadian town, who were stuck beyond their control, as the world watched aghast as the horrific events of that day (and beyond) unfolded. 9/11 survivors and first responders were present at this particular performance, which promises even more emotional resonance.

See: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — Apple TV+’s See helped launch the tech giant’s streaming service less than two years ago, and the show was so wild and wooly that it worked. Jason Momoa’s back in fur coats and in warrior mode as Baba Voss. This season, he’s antagonized by Dave Bautista, which should add enough drama to keep the (somewhat silly) story alive, in a world where no one can see, but everyone is beautiful to look at from an audience standpoint. One of those sighted miracle-twins needs rescuing, so that propels much of the action early this season, but mostly, it’s all about clashing egos and warring beards.

Ted Lasso: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — First thing’s first: Everyone who’s caught a glimpse of this Bill Lawrence co-created and developed series loves it. That’s a notable feat, considering that star Jason Sudeikis first portrayed the title character way back in 2013 for NBC Sports’ promos for Premier League coverage. Fast forward to the fresh hell that was 2020, and the show surfaced as one of the year’s lone bright spots. Ted Lasso is somehow both relentlessly and charmingly cheery, although there’s always the spectre of Led Tasso to consider.

Peacock

Frogger: Season 1 (Peacock series) — The classic, squish-filled arcade game gets the adaptation treatment from Holey Moley producers Eureka Productions. Damon Wayans Jr. hosts as contestants attempt to conquer a series of lily pads while attempting to win the cash prizes that are, surely, more valuable to them than the moving vehicles or flooded streets that they attempt to conquer. Obstacles will include Frogs in Space and Frog Skull Island, so you

Christopher Nolan’s next movie will apparently be a very specific kind of war film. Following the very confusing and off-delayed rollout of Tenet, Nolan’s apparently in the market for a new studio to partner with and has a project in mind.

A Deadline report surfaced on Thursday that indicated the Dunkirk director’s next film is another World War II project currently being shopped around Hollywood. And while it’s unclear who will help him make the picture a reality, the subject of the project is clear: Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb.

Christopher Nolan is readying his next film, and Deadline hears that like Dunkirk it will focus on a seminal moment in World War II. This one is J. Robert Oppenheimer’s role in the development of the atom bomb during WWII. Here is a bombshell development: While none of Nolan’s recent movies had gone outside Warner Bros, I’m hearing that several of the major studios across town are reading the screenplay and speaking with Nolan and his reps.

Nolan looking outside of Warner Bros. for this project is certainly the news for industry folks, but an A-bomb movie from Nolan is certainly an intriguing concept. According to the report, there’s talk that “Cillian Murphy might be involved.” Murphy was in two Dark Knight films as well as Dunkirk and Inception, so he’s a Nolan alum. But as the report made clear, a movie about the Manhattan Project would have plenty of room for some major star power to shine.

[via Deadline]

Survivor‘s next season will look a bit different than fans have grown used to over the years. A bit of a format shuffle is coming for Season 41, though unlike other long-running shows it doesn’t have a hosting crisis. In fact, longtime Survivor host Jeff Probst is actually the mastermind behind these big changes.

We won’t know exactly how all that plays out until the show premieres on September 22, but Probst revealed during an interview for the new season that he also included another showrunner in the revision process. In fact, he apparently got some very good feedback from The White Lotus creator Mike White.

Survivor superfans would perhaps recognize White not as Ned Schneebly from School of Rock or the guy explaining The White Lotus in HBO after the episode highlights, but as a contestant on the “David vs. Goliath” season of Survivor. White nearly won, and as Entertainment Weekly detailed this week that expertise was called upon by Probst while he was mulling over changes for the next season.

“I was in my garage with several white boards, working on creative for Survivor 41,” says the host. “I called Mike for his insight into a story-related element. He listened politely as I laid out the idea. It was an elaborate and very complicated Survivor capitalist society that would be driven by players earning money (Fire Tokens) and spending them on shelter, rewards, and advantages. When I finished the pitch, I asked him what he thought. He paused for a moment and said, ‘Well… it sounds… in-ter-est-ing. But is it fun?’”

According to Probst, that prompt “changed everything” and helped result in another round of drafts that eventually reached the current format the show will debut later this year.

“I couldn’t erase the white boards fast enough,” he says. “I had spent well over a year working on this idea, and yet it still felt so good to throw it out because it was so clear that it sucked! I called [executive producer] Matt Van Wagenen and said, ‘Forget everything we’ve been working on! Throw it out! From now on, fun is the only thing that matters!’”

Hopefully those notes helped make for a more fun show, though if you’ve seen White’s latest show it’s very funny to imagine him creating any fun at all in a tropical location.

[via EW]

It’s been about a year since Troye Sivan dropped his last project, In A Dream, to the world. After a bit of a wait, the singer is back in action with a brand new release for his fans. Sivan returned with “Angel Baby” as a treat to his supporters.

The track arrives as quite an intimate effort, one filled with yearning and romance as the singer searches for the ideal companion. “‘Angel Baby’ is my crack at an adoring, doting, love struck, mega pop, gay, power ballad,” Sivan said about the new song in a press release, adding, “I thought we needed a few more of those.”

Prior to “Angel Baby,” Sivan teamed up with Tate McRae and Regard for “You,” a record about being fixated on a special someone in their lives that they’ve yet to move on from. “When I try to fall back, I fall back to you / When I talk to my friends,” Sivan and McRae sing together on the track. “I talk about you / When the Hennessy’s strong, all I see is you.”

Sivan’s additional releases that arrived after his In A Dream also include a remix of “Easy” with Kacey Musgraves and a video for his slow-burning track, “Rager Teenager.”

You can listen to the new track in the video above.

The Office still has a strong fanbase eager for basically anything related to the now-finished NBC comedy. And while Thursday didn’t bring news of a spinoff or reunion, there’s officially a bit more Office content coming very soon.

East Side Games announced on Thursday that it’s bringing a mobile game based on The Office to market later in the year. The games maker shared the news on Twitter, complete with a digital version of the cast that will appear on phones by the end of 2021. The Office: Somehow We Manage will be a free-to-play game that features some very close character models to the real-life actors.

As The Hollywood Reporter detailed, the company has a string of TV show-based free-to-play games to its name like Trailer Park Boys, which makes sense because Leaf is a Canadian game company. But this one will feature a number of Office favorites in digital form.

The free-to-play title, which will launch later this year, lets fans play through iconic moments in the show as they record profits at Dunder Mifflin and earn in-game rewards to try to keep the branch afloat. Among the familiar characters will be Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Pem Beesly and Dwight Schrute.

Players can build desks for their favorite characters and participate in in-game events to introduce new versions of characters and memorable events.

The difficulty with IP tie-in games, especially mobile games, is that oftentimes the gimmick is mostly skin and very little gameplay involved. Or at least not very unique gameplay. So we’ll have to wait and see just how much game will be available for fans once it’s live. But based on the image they shared online on Thursday, it won’t fall in the unfortunate uncanny valley that some of these games tend to reach. So that’s a good start, at least.

On Thursday, ESPN announced that, beginning on Sept. 14, Max Kellerman will host a live, one-hour show called This Just In on the network each afternoon. This news comes only weeks after word broke that Kellerman would be leaving First Take amid rumors that Stephen A. Smith, arguably the most influential on-air talent employed by the network, pushed for a split of the long-time partnership. On the same day that Kellerman’s new gig became official, Smith publicly acknowledged that he did want Kellerman to leave First Take, and he was matter-of-fact in his statements.

“The rumors are accurate in terms of me wanting him off the show,” Smith said. “Let’s get that out of the way. Yes, I did. We don’t have a bad relationship. I think he’s a real good guy. I appreciate what he did for the show. We were No. 1 for five years. We stayed No. 1, and I appreciate that.”

Over the course of his two-plus minute response, Smith revealed that he believes he has delivered “33,000 takes” over the course of his nine years on ESPN’s daytime debate program. That exposure has undoubtedly been good for Smith and, as he acknowledges, the tandem with Kellerman was successful in the ratings. However, he went on to say that the duo’s chemistry isn’t what it once was, at least in his view, and Smith notes that he was confident Kellerman had “landing spots” elsewhere at ESPN while he pushed for the shakeup.

“It’s a chemistry you have and sometimes it just stalls,” said Smith. “And the audience lets you know that it is what it is, and you feel the need for something fresh, you feel the need to retool…. It’s not like I wanted the guy to be fired or anything like that. I knew that there were landing spots for him available at this network that would generate just as much, if not more, revenue for him and all of that other stuff. It wasn’t really about asking him to be off the show. It was about the fact that we, together, as far as I was concerned, was not a great partnership anymore, and that was something that needed to change.”

Given the lofty profile of both Kellerman and especially Smith, the palace intrigue aspect of this change certainly rose to the forefront and the rumor mill was churning. To his credit, Smith owns the fact that he was at least part of the impetus toward the change, and he also used the word “flabbergasted” when discussing the manner in which the entire change was covered and discussed. Regardless, Kellerman will be firing his takes on platforms that do not directly involve Smith, and we now know for sure that Smith was part of the reason for the on-air divorce.

A fairly large group of sports fans all over the world are rejoicing as the NFL made its official return on Thursday night. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the league’s reigning Super Bowl champions, welcomed the Dallas Cowboys to their home stadium to officially start the new season. Prior to kickoff, however, fans at home and outside of Tampa Bay’s Raymond James Stadium were greeted by a performance from Ed Sheeran. The singer took the stage to perform his latest single, “Shivers” for fans that gathered at the venue.

The performance came hours after Sheeran released the track to his supporters. “Shivers” stands as the third single from his upcoming album, joining “Visiting Hours” and “Bad Habits” as records that gave fans a taste of what’s to come with the new album. After announcing “=” last month, Sheeran spoke about the album and what it means to him.

“= (Equals) is a really personal record and one that means a lot to me,” he said. “My life changed greatly over the past few years — I got married, became a father, experienced loss, and I reflect on these topics over the course of the album. I see it as my coming-of-age record, and I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.”

You can watch Sheeran perform “Shivers” in the video above.

= is out 10/29 via Asylum/Atlantic. Pre-order it here.

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