A few hours after Johns Hopkins University recorded the 100,000th death from the COVID-19 pandemic, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden released a solemn speech.
“My fellow Americans, there are moments in our history so grim, so heart-rending, that they are forever fixed in each of our hearts as shared grief. Today is one of those moments,” said Biden, speaking directly to the camera from his office.
“One-hundred thousand lives have been lost to this virus here in the United States alone. Each one leaving behind a family that will never again be whole,” the former vice president said.
“It’s made all the worse by knowing that this is a fateful milestone we should have never reached — that could have been avoided,” he continued.
He then cited a study that showed if the Trump Administration would have acted one week earlier, over 36,000 American lives could have been saved.
Biden concluded his message sharing some wisdom he’s learned after overcoming with the traumatizing loss of two children and a spouse.
“I know there’s nothing I, or anyone else, can say or do to dull the sharpness of the pain you feel right now, but I can promise you from experience,” Biden said, “the day will come when the memory of your loved one will being a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eyes.”
Joe Biden reacts as US coronavirus death toll passes 100,000
Soon after bowing last November, Disney+ ran into complaints from one vocal group: Simpsons fans. They were (righteously!) angry that the first 20 or so seasons were not available in its original aspect ratio. The new streamer then promised they’d fix that…eventually. Cut to over half a year later, and there’s finally an option to watch them as they were originally intended. It just takes a little tutorial on how to do it.
1. Open Disney+, on whatever device you’re watching it, and go to the Simpsons page.
2. Choose the details tab.
3. There’s a toggle switch for “Remastered Aspect Ratio.” It’s switched to “on,” meaning you’re getting the one that re-frames every image. Click on it to “off,” and voilá! You can watch classic Simpsons episodes in the original box shape in which they were created.
Complaints over the incorrect aspect ratio weren’t just an issue of purity, although it’s that, too. The “remastered aspect ratio,” first done by FXX and which streamed on the old, pre-Disney Simpsons site (with an option to watch the original version as well), often ruin or even eliminate visual gags. Watch the version censored to fit your modern widescreen TV and you’re missing jokes! But now that you know how to stop that, you will finally see the “Old Men Yells at Cloud” newspaper headline as God intended.
Both AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT had a bad week in the ratings last week, with the TNT show drawing its smallest live audience ever, though still more viewers that the concurrent episode of NXT. However, that dip didn’t turn into a downward spiral: both shows saw significant increases in viewership on May 27.
This week’s episode of NXT, which featured the Kurt Angle-officiated Cage Fight between Timothy Thatcher and Matt Riddle, had, according to Showbuzz Daily, an audience of 731,000. That’s a big jump from last week’s 604,000, and the show’s biggest audience since February 19.
NXT also experienced a ratings increase. After not making the top fifty last week, the May 27 ranked twenty-fourth out of all Wednesday night cable shows. NXT scored an 0.19 with viewers 18-49 years old and was most watched by viewers over the age of 50, with whom it scored an 0.36.
Meanwhile, AEW experienced even more viewership growth in the wake of Double or Nothing. After last week’s record-low overnight audience of 654,000, the May 27 episode of Dynamite had 827,000 live cable viewers. That’s the show’s biggest audience since March 18, the first Dynamite without fans.
AEW also improved in the ratings. It was ranked third out of Wednesday night cable shows, scoring a 0.32 with viewers 18-49 – that’s up from fifteenth and 0.23 last week. The show was most popular with men in that age ground, with whom it scored an 0.40.
Earlier in the year, Quentin Tarantino shook up cinephiles by declaring Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk to be the “second” best film of the 2010s. Now he’s back to finally name his pick for the best movie of the past decade, and it’s definitely a choice.
While talking to Premiere (via IndieWire), Tarantino didn’t even hesitate when it came time to reveal David Fincher’s The Social Network as his number one movie of 2010, and it’s all because of Aaron Sorkin‘s writing. After referring to Sorkin as “the greatest active dialogist,” Tarantino set aside his normal penchant for lengthy rantings for a blunt declarative statement. “It is number one because it’s the best, that’s all!” the Pulp Fiction director said. “It crushes all the competition.”
Tarantino’s choice couldn’t have come at a more contentious time, though. Facebook is currently making headlines due to Donald Trump’s recent executive order that targets social media platforms for allegedly hampering free speech after the president was fact-checked by Twitter. While filming The Social Network, no one could’ve possibly guessed at the time that Facebook would evolve into massive platform with the power to influence elections, but here we are. And it’s exactly that sort of sociopolitical ramification that has Sorkin constantly toying with the idea for a sequel:
“I know a lot more about Facebook in 2005 than I do in 2018, but I know enough to know that there should be a sequel,” Sorkin told AP Entertainment. “A lot of very interesting, dramatic stuff has happened since the movie ends with settling the lawsuit from the Winklevoss Twins and Eduardo Saverin. … I’ve gotten more than one email from [producer Scott Rudin] with an article attached saying, ‘Isn’t it time for a sequel?’”
If Sorkin ever does get around to writing a sequel, clearly Tarantino will be in line to see it, or at the very least, give it a “Like.”
Being the parent of a toddler is a unique joy that only lasts for a fleeting season, which is why you have to take full advantage of it while you can. And one dad is clearly doing just that.
Christopher Kyle is father to adorable, 18-month-old Ava, who treated her dad to a meal at her sit-down restaurant. Only according to Kyle, the service left much to be desired.
In a post on Instagram, Kyle shared a photo of Ava in her play kitchen while he sat waiting for his food in a tiny chair at a tiny table. He wrote:
“So I tried to support another Black Owned Business for lunch today. It’s called Ava’s Kitchen, just opened end of April. It’s a very clean establishment, but whewww let me tell you about this owner.
First off, I asked why there are balloons on my chair, and it’s not my birthday? She talm’bout, mind yah business; those are Mommy’s.
I been waiting on my order to get done for 45 minutes, and I’m the only customer here. She was making good progress at first, then she stopped for 20 minutes to go watch Paw Patrol.
Overall the customer service could be better, but the cook is a cutie; so I’ll give her another chance. Let’s not give up on Black businesses so fast after one mistake. 💕”
People absolutely loved this dad’s humor and clearly stellar parenting skills. Anyone who has sat through a tea party—or any activity with the wee ones—knows that for all of its cuteness, toddler play is an exercise in patience and endurance.
Upworthy shared Kyle’s story well on on our Instagram page and our readers did not disappoint.
Some played right along with the game:
“Starting a restaurant is tough.. give her a chance ❤️❤️”
“I mean, she started a restaurant during a global pandemic, give her a break 😂”
“Is she taking reservations?”
Fans of Paw Patrol had some words:
“Paw Patrol is a must watch so 🤷🏾♀️😂“
“I died at Paw Patrol 🤣🤣🤣 that’s my show though. I don’t have kids I just watch it just because lmao.”
“Paw Patrol break is mandatory. Too cute! ♥️”
Others just gushed over the entire scene:
“Love EVERYTHING about this!! The adorable owner, the custumer’s humor and the incredible love”
“That’s the cutest restaurant owner I’ve ever seen. The dad’s face is priceless! 😂👍❤️”
“LoL the story is funny & beautiful!!! This warms my heart!! This babygirl will grow up to have such a healthy look at men (in any capacity) as long as she & her Daddy keep such a beautiful bond!! Happy Father’s Day (early) Keep encouraging her to do her thing and her confidence will continue to soar!! I just love this!! 😍😍😍”
Well done, dad. And well done, Ava. Can’t wait to see you open your own real business someday, baby girl.
Christopher Nolan has never been shy about his deep love for the James Bond films and how much they’ve influenced his work. But recently, the iconic director revealed that, for the first time, he made the conscious decision to set aside the Bond movies and not partake in a long-standing tradition before filming his upcoming blockbuster Tenet.
In an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), Nolan opened up about forgoing his tried-and-true practice of screening specific Bond films before filming. Normally, the director would show his cast the direct inspiration for certain scenes, but for Tenet, he chose to take a different approach despite the movie trafficking in the same sort of globe-trotting espionage that would make 007 feel right at home. Instead, Nolan wanted to reference the spy genre through “a memory and a feeling” instead of the “specifics”:
“It’s totally in my bones. I don’t need to reference the movies and look at them again. It’s about trying to re-engage with your childhood connection with those movies, with the feeling of what it’s like to go someplace new, someplace fresh. It actually has to take them somewhere they haven’t been before, and that’s why no one’s ever been able, really, to do their own version of James Bond or something. It doesn’t work. And that’s not at all what this is. This is much more my attempt to create the sort of excitement in grand-scale entertainment I felt from those movies as a kid, in my own way.”
Again, Nolan’s well-known love for the Bond films is the reason he’s on the short list every time the franchise is in need of a new director. He’s been sprinkling in Bond homages going all the way back to 2005’s Batman Begins, and in a 2018 interview with Variety, Nolan didn’t even try to hide that Inception was an attempt at making his own version of Bond.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 10:00 p.m.) — The seventh and final season arrives with Agent Coulson somehow in tow after dying yet again in Season 5. This time, though, he’s going on a time-hopping adventure back to 1930s New York City. Fun!
Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix documentary series) — Prior to his 2019 arrest and death behind bars, tycoon Jeffrey Epstein stood accused of a decades-long pattern of abusing women and teenage girls. This documentary digs into his trip to the financial world’s apex and, of course, the international sex trafficking ring that led to his bust. Over the course of four parts, director Lisa Bryant reveals the voices of the sisterhood of survivors in their goal to halt predators forever.
Blindspot (NBC, 9:00 p.m.) — The ongoing tattoo saga deals with a monster in the team’s midst while Madeline Burke questions Director Weitz’s loyalty.
Burden Of Truth (CW, 8:00 p.m.) — Joanna’s absorbing apprehension all over the place while she tries to win back custody of Kodie’s children, and the court digs into her friend’s past life.
In The Dark (CW, 9:00 p.m.) — Murphy’s still preoccupied with aiding Max, and extreme risks are undertaken in the process of this goal. Jess’ relationships continue to be tested, and Chloe meets someone new.
Siren (Freeform, 10:00 p.m.) — Warring mermaid tribes go to battle undersea, and a potential cure for Xander leads to Helen hoping to help restore some order with the hybrids.
The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon: Bruce Springstein, Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell
Previously on the Best and Worst of NXT: Shotzi Blackheart asserted that she’s like a tank, because tanks don’t give a shit! Plus, Drake Maverick managed to pin KUSHIDA, and Velveteen Dream dropped a badly edited elbow on Adam Cole.
And now, the Best and Worst of WWE NXT for May 27, 2020.
Worst: Shotzi Blackheart Coffin Drops Herself Into An Actual Coffin
More important things happened this week, but I can’t stop thinking about Shotzi Blackheart turning Darby Allin into Darby All Out and almost killing herself on live television with a Coffin Drop to the floor. In case you missed it, uh …
WWE
Here’s the landing in slow motion. Kota Ibushi watched that and was like, “damn, girl, be careful.” It’s the equivalent of, I don’t know, an avalanche Awesome Bomb to the floor. Seriously, look at how she landed. Even on YouTube you can feel the immediate panic in everyone involved the second she hits the ground. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a referee move so fast. And yet, she appeared to be totally fine. She finished the match, even, with Raquel being pretty damn careful on the final slam. I’m glad miracles exist, I guess. Please don’t do any more Coffin Drops, Shotzi, Darby has been skateboarding his entire life and has hella depth perception and also half a death wish.
It’s a shame that’s what the match will be remembered for, too, as it should be remembered for precious treasure Dakota Kai commandeering Shotzi’s Power Wheels, driving it around on the floor, and then attempting to dismantle it.
WWE
Shotzi is upset, but she shouldn’t be. The tank doesn’t care that it’s being misused and abused. Tanks don’t give a shit!
Best: Magical Occult Flashlights
That match also featured some light involvement from Tegan Nox (who just won’t leave Dakota Kai alone) and Candice LeRae, who are passive-aggressively feuding as the B-story of LeRae’s OTHER passive-aggressive feud with Mia Yim.
After Gargano introduces the “Johnny Gargano Invitational” — think of it like the John Cena U.S. Open Challenge without a title on the line and no intention to have competitive matches — and takes down Adrian Alanis (who looks like Leakee had a baby with Tyler Black), Yim and Keith Lee bring it via satellite from presumably a few blocks away to mock those weird Gargano Dinner segments. To do so, they utilize a flashlight that when you hold it under your chin and turn away and talk, it turns your world black and white and makes you really mean. It’s pretty funny, not gonna lie, and I want the Evil Monochrome Flashlight to become as much a part of NXT lore as the backstage mirror that turns you heel when you look into it.
Nox appears in the video as well, bringing them a pizza from Gargano’s Pizza that she’s already eaten most of. Shout-out to them managing to put over Gargano’s Pizza while insulting Gargano’s Pizza! It’s like a 1985 Ric Flair promo, if he wrestled in hastily constructed Orlando area apartments and feuded with takeout food from a thousand miles away.
A Quick Aside About The “NXT Universe”
WWE
This week’s show’s technically being performed in front of a crowd, like Raw was, and while there are still issues — that hockey glass is a real bummer, and why can they still not have chairs? — but there are improvements. At least on NXT they filmed them with a crane, instead of bragging about how socially distanced they all were while having a camera man weave between them.
If I was one of these people in the NXT crowd, though, I’d be pissed. NXT’s supposed to be the “third brand” that’s equal to Raw and Smackdown and not developmental, but when Raw needs a crowd you stock it with NXT folks, and when NXT needs a crowd you stock it with NXT folks? I bet Smackdown’s getting NXT people, too. I see you out there clapping, Kacy Catanzaro. Raw really should’ve paid back the favor. I want to see Gargano in there crunching jobbers while like, Jinder Mahal and Liv Morgan stand out there clapping for them. YOU GUYS WERE HERE ONCE TOO.
Best, Then Worst: This Week In The Largely Unnecessary Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament
We’re really dragging out this tournament as much as possible, huh?
In case you missed it, Drake Maverick, Jake Atlas, and KUSHIDA have a triple threat match to determine the winner of A Block, because they all finished with the same record. Tony Nese was literally the only person in the block to not make the playoffs, because he’s Tony Nese. The match they have is pretty good, too, because of course it is, but the finish really bugged me.
One finish WWE really loves to do over the past several years is doing triple threats or fatal four-ways where someone’s about to win with a submission, but one of the other wrestlers sneaks in, covers one of them, and wins by pinfall. It usually involves Charlotte Flair, and Charlotte was in attendance last night, so maybe it was her idea again? Charlotte had Bayley in the Figure-Eight during a number one contender match back in 2015 only for Becky Lynch to sneak in and pin Bayley, and later got pinned herself in the same set-up on Raw by Rhea Ripley. Those finishes worked, but this one bothered me because … well, look at it:
WWE
That’s Drake Maverick pinning Jake Atlas by draping an arm over him, but how is Drake’s one arm more of a pinfall than KUSHIDA’s two legs? There’s one on Atlas’ face and another on his chest. Referees are supposed to count pinfalls when your shoulders are down in submissions — see any lengthy figure-four ever, or most armbars that get countered with a lift — so you can’t even argue that the submission overruled the leg placement, or whatever. They just did the thing they wanted to do because apparently nobody in the world but me is going to notice or care. I feel like the fucking Lorax in these columns sometimes.
It’s also weird that they followed it up by saying the finish was contested because Atlas was tapping to KUSHIDA off-screen while being pinned. THAT is what you got out of that? At least they had KUSHIDA wander up and be like, “nah man, it’s fine, go keep your job,” because he’s a good dude. I’m still not sure if Drake never got released and this was all a story from the beginning (which insults all the people who actually lost their jobs) or if they’re turning it into a story now and are milking it until he ultimately loses and leaves anyway, but the confused silver lining is that Drake Maverick’s the best, and I want to see him do well and have things.
Worst: The WWE Brands Super Show Starring Charlotte Flair
Speaking of Charlotte Flair, she makes a rare television appearance to pin Io Shirai with her feet up on the ropes, Dirtiest Player In The Game-style. I like Charlotte evoking her dad’s worst professional tendencies and I even like Charlotte a lot, moonsaults aside, but I don’t need to see any character be a focal point of three prime-time television shows a week, every week, especially for a universe of shows where there are never re-runs. I love Captain Holt on Brooklyn 99, but if I had to watch him dominate the conversation three times a week as part of seven weekly hours of content for 52 straight weeks I’m guessing I’d want to start watching something else.
Some Of The Week’s Best Content Didn’t Even Make The Show
Flair’s partner in the match was Chelsea Green, and while she wasn’t involved on either side of the finish, it was her first notable win in NXT. To celebrate this, she fires Robert Stone (Brand). Unfortunately this segment was a WWE.com Exclusive, which you can watch on YouTube, which is not WWE.com.
Similarly, put-upon quarantine jobber Leon Ruff flails around like an inflatable tube man trying to avoid Tommaso Ciampa’s offense, but gets kneed in the face and dropped on his head and pinned. This serves as the background for a Ciampa and Scarlett née Bordeaux staredown, and a post-match promo in EXTREME CLOSE-UP for Karrion Kross. But the best part is actually this backstage interview with Ruff, where he shows some personality and compares how badly Ciampa and Kross beat him, and which one was worse. I LOVE a jobber interview. That beautiful period where every Ryback jobber was getting pre-match promo time was so much fun. Fewer dramatic video packages, more character development, please and thank you! You used to be so good at it, NXT!
Also On This Episode
Speaking of sudden character development, Oney “Oney” Lorcan and Danny “Twoey” Burch throw ’em up at a local restaurant that’s I guess just reopened and talk about how they want to take down Imperium and win the Tag Team Championship. It’s the first time we’ve really gotten to know anything about either guy for what, three years? And Oney and Twoey fucking RULE, so I’m into it. More Lorcan and Burch is a huge plus, always. Although the Undisputed Era took you guys to school and Imperium beat Undisputed Era in a 4-on-3 handicap match, so who knows what’ll happen?
In other segments that happened that I don’t have a lot to say about, a demon wants to murder a priest and William Regal says he’s going to book a cinematic Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream rematch in, “a location that will shine a spotlight on both of [them].” I hope he books them to fight in the Times Square arena from Smackdown: Here Comes The Pain. Give me an elbow drop from a helicopter, you cowards.
Side note: I deeply identify with Adam Cole having a Zoom call with his boss while sitting in a gaming chair.
Best: Matt Riddle And Timothy Thatcher Walk For Miles Inside This Pit Of Danger
Finally we have the FIGHT PIT, a re-imagining of both the standard WWE cage match and I guess the Lion’s Den match where there are no ropes, the ring’s surrounded by a cage, and there’s a scaffolding platform up top where you can safely fight and do moves. If WWE ever wanted to get rid of the ring ropes for some reason, this would be a good option, as it maintains everything you need in a wrestling match except maybe illogical bouncing without just like, having wrestlers wandering around doing skits and punching each other in an office building, or whatever.
Here’s our own Scott Heisel explaining why this was his favorite NXT match in months:
Three words: It felt real. It’s the first time since Lesnar/Cena at Extreme Rules where I felt like MMA was mixing with WWE style successfully, to the point where I totally bought in to the violence and blood. I knew very little about Timothy Thatcher going into this match, and I felt like this blow-off was unearned, but coming out of it, I think he is a certified badass who feels like a modern day Dean Malenko. Maybe he can ask Adam Cole if he knows any good dentists…
It was good. It really was. Kurt Angle didn’t add a lot, really — you couldn’t have gotten Steve Blackman in for this? Come on — but the fighting was intense, the wrestling was great, the set-up was unique, the bloody toothless interlude was attention-grabbing, and the finish was violent, realistic, and clean. Thatcher looks like TIMOTHY GODDAMN THATCHER for the first time in his WWE run, Matt Riddle can be off to the main roster to miss Stallion Pete and retire both Goldberg and Brock Lesnar simultaneously at next year’s WrestleMania (you cowards), and Angle can smile vacantly off into the distance knowing he did a perfectly good job refereeing a macho death fight. Great work here.
Best: Top 10 Comments Of The Week
Harry Longabaugh
Did Tegan ring the doorbell? Wouldn’t she be the one who Nox?
PTI_IMTOMMY
Did Kurt Angle get fired and then IMMEDIATELY buy a house next to the performance center, jumping on a trampoline raising tiny weights in the backyard?
”do you want to ref me and Tim tonight?”
FeltLuke
Learning Scarlett is a music theater major answered so many questions for me.
troi
Come on Keith, who wouldn’t give Tegan a key to their apartment?
Birdman
Congrats on your upcoming demotion, Riddle
At this rate, I’m assuming Charlotte’s mystery partner is another Charlotte
notJames
Bobby Fish: “That’s why God made mouthguards.”
Shayna Baszler: “Right?”
Endy_Mion
Despite all his rage, he is still just a Matt in a cage
BVR
Drake: Hey, Kurt.
Kurt: Hey, Drake.
Drake: Weren’t you…
Kurt: Let go? Yeah…Weren’t you….
Drake: Let go? Yeah….
Kurt: Do you ever get flashbacks to how….
Drake: Dixie ran TNA??
Kurt & Drake: EXACTLY!
Drake: Weird, right?
AddMayne
Dakota is a gamer, so I would expect her to know you never target the Tank first
WWE
Let’s hope that next week she doesn’t start doing suicide dives into the security railings.
That’s it for this week’s Best and Worst of NXT. We’re not sure you ever actually read this part or do what we ask (or if you even scroll down through the top 10 comments of the week), but hey, it would really help us if you commented down below and shared the column if you liked or laughed at anything. The world’s tough, and that makes this kind of thing a lot easier.
Join us here next week for the crowning of Not Jordan Devlin as NXT Cruiserweight Champion (which is still some bullshit), Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim in a match that definitely should end in one hitting the other with a flashlight, and Charlotte Flair wrestling, probably. Maybe twice. See you then!
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
