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Many kids who grew up in the 90’s remember the phenomenon that was the first Pokemon games. The original Red and Blue versions caused an explosion of merchandise, TV shows, trading cards, and of course spin off games. Pokemon was more than just an RPG. It had many other genres of the game attached under its belt, but did you know it had a first-person shooter? Except instead of a gun you used a camera. Of course, that game was arguably the most popular of all the Pokemon spin off games, Pokemon Snap on Nintendo 64.

Pokemon Snap allowed players to ride around realistic 3D environments and simply observe Pokemon interacting in their natural habitat. You could witness Lapras in the ocean, a Charizard burst out of a Volcano, and a spooky Zubat flying around an old cave or mining shaft. It was mind blowing for children at the time and it is still a fan favorite to this day. So much so that fans have spent decades asking for a new one.

Finally, back in June, players were informed that a New Pokemon Snap game was in development for the Nintendo Switch. Of course, fan excitement was immediately met with more questions. When’s the release date? On Wednesday they got their answer.

April 30! Fans only have to wait a few more months to get back to capturing pictures of their favorite Pokemon in the wild, but now there are quite a few hundred more to look at. There’s no way they can stick that many into the game, but it’s going to be really interesting to see which ones do make the cut and what kinds of environments they give us to look around in.

From the trailer, it looks like players will be exploring in a similar fashion as the original. A protected hovercar that leads you down an on rails path. Personally, that’s a little disappointing, because it would have been fun to explore entire areas at your own free will as opposed to the on rails experience, but there’s definitely a sense of nostalgia in seeing that hold hovercar again.

In one sense, it would be perfectly fine if New Pokemon Snap is just a modern version of the original with as few changes as possible. Many fans would be content with just that, but it would also feel like a missed opportunity. The Nintendo 64 version came out over 20 years ago. Time has changed and so has technology. Let’s hope they use this opportunity to live up to the “New” in its name and create something unique.

While many of us know Captain America from the current Marvel Cinematic Universe movies starring Chris Evans, the superhero character has been an iconic comic book character for 79 years.

A superhero with the name “Captain America” who wears a red, white, and blue uniform and fights for freedom naturally invokes a sense of patriotism. However, not everyone who considers themselves a “patriot” can truly claim the title.

The son of one of Captain America’s co-creators has some harsh words for those who have co-opted Captain America symbolism in their support of Donald Trump and the storming of the Capitol by his followers. Neal Kirby, the son of Jack Kirby, who created the character with Joe Simon in 1941, aimed his message directly at the rioters.

In his “Statement to Insurrectionists,” shared on Twitter by Jake Tapper, Kirby wrote:

“My father, Jack Kirby, along with this partner Joe Simon, created Captain America in 1941. Perhaps the most iconic symbol of patriotism since the ‘Spirit of 1776’, Captain America has stood as a symbol and protector of our democracy and the rule of law for the past 79 years. He was created by two Jewish guys from New York who hated Nazis and hated bullies. Captain America stood up for the underdog, and, as the story was written, even before he gained his strength and prowess from Army scientists, always stood for what was righteous, and never backed down.

At 72, I have a fairly vivid personal memory of every political and cultural upheaval since Castro’s revolution in the mid-1950s. Add to that my father’s stories, and I could probably paint a picture of the battlefields of northern France surrounding the city of Metz in WWII as well. However, the events that transpired at our nation’s Capitol on Jan. 6, an insurrection inspired and fomented by our own president, will be the event that haunts me forever.

While watching one of the horrific videos of the storming of the Capitol, I thought I noticed someone in a Trump/Capt. America t-shirt! I was appalled and mortified. I believe I even caught a quick glance of someone with a Captain America shield. A quick Google search turned up Trump as Captain America on T-shirts, posters, even a flag! These images are disgusting and disgraceful. Captain America is the absolute antithesis of Donald Trump. Where Captain America is selfless, Trump is self-serving. Where Captain America fights for our country and democracy, Trump fights for personal power and autocracy. Where Captain America stands with the common man, Trump stands with the powerful and privileged. Where Captain America is courageous, Trump is a coward. Captain America and Trump couldn’t be more different.

My father, Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon, the creators of Captain America and WWII veterans, would be absolutely sickened by these images. These images are an insult to both their memories.

If Donald Trump had the qualities and character of Captain America, the White House would be a shining symbol of truth and integrity, not a festering cesspool of lies and hypocrisy.

Several of our presidents held the same values as Captain America. Donald Trump is not one of them.”

There you have it. It should be pretty obvious that if you’re marching alongside actual Nazis you don’t get to use Captain America as a symbol for your movement, but it’s helpful to hear it straight from the source anyway.

Following a Deadline report that he’s in negotiations to return as Captain America, Chris Evans quickly became a trending topic on Thursday as fans started wildly speculating about what the actors’ return could mean for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, later that afternoon, Evans responded to the rumor with an odd tweet that appears to be a denial. According to the actor, his return as Cap is “news to me.”

Clearly, this wasn’t the reaction that Marvel fans were looking for, and they took to the replies to voice their frustrations and plead for Evans to reprise his role as Cap:

However, shortly after issuing his “denial,” Evans tipped his hat that he’s been soaking in the fan reactions and gave everyone a shout-out for bring their A-game. “Some of the gif responses are priceless,” Evans tweeted. “Good work, everyone.”

As for how to read Evans’ denial, it’s hard to take it entirely seriously, considering Marvel’s history of keeping actors on a very tight leash when it comes to casting news. Fans recently saw a similar situation play out when Tatiana Maslany flat-out denied being cast as She-Hulk, only to have her role confirmed a few weeks later during Disney’s Investors Day. Marvel actors also know not to comment publicly until a deal is officially signed, which Deadline reports is not the case with Evans yet. The actor had previously stated that he’s done with Marvel, but according to sources, he became more open to the idea of returning in December when talks began.

(Via Chris Evans on Twitter)

James Harden is headed to the Brooklyn Nets following a gigantic, four-team deal involving the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Indiana Pacers. In terms of both the number of picks/players in the move and the centerpiece of the whole thing, this was one of the biggest trades in recent NBA history, with Brooklyn acquiring an MVP candidate to put alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

One major question that popped up in all of this is why the Nets deal won out over the deal from the Philadelphia 76ers, which apparently put forth a deal centered around Ben Simmons. According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports on the Posted Up podcast, it was easy: pettiness won out.

“I was told that Tilman Fertitta, the Houston Rockets owner, he was just adamant that they not make a deal with Philly, obviously with Daryl Morey being the GM over there now,” Haynes said around the 6:45 mark of the podcast.

Morey, of course, was the wildly successful executive in Houston for years who left the organization after last season and cited a desire to be away from basketball for some time. However, shortly after that happened, he took a job leading the front office in Philadelphia, and while a Harden-for-Simmons swap would have been interesting no matter who was negotiating it, things got taken to another level, apparently, with who was at the helm of negotiations.

Jaren Jackson Jr., when he’s been on the court, has been one of the league’s most exciting young players, as he was a key cog in Memphis’ tremendous 2019-20 campaign, partnering with Ja Morant to form quite the dynamic duo.

However, the big man has battled various injuries since entering the league, currently working his way back from a torn meniscus suffered last year. Jackson Jr. hopes to be back on the court soon, but his latest rehab from injury has not dampened his tremendous sense of humor. The 21-year-old has recently had a bit of a growth spurt that has taken him across the 7-foot threshold. When asked about it in a recent interview with Marc Spears of The Undefeated, Jackson confirmed his spurt and when Spears followed up with how that can effect his game, Jackson chose to focus on the excitement he has for doing “7-foot stuff” off the court.

How tall are you now?

Seven feet.

Is that going to affect your game in any way?

I just got to be a 7-footer now, man, do 7-foot stuff, duck under doors and try to touch the rim without jumping. There’s a bunch of 7-foot bucket list of things I got to check off, like being in Walmart and getting paper towels for ladies.

I really enjoy the idea of Jackson wandering the local supermarkets of Memphis offering his assistance to little old ladies to grab things off the top shelf, but also find it very funny that this is somehow reserved only for true 7-footers, and that his 6’10/6’11 former self was unqualified for such activities.

The bigger news from the interview is Jackson saying he thinks he’ll be back on the court this season and, while not by MLK Day, he says it won’t be “too long.” Still, it’s good to know that he’s enjoying his new status in the 7-foot club and is embracing all of the responsibilities that come with it off the court, and once he gets back on it he can really start exploring the space.

After the huge successes of Travis Scott’s collaboration with McDonald’s, future co-branding opportunities seemed like a no-brainer. As reported by Business Insider, though, just because something is simple doesn’t make it easy. While every piece of Travis Scott merchandise sold out, no matter how bizarre, the corresponding line of products from the Golden Arches’ partnership with reggaeton star J Balvin has been canceled due to what a spokesperson called “production challenges.”

The line included such fun, cheeky products as a pair of Big Mac slippers, a pair of Golden Arches glasses, a McFlurry bucket hat, a smiley-faced logo watch, and even a temporary tattoo of a receipt for a J Balvin meal (a Big Mac, fries with ketchup, and an Oreo McFlurry). However, an email was sent to customers by the merch producers Vibras Lab told them they’d be receiving a refund instead of the expected merch, citing an “issue with our supplies” that “did not meet our expectations with the products.”

Meanwhile, a rep for J Balvin told BI that “production challenges” were responsible for the cancelation, although fans won’t walk away completely empty-handed. The refund will come with a note from J Balvin as well as a co-branded beanie.

On the bright side for the reggaeton superstar, his co-branded Jordan 1 shoe with Nike was a smashing success.

Jay and Mark Duplass have brought a number of docuseries to streaming services in recent years, but Sasquatch certainly seems poised to be the weirdest one yet. Hulu announced on Thursday it’s picked up a three-part documentary series about the mysterious cryptid and an investigation into a triple homicide that some feel Bigfoot committed.

The latest Duplass Bros true crime series follows a familiar pattern with those they’ve produced in the past. Docuseries like Wild Wild Country and Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist are streaming on Netflix, but it’s now Hulu that will get an extended look at an investigative journalist’s research into Bigfoot, and whether the mythical creature is a brutal murderer. Of humans.

Here’s the synopsis that Hulu shared on Thursday:

While visiting a pot farm in Northern California in 1993, investigative journalist David Holthouse heard a story that still haunts him: On a nearby farm three men were torn limb from limb in a savage Bigfoot attack. Sasquatch follows David as he revisits the Redwoods twenty-five years later, in search of any evidence that might lead to the truth of what happened that night. As he pulls at the threads of this story, he’ll be taken down a path that’s far more terrifying than anyone would have imagined.

It certainly sounds wild, and that’s what we’ve come to expect from Duplass Brothers documentaries. Hulu announced Thursday that Joshua Rofé will direct the project, which will premiere later this spring. Meanwhile, their next project will hit HBO at the end of January, Lady and the Dale, a four-part series about Elizabeth Carmichael and Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation.

Despite having a pivotal role at the Distinguished Competition (that’s nerd talk for DC Comics), Ben Affleck has nothing but praise for Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige. While sitting down for an hour long episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Affleck walked host Scott Feinberg through his Hollywood career starting with his bit roles in the ’90s and going all the way up to his “comeback” role in 2020’s The Way Back. When Affleck’s role in Daredevil came up, the actor had lauded Feige who worked on the superhero adaptation for Fox before becoming the master of all things Marvel a few years later. After calling Feige the “greatest” and “most successful producer who ever lived” (at around the 49-minute mark), Affleck explained why the whole industry should be “turning to Kevin.” Via Comic Book:

“He’s the only guy in the world who, if he told me, ‘I know what the audience wants! This is what we’re doing!’ I would believe him 100%.” That f***er knows his audience like no producer (ever), he’s a genius. Kevin is like a ringmaster at the circus, he knows exactly how much to wink at the audience, exactly when to pull at the heartstrings, exactly when to do the effects, how many jokes, what the sensibility, what the tone is. Because people didn’t know to run away from the pajamas or embrace it, or make it serious.”

If it sounds like Affleck is having regrets about his time as Batman in the ill-fated Batman V Superman and Justice League and thinking he should’ve gone with Marvel, not so much. Affleck confessed that he took the role for his kids, but all the trouble was worth it for one special reason. “I wore the suit to my son’s birthday party, which was worth every moment of suffering on Justice League.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Consider the Cleveland Cavaliers. Maybe you haven’t all season, or for several seasons now since LeBron James wanted to try a title in the West on for size and the team, less his gravity, slowly spiraled thinner and thinner. But it’s time to turn your gaze toward them again because on one weird winter night the Cavs snuck themselves into the biggest deal of the 2020-2021 season so far and with it, longterm franchise sustainability.

Big stars always pull outliers along in their wake, and the James Harden deal’s no different. It took four teams to generate the momentum Brooklyn needed to net Harden, and just like that two parts of Brooklyn’s future internal development went careening away — Jarrett Allen to Cleveland and Caris LaVert to the Pacers.

For the Cavs, Allen is the equivalent of a train heist. A versatile, stretch-potential big who plays concise and cool defense, rarely tangling himself up with fouls or frustration, and overall a franchise changing acquisition Cleveland would never have been able to secure in the clamor of free agency. Allen’s last three seasons with the Nets were a well-kept secret in that his development was measured, almost demure, but in that time he easily became the team’s more functional center, second to DeAndre Jordan only in rotation. His numbers have all ticked up incrementally and at 11 points, 9.6 rebounds per game he’s averaging the best of his career and will probably get much better within what is essentially the NBA’s, work ethic wise, most blue-collar team.

It’s been necessarily slow, what Koby Altman is building. Cleveland’s current GM was there for the team’s Cinderella title as assistant GM, and had one year in the driver’s seat before James left for L.A. After that, he was effectively handed a re-do but was realistic with the franchise’s draw and trajectory, holding off on dynamite in favor of pulling reliable talent from nearby, like the acquisition of Andre Drummond, and fostering growth in the promise of younger players like Colin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Darius Garland and now, Isaac Okoro. Altman has also leaned on his mainstay vets to foster the head down work ethic and DNA of the team, recognizing the inherent value in Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. as floor leaders as much as locker room contributors, stabilizers for a franchise in development.

In sizing up with Allen, and adding some relief with Taurean Prince who is averaging 11 points per game, Drummond is no longer such an outlier player. Allen will be Drummond’s relief off the bench and, depending on whether the Cavs hang onto Drummond or let him walk in free agency this summer, eventually eclipse him as he’d started to do with Jordan.

Cleveland will look to retain Allen because now, as frontrunners, they can match any prospective RFA deal, and because Allen raises the ceiling on what meaningful competition can look like for the Cavs. While the East now has one very clear frontrunner, the rest is still shaking itself out. With Miami and Toronto’s rough starts and the middling middle of the pack, Cleveland only sits two wins behind the 4th ranked team, the Pacers, and Indiana took a gamble in the same 4-way deal with swapping mainstay Victor Oladipo to Houston for the promise of LeVert.

It’s a developmental deal as much as it seals some necessary longevity, and the fact that the team now holds a boon of young, energetic, hardworking players makes Cleveland’s place in the Harden blockbuster a compelling one. But a heist is a heist, even if it’s a smiling one, and as it stands the Cavs are laughing all the way to the bank.

Search Party: Season 4 (HBO Max series) — Alia Shawkat’s Dory is missing in the continuation of this highly bingeable series that jumped from TBS to HBO Max without a hitch. This time around, the group of friends must confront their traumatic pasts and become a search party again, this time while attempting to track down Dory. Guest stars will include Susan Sarandon, Busy Philipps, and R.L. Stine.

Outside The Wire (Netflix film) — Sorry to disappoint, this show has nothing to do with The Wire. It does, however, star Anthony Mackie as an android military officer, who must locate a doomsday device before the bad guys can get their hands on it, and all hell breaks loose. Damson Idris co-stars as a drone pilot who assists Mackie’s cyborg, and they’re both in full-on action mode.

Star Trek: Discovery (CBS, 10:00pm EST) — Stamets gains some unexpected clarity, Saru seeks help from L’Rell, and Burnham presents a special gift for the Emperor after heading toward the ISS Charon.

Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC, 8:00pm EST) — This evening’s contestants include Drew Carey, Teri Hatcher, and Chrissy Metz.

The Hustler (ABC, 10:00pm EST) — There might be some melon-stabbing going on while the group takes on trivia questions for money while “The Hustler” among them keeps doing his or her secretive and enigmatic thing.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Senator Bernie Sanders, FINNEAS

Jimmy Kimmel LIve — Javicia Leslie, Foo Fighters

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — Anthony Mackie, Cristin Milioti, Rico Nasty

The Late Late Show With James Corden — Andie MacDowell, Why Don’t We

Late Night With Seth Meyers — Anne Hathaway, Jane Levy

In case you missed these recent picks:

Pieces of a Woman (Netflix film) — Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf star as Martha and Sean, respectively, who experience an unimaginable tragedy when a home birth goes wrong. Martha then undertakes a yearlong odyssey while coping with grief and her relationship with Sean, which (unsurprisingly) strains under the pressure of their mutual loss. Meanwhile, Ellen Burstyn plays her overbearing mom, and Molly Parker plays the publicly shamed midwife. Look for this movie to be a big awards contender.

Everyone Is Doing Great (Hulu/Endeavor Series) — A little lightness will come in handy right about now, so this series from One Tree Hill alums James Lafferty and Stephen Colletti could hit the spot. Lafferty and Colletti star as former TV A-listers, who happened to play vampires on an enormously popular series called Eternals. Five years later, things are pretty damn awkward in their careers and lives, so it’s time for a late coming-of-age spin. The show found popularity with two episodes on the 2018 festival circuit, so the duo crowdfunded the rest of the season.