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Joel Embiid’s career to this point has been unfortunately defined by injuries. A knee injury has been his most recent issue, as after winning the 2022-23 MVP award he started the ’23-’24 campaign looking like he might go back-to-back only for a torn meniscus to end his season after 39 games. Despite being a year removed from surgery on that knee, Embiid has continued to be bothered by his left knee, playing in just 19 games this season and struggling to reclaim his MVP form, averaging just 23.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game when he has been able to play.

Earlier this month, Embiid said he probably needed another surgery on his knee but wanted to keep playing, which raised plenty of eyebrows, particularly given this season appears to be a lost one for the Sixers. After falling to 12th in the East at 20-36 amid a 7-game losing streak, the Sixers and Embiid have finally decided to re-evaluate his situation and, according Shams Charania, they are meeting with doctors and having further imaging done on his knee to determine if there are “alternative options”, including the possibility of surgery, that could get his knee back to full health. According to Charania’s report, Embiid has gotten numerous injections and treatments but he continues to deal with swelling and discomfort, and the team and doctors are going back to the drawing board to explore the best options to proceed.

The Sixers latest loss to the Brooklyn Nets came with Embiid playing 31 minutes, and he has struggled mightily in his two games since the All-Star break. It’s very clear he’s unable to move the way he’s accustomed to and while he’s insisted that he still can help by being out there even if he’s not at 100 percent, that has not been enough to get Philly on track in what has become a disastrous season. With Embiid owed nearly $250 million over the next four years, the Sixers have to take a long view with his health, and this feels like an incredibly important moment because picking the correct treatment option and getting Embiid’s knee to not be a constant problem is vital to his ability to return to the level he wants to be at as a player and for the Sixers to be the kind of contender they hope to be as a team.

A Valentine’s Day (February 14) release date proved to work the certified lover boy’s favor. Today (February 23), the official numbers from Drake and PartyNextDoor’s collaborative album Some Sexy Songs 4 U have been released.

According to Billboard, Some Sexy Songs 4 U has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. This accolade marks a few significant career milestones for both Drake and PartyNextDoor.

For PartyNextDoor, Some Sexy Songs 4 U is now the “Loyal” singer’s first No. 1 album. Drake, on the other hand, is no stranger to chart-topping projects. However, Some Sexy Songs 4 U being Drake’s 14th No. 1 he has now tied with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for the most No. 1s as a soloist. The Beatles hold crown for most No. 1 with a whooping 19. So, Drake’s “big as The Beatles” line is almost a reality.

Rounding out the top ten is: Sabrina Carpenter’s Short N’ Sweet at No. 2, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, at No. 3, SZA’s SOS, at No. 4, Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, at No. 5, The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow, at No. 6, Chappell Roan’s The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, at No. 7, Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard And Soft, at No. 8, Morgan Wallen’s One Thing At A Time, at No. 9 and at No. 10 is Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN.

In her multi-decade long career, Madonna has accomplishment feats many other pop stars could only dream of. Between impressive album sales to record-setting concert numbers, the “Like A Pray” singer does not have many things left on her “never have I” list. But Jimmy Kimmel knows one of those rather rare items.

Yesterday (February 22), the late show host told People, Madonna has not yet made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! However, Kimmel is working to change that.

When asked about his plans for future guests at Keep Memory Alive’s The Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas, Kimmel did not hold back. “I wouldn’t say I’m desperate to get anybody, but we’ve never had Madonna on the show, and I’d love to have her on,” he told the outlet.

Although Madonna made her way onto the program, Kimmel did joke about a beloved star on the show carving out space in her live show. “She had Guillermo on stage with her,” he revealed referring to his longtime friend and co-star Guillermo Rodriguez.

Kimmel then joked about not being a part of the magical moment. “Not me,” he said. “Nothing for me.”

With Madonna back in the studio alongside producer Stuart Price, maybe when it’s time to project the highly anticipated album she will sit down on Kimmel’s couch.

GloRilla is a go-getter in all aspects of her life–including romantic love. The “Let Her Cook” rapper does not mind putting bold feelers out there.

In her verse on Jorjiana’s “ILBB2 (Remix),” GloRilla expressed her interest in popular streamer Duke Dennis. Well, now he has responded back to her flirty shout out.

During a recent broadcast (viewable here), Duke hilariously addressed being called out with supporters. But he isn’t sure if GloRilla’s mention was a compliment or an insult. “Wait,” he said confused. “Those two [lines] are separate though, right? [GloRilla] wasn’t talking about me [being ugly]… I don’t know who she was talking about.”

Similarly, users online are trying to wrap their heads around GloRilla’s bars.

On the track, GloRilla raps: “I’m a big dog, I don’t argue over n****s / Leave that shit for the puppies / I can get dick anytime I want / Baby, that sh*t ain’t nothin’ / Topic of all these n****s discussions / But ain’t none of ’em f*cked me / Like my n****s tall and grimy / And mixed with a little bit of ugly / Uh, uh-huh, they say shooters shoot / Uh, uh-huh, Duke Dennis, what’s up with you?”

It looks like Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard has some competition in GloRilla’s heart for a new potential boo.

Last year, Power Book II: Ghost called it a wrap after four successful seasons. Before airing its last episode, the cast and its producers including 50 Cent slammed the industry for snubbing the series every awards season. Well, that changed yesterday (February 22), during the 2025 NAACP Image Awards.

Power Book II: Ghost actor Michael Rainey Jr. took home the win for Outstanding Actor In A Drama Series. Immediately after the category was called 50 Cent took to Instagram to praise Rainey’s performance and the NAACP for its years long support of the show.

“I’m so happy for [Michael],” he wrote. “He worked hard for this moment. The NAACP is really all we got. We do bigger numbers than a lot of shows, but we don’t get nominated because of diversity.”

Rainey returned the love in the post’s comment section, writing: “[I] wouldn’t be here if you didn’t believe in me [50]. Love u for life .”

Over the years other Power Book Universe stars have won big at the NAACP Image Awards. In both 2021 and 2022, Mary J. Blige and Method Man (real name Clifford Smith Jr) took home trophies for their performance (in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series categories). The show won for Outstanding Drama Series in 2021.

Although the show is officially done, Rainey’s win was a sweet treat for longtime viewers of the series.

The Los Angeles wildfires have successfully been detained. But the road to community restoration is just beginning.

Today (February 23) and 3 p.m. Pacific, Justin Bieber and Snoop Dogg are lending their nonmusical talents to the LA Kings’ fundraising efforts by way of Skate For LA Strong: A Celebration to Support the Fire Recovery Efforts in Los Angeles.

Over at the Crypto.com Arena, the entertainers alongside many others will hit the ice to bring in money for relief efforts. While Bieber, Steve Carell, and Ross Lynch will serve as players; Snoop, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, Danny DeVito, and Cobie Smulders are the evening’s official coaches.

During the four-team single-elimination matches, the entertainers, impressively athletic first responders, and other sports pros will put their skills to the test against hockey royalty Jeremy Roenick, Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Manon Rheaume, and Dany Heatley.

Proceeds from Skate For LA Strong: A Celebration to Support the Fire Recovery Efforts in Los Angeles will be donated to the Red Cross, the LA Fire Foundation, Cal Fire Foundation and Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund. Firefighters, first responders, community group leaders, fire victims and their families, and Los Angeles Kings season tickets members are granted free admission. If you can not attend in-person, the event will air on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Find more information here.

In any given year, Blumhouse Productions is involved without 72 upcoming releases, give or take. M3GAN 2.0, Five Nights At Freddy’s 2, and Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist reboot are only a few of the higher profile projects in the works, but sooner than any of those options, the most hellish-sounding bounty hunter series ever made will be coming to Prime Video/Amazon.

That would be Blumhouse TV’s The Bondsman starring Kevin Bacon. Let’s get right down to brass tacks on what to expect.

Plot

In The Bondsman, Kevin Bacon isn’t bounty hunting fugitives from the law. Rather, he is hunting demons who escape from Hell with designs upon taking out errant humans (who would otherwise become casualties of horror movie-like rules). As Bacon told Vanity Fair, the Friday the 13th actor enjoyed turning convention on its head. He added of this show, “It is very violent and has a lot of blood and scares, but it also has some tongue-in-cheek aspects. It’s oftentimes funny, and it also has a lot of heart.”

His character, Hub Halloran, returns from the dead with regrets about his former marriage (to Maryanne, portrayed by Jennifer Nettles, the Sugarland singer who has lit up the stage on HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones) and his lost musical dreams. In order to receive another shot at life, Hub agrees to carry out assignments from the Devil, who wants his demons back where they belong. Writer Erik Oleson explained how this mess will differ from the Devil that moviegoers usually know:

“We’ve all seen countless demons in various forms of one or another. I had never seen a show where the devil was treated like he was a warden of a prison, and that escaped prisoners would have to be caught and brought back to prison. Normally, you think, ‘Oh, the devil sends demons to earth to wreak havoc and cause trouble.’ This was the flip of it.”

Hub will receive assistance in the form of assignments from “Hell’s regional manager in this part of Appalachia,” portrayed by Jolene Purdy.

Notably, the series doesn’t intend to actually show the devil. Here’s more from the brief synopsis, which is a sight to behold:

Kevin Bacon stars as Hub Halloran, a murdered bounty hunter who’s back from the dead after being resurrected by the Devil to trap and send back demons that have escaped from the prison of Hell. By chasing down those demons with the help and hindrance of his estranged family, Hub learns how his own sins got his soul condemned — which pushes him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.

Cast

In addition to Bacon, The Bondsman cast includes Jennifer Nettles, Damon Herriman, Beth Grant, Maxwell Jenkins, and Jolene Purdy.

Release Date

The full eight-episode season will drop on April 3, 2025.

Trailer

Until Prime Video drops an actual trailer, the mere mention of Damon Herriman as a cast member is so distracting that it’s worth revisiting that Justified episode where Dewey Crowe wonders if he’s got four kidneys.

Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

10. Yellowjackets – Showtime series streaming on Paramount+

The wilderness does not forget, and nobody will be able to forget adult Nat’s accidental death, bur Sophie Thatcher will continue the role in Nat’s Antler Queen phase, and both timelines still contain dual Shauna, Misty, Taissa, Van, and Lottie arcs. This season will also introduce Hilary Swank and Joel McHale, who simply cannot stop picking up new projects, but at least he accepted the “blame” for those Community movie filming delays. As always, we can expect a banger-filled soundtrack this season, but Christina Ricci would really prefer that the Live entry never happened.

9. Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy – Peacock movie

Bridget has adjusted to widow status after the death of Mark Darcy and is hopping back into the pool for another irreverent film that you can stream in your living room rather than go outside in harsh February weather. This partially happens at the behest of Tom, Jude, and Shazzer, and she doesn’t mind spending some semi-quality time with Leo Woodall’s character, who is named “Roxster” (hmm). Of course, there are other men in her life, too, including her Dad (Jim Broadbent), science teacher Mr. Wallaker (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and of course Daniel Rotten Stinking Cleaver (Hugh Grant).

8. The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep – Netflix movie

Perhaps this Netflix fantasy franchise still has some life left after all even with Henry Cavill’s departure. Liam Hemsworth will pick up the leather pants, swords, and wigs later this year, but for now, this animated film takes Geralt of Rivia deep into the ocean as the only person/monster hunter who can bring peace between the realms of land and not-land. Video game voice actor Doug Cockle takes up the Geralt grunt for this movie with Joey Batey (Jasper) and Anya Chalotra (Yennifer) reprising their roles from the TV series.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar – Netflix series

Kaitlyn Dever and Alycia Debnam-Carey are wellness foes in this based-on-reality limited series that follows Belle Gibson’s (Dever) fake cancer saga, for which the Australian government nailed her with a massive fine (which she still has not paid for the past seven years) for endangering public welfare. Milla Blake (Debnam-Carey) spotted the grift long before the masses and authorities picked up on the snake oil, and those eye daggers are incredible.

6. The Åre Murders – Netflix series

Nordic Noir is no joke, and in this series is here to send chills down your spine while you cuddle under the blankets and wonder why you are watching such a chilly environment on TV in the middle of your city’s own cold snap. In all seriousness, this mystery series follows a Stockholm detective on leave until gruesome happenings drag her back into the grind. What follows is a solid ride that will not disappoint when the ultimate secrets are later revealed.

5. Cobra Kai – Netflix series

Both shouting and tears were had for the finale episode (a certainly remark from Daniel to Johnny has been four decades in the making), and that doesn’t even begin to touch the literally explosive deaths of those characters. Both developments add up to a perfect ending to a beloved series as cast and crew move on to different endeavors after working alongside each other for nearly a decade and six seasons. Next up? Karate Kid Legends, which will bring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio’s sensei powers together for a new cause. Here for it.

4. The White Lotus – HBO series streaming on Max

Thailand is the latest dream vacation destination for a group of mainly privileged travelers, at least one of whom will end up dead. Mike White did, however, already reveal that this season is more death-themed than the previous two efforts, so there might be an abundance of corpses before all is said and done. Natasha Rothwell serves as this season’s connecting thread from the previous adventures, and man, Patrick Schwarzenegger’s insufferable “numbers” bro is already high on the audience nomination list for biting it. Other possible candidates (and potential suspects) include Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Michelle Monaghan, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and Parker Posey.

3. Severance – Apple TV+ series

Apple TV+ has been teasing this week’s episode by suggesting a possible foot fetish (which ideally doesn’t have anything to do with the goats) and Mark eating Chinese food, which is proving to be a highly effective way to tease a weekly episode. This season is humming right along, and before you know it, the wait for the third edition will be on. If you’re waiting to binge the entire serving, however, only a few more weeks remain of new episodes of this work-balance satire show.

2. Reacher – Prime Video/Amazon series

Alan Ritchson (as the Big Guy) and Oliver Ritchers (as the Bigger Guy) ingested an unholy amount of food to prepare for their ultimate showdown, but first, Reacher goes undercover this season like anybody is gonna believe that is possible, and of course it works because Reacher. This season adapts Lee Child’s Persuader novel, and Neagley (Maria Sten) does make some fierce appearances to warm the audience up for her spin off. If you were skeptical about her carrying the screen on her own, you probably will not fret after watching what she has to offer this season. Let’s just say that her cereal obsession takes a morbid turn, and of course she and Reacher do spent time together onscreen, too. He also has a new love interest, hard-as-nails DEA agent Susan Duffy (Sonya Cassidy), so all cylinders are firing here.

1. The Gorge – Apple TV+ movie

A different kind of Valentine’s Day movie arrived this year in the form of a creature feature scored by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This is also an action and sci-fi story about two snipers (Miles Teller and Anya Taylor Joy) who guard a mysterious and classified gorge, potentially saving mankind from Hell itself. They do, however, fall in like with each other from different vantage points, and naturally, they end up on the run to protect humanity from certain doom. Add in the fact that sci-fi queen Sigourney Weaver co-stars, and this film is irresistible for genre peeps.

Here’s some trivia for you: name the only Tyler Perry-directed film that’s been nominated for an Oscar. Nope, it’s not Boo! A Madea Halloween for Best Makeup and Hairstyling or A Madea Christmas for, let’s say, Best Picture. It’s not any Madea film! The answer: Netflix war drama The Six Triple Eight, which is up for Best Original Song at the 2025 Oscars for “The Journey.” We’ll find out if songwriter Diane Warren finally breaks her Oscar-less streak on March 2, but that’s not the only major event happening in the Tyler Perry-verse happening that week: there’s also the return of mega-popular Beauty in Black.

Here’s everything we know season 1, part 2 of Netflix‘s Beauty in Black.

Plot

Set in Atlanta, Beauty in Black follows Kimmie, an exotic dancer who is struggling to make ends meet, and Mallory, the wealthy owner of a hair care company, and how they become involved in each other’s lives.

In season 1, part 2 (which, to be clear, is not considered season 2), “The ruthless, backstabbing family behind a beauty brand — and an underground trafficking ring — will face a reckoning,” as per the Netflix logline. “Kimmie, the once-unassuming sex worker in their employ, becomes an unstoppable force of vengeance on a mission to rescue her kidnapped sister.”

Here’s what Perry had to say about the new episodes:

“I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to figure out where it’s going and how that rise of power happens with Kimmie. It’s going to be mind-blowing for people. Like, ‘Wait a minute, how does she get into power?’”

Beauty in Beauty season 1, part 1 was the most-watched global series on Netflix the week it premiered in November 2024. “I was told many times over many years that Black entertainment doesn’t travel throughout the world,” Perry told Tudum. “So, to have Netflix continue to disprove that over and over with everything I’ve put on the platform has been phenomenal.”

Cast

Beauty in Black features many actors from previous Tyler Perry projects, including leads Taylor Polidore Williams (Divorce in the Black) as Kimmie, Crystle Stewart (For Better or Worse) as Mallory, and Amber Reign Smith (The Oval) as Rain.

“The demographic of my audience [is] all over the place,” Perry told Tudum about filling the cast with people he’s worked with before. “I wanted to make sure that we’re not only bringing in new faces, but also bringing in faces that people know, that are familiar, and who can lend something incredible to the series.”

The ensemble also features Ricco Ross as Horace, Debbi Morgan as Olivia, Richard Lawson as Norman, Steven G. Norfleet as Charles, Julian Horton as Roy, Terrell Carter as Varney, Shannon Wallace as Calvin, Bryan Tanaka as Officer Alex, Joy Rovaris as Gillian, Xavier Smalls as Angel, Charles Malik Whitfield as Jules, Tamera “Tee” Kissen as Body, Ursula O. Robinson as Delinda, Ashley Versher as Lena, and George Middlebrook as Officer Trackson.

Release Date

Beauty in Black returns for part 2 of season 1 on on March 6.

Trailer

You can check out the latest trailer for Beauty in Black below.

Back on February 14, a lawsuit accusing Jay-Z and Diddy of sexually violating an underage girl was voluntarily dropped. Since then hip-hop heads have had their eye on the lawyer behind the filing. Well, so has a New York judge.

Today (February 22), Tony Buzbee has reportedly been denied the ability to practice law in New York. According to legal journalist, Meghann Cuniff, the Committee on Grievances for the Southern District of New York is responsible for the ruling.

In documents obtained (viewable here) by Cuniff, after investigating complaints of attorney misconduct the committee learned that Buzbee failed to ask for permission to practice in the district.

As a result, Buzbee no longer has permission to practice law in the Southern District of New York (which includes the entirety of New York City and its five boroughs as well as Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan counties).

Although the case Buzbee filed against Jay-Z has already been dropped, his multiple cases against Diddy within New York City’s jurisdiction could now be in jeopardy. The courts have reportedly advised Buzbee to seek “pro hac vice” admission or special permission from the legal body to proceed in those matters.

Tony Buzbee has not yet issued a public response to the reports.