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No matter whether you adore or roll your eyes at AMC’s The Walking Dead universe (and its unifying helicopter timeline), you gotta admire its ability to keep resurrecting itself. This franchise is the Law & Order of zombie shows. And Dick Wolf’s stream of criminals-of-the-week ain’t got nothing on the survivors who are frequently even more lethal than the walkers themselves. Soon, there will be a handful of new spinoffs led by characters from the flagship series (and I’m especially curious about how Daryl Dixon handles being Daryl In Paris), yet since 2015, the franchise’s longest-existing spinoff (although not the only one so far), Fear The Walking Dead, has been hobbling along.

I should pause here and discuss how I might be coming at this spinoff in a different way than you did. With The Walking Dead, I kept up from season to season, even if that happened in 3-4 episode bursts that were slightly behind the masses. With Fear, I fully procrastinated and only knew the show (along with crossovers including Morgan and Dwight) via Dustin Rowles’ faithful recaps and analysis. Then earlier this year, I binged seven seasons in less than a month. It was perhaps a mind-melting exercise.

Watching it all at once made the sluggish parts of the show feel like an exercise in treading quicksand. For several seasons (after the novelty of the show’s regular changes in scenery wore off), it wasn’t a good time. Jack sh*t happened for multi-episode blocks. I wanted to punch Nick in the face. I’m not sure what the Filthy Woman was supposed to accomplish other than inventing the world’s first Antifreeze Villain. She helped guide this spinoff into such a void that Dwight’s Season 5 move from The Walking Dead seemed like a worse punishment than being exiled by Daryl.

Other than Madison, most of Fear The Walking Dead‘s characters didn’t grab me (and she “died” in Season 4), but I hung on because Dustin had promised that the show grew much better in Season 6. And I agreed. Morgan’s entry and the John Dorie warmup helped, but Virginia made for a chilling villain. She was pivotal, and after her death, the show maintained momentum even while jumping over shark after shark. A nuclear apocalypse in Texas on top of a zombie apocalypse? Too much, but the show learned to embrace its trappings.

Now, we’re at the eighth and final season, which appears to be — from the episodes that I’ve seen thus far — a way to send this show careening down the most nonsensical hill ever and crashing into the ocean so that the new spinoffs can start things fresh. From what I’ve seen so far, it’s attempting to do so in a spectacularly pants-sh*tting way, and I suspect that existing fans will be fine with where this is going. It’s a mess, yes, but Madison is back. And even though there have been many downsides to this spinoff, the upsides have been largely illustrated by her relationships with various characters, including Daniel Salazar, who makes a hell of a re-entrance, too.

As such, there is some payoff for viewers who have kept tuning in each week despite this admittedly being an inferior spinoff.

Fear The Walking Dead, as well, has been a series that has shifted gears so many times that it’s hard to keep track. The story has moved from the ocean to Baja and across the U.S. before eventually ending up in Texas, where Strand set up his little luxury tower, which happened to be the one place where radioactive fallout didn’t dare to tread. It’s been a lot. The most recent season finale bid farewell to Alicia, and Madison suddenly reappeared on the beach after being assumed dead for multiple seasons.

In Season 8, the show reinvents itself one final time, and my only hope was that it continued to maintain momentum. I dared not hope for quality. There’s a new lead villain, and we get to finally find out what all of that mythical “P.A.D.R.E.” talk was about — and I won’t spoil what P.A.D.R.E. actually is, but I think most of us can guess how a promise of a utopian society in this universe (just think back to Terminus days of The Walking Dead ) ends up going. The show picks up where the last season finale left off — Morgan’s daughter being kidnapped with he and Madison setting off while blindfolded in a boat — and then takes a seven-year time jump.

AMC released three new episodes to critics, and let’s just say that the spinoff has included some of the more f*cked-up moments I’ve ever seen in this franchise. Seven years after they found P.A.D.R.E., we get to see how it’s treated June, Dwight, Sherry, Morgan, and Madison. In particular, June is barely hanging onto her sanity by a thread. Morgan is uncharacteristically “with the program,” mainly because of his daughter, Mo. We are supposed to see a reinvented Strand at some point. I haven’t seen it happen yet, but I suspect that will be pivotal to how the season is fully received.

This final season, sadly, sits in an odd place because I suspect that AMC wanted to formally close put a knife through the heart of this beast and start fresh. This is kind-of like Shazam! Fury Of The Gods ahead of James Gunn’s DCU relaunch. It’s a placeholder and good enough. Again, though, the show brings back a beloved character in Madison, so that’s a plus. It’s wild to remember that she and Morgan have never met until now, since they seem to be natural companions. I quite enjoy watching them bounce off each other, even if they are both less true to themselves due to P.A.D.R.E.’s rule. And if there’s a soul to Fear The Walking Dead, it’s found in the hopes that, eventually, these characters will come full circle in some way. For Morgan, that will mean going back to where he began.

Let’s be clear, though: The Walking Dead franchise has never aspired to be prestige TV. It’s many things for many people, and for me, it’s a guilty pleasure and comfort food. As messed up as it might sound, I feel like this is a world where, yes, the whole “reanimated bodies” thing is both inevitable and disconcerting, but at least there’s a concrete threat that can be vanquished with a spear and tangibly and swiftly halted. To me, this feels like a less anxiety-prolonging scenario rather than worrying about the at-times invisible and often nebulous, uncontrollable forces that we worry about in 2023.

So, The Walking Dead universe must live on as escapism. And Fear The Walking Dead appears to be setting itself up to pass the baton so that the other spinoffs can rise unimpeded. After all, Negan and Maggie will soon return in The Walking Dead: Dead City, which will head into the Big Apple. This spinoff will say goodbye and hope that, just maybe, we’ll see Rick Grimes resurface in Fear The Walking Dead‘s series finale. That would be the most fan-pleasing transition to make. We’ll see if the franchise can pull it off.

AMC’s ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ returns on May 14.

Spoilers for Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 follow below.

The third Guardians Of The Galaxy movie hit theaters over the weekend, and just as did in the first two films, music plays a big role in the new one. The ending in particular hits hard, thanks in part to the Florence + The Machine classic “Dog Days Are Over.” The scene got to Florence Welch, too.

In a TikTok video shared today (May 8), Welch cries and laughs as she watches the scene. She wrote in her caption, “So I cried all the way through this movie but when the The Guardians of the Galaxy started dancing to Dog Days I really lost it. Thank you so much for all the love for this moment. The superhero obsessed little girl in me can’t believe it happened [heart emoji] x.”

As for what goes down in that scene, The Wrap explains, “Before Quill heads back to Earth, he gives Rocket his Zune. Earlier in the movie, we saw Rocket sing along to Radiohead’s ‘Creep,’ which is a profoundly touching moment that says a lot about his character and his emotional journey. (Remember in the first movie he was utterly baffled by Quill’s love of pop music?) At the end of the movie we see Rocket with the Zune; he toggles down to 2000s music and selects Florence And The Machine’s sing-along barnstormer. It’s a moment where all of the Guardians, together for one last time, can let out all of their nervous, joyous, pent-up energy.”

Howard Stern couldn’t believe Donald Trump’s deposition for the E. Jean Carroll rape trial and absolutely blasted the former president for his jarring response to questions from Carroll’s attorney.

In a clip played for the jury, Trump is asked about the infamous Access Hollywood tape where he brags that when you’re a star you can just grab women “by the p*ssy.” Instead of downplaying the remarks, the former president doubled down and managed to make things worse. Stern, who has heard a lot of things over the years, was astounded by Trump’s answer.

Via Mediaite:

Stern mentioned the Access Hollywood part of the deposition in which Trump said, “Historically, that’s true, with stars.”

“True that they can grab women by the p*ssy?” Carroll defense attorney Roberta Kaplan said.

“Well that’s what — if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but largely true, unfortunately or fortunately,” Trump said.

“First of all,” a flabbergasted Stern said, “a million years, there haven’t been movies for a million years. You know — a million years ago there were caveman. Secondly, fortunately or unfortunately, you don’t say fortunately if someone’s being raped, who’s it fortunate for? I guess for the rapist. I guess maybe that’s his point.”

Stern then tried to put himself in the shoes of Trump’s lawyers, who have already expressed their frustration with the former president’s penchant for saying the first thing that pops into his head.

“But if I’m a lawyer, I’m like, I just told him to shut his f*cking mouth. I just had a conversation with the guy. I mean, what is he doing? The f*ck is he doing?” Stern said. “That is the worst deposition I’ve ever seen. I mean, you can’t do worse than that.”

(Via Mediaite)

The classic West Coast IPA highlights hops better than any beer on earth, without hitting you over the head with them. When done right, a craft West Coast IPA is complex and balanced while retaining the piney, resinous bite IPA drinkers expect. When done wrong, they’re overly bitter, one-dimensional, and almost undrinkable (we’ve all seen the bearded beer heads muscling down an overly hopped brew — it looks miserable).

Crafting a West Coast IPA is like walking a tightrope of bitterness. It’s a very fine line. We’ve all had our fair share of bitter bombs. We’ve all ordered a West Coast IPA at a small craft brewery with high hopes only to be let down. We’re not going to talk about these beer bungles today though. Instead, we want to highlight some of the best, most flavorful, complex, perfectly bitter, dank West Coast IPAs. The types of IPAs you’ll want to stock up on immediately and sip throughout the spring and summer months.

To find them, we went to a slew of experts for help. We asked some brewers, craft beer experts, and brewing professionals to tell us the absolute best West Coast IPAs to drink this spring. Keep scrolling to see them all.

Santa Fe Happy Camper

Jim Bruckner, head brewer at Bootstrap Brewing in Longmont, Colorado

ABV: 6.6%

Average Price: $8 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Happy Camper IPA by Santa Fe Brewing Co. I have to go with a nostalgic beer here. It’s old school, maybe a little more of a Rocky Mountain IPA than true West Coast due to the malt bill but I’m not splitting hairs on that.

Tasting Notes:

Has that great piney, resin, citrus combo of the OG Pacific Northwest hops with a super-friendly malt backbone. As with all IPA, fresh is the best, and drinking this beer sitting at the brewery in Santa Fe with my dogs will always add to my love of it. It’s in a sexy can, too. Might be the green Chile in my blood talking there.

Lagunitas IPA

Bijan Ghiai, beverage manager at Urban Hill in Salt Lake City

ABV: 6.2%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

The Beer:

I would say Lagunitas IPA, it’s a true classic. The beer is really balanced, it’s not too bitter, not too light, and it has a nice, grassy taste. That taste is what you’re looking for when you are looking for a solid IPA.

Tasting Notes:

It begins with malty sweetness and works its way into lemon zest, honeydew melons, and floral, piney hops. The finish is memorably bitter and resinous.

Fieldwork Pulp Free

Josh Bartlett, founder of Learning to Homebrew in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

ABV: 6.9%

Average Price: $20 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

The appeal of West Coast IPAs is so undeniable that the folks at Fieldwork Brewing Company in Berkeley, California decided to revamp one of their Northeast IPAs into a new ‘Pulp Free’ West Coast IPA version.

Tasting Notes:

An avalanche of Citra hops on the nose and tongue doesn’t disappoint with notes of bright citrus, sweet lemon candy, and light tropical undertones. At 6.9% ABV and a smooth, balanced finish, this West Coast IPA is dangerously crushable.

Noda Hop Drop N’ Roll

Lee Moore, bartender at The Ballantyne in Charlotte, North Carolina

ABV: 7.2%

Average Price: $13 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Noda Hop Drop N’ Roll. It’s perfectly hoppy but not overpowering. It gets its flavor from the liberal use of Citra, Amarillo, Centennial, Warrior, and Chinook hops to go along with a sweet, caramel, malty backbone.

Tasting Notes:

It’s malty and sweet at first and then moves into bright citrus and tropical fruit flavors before finishing with a kick of piney, resinous bitter hops.

Modist Teal Label

Garth E. Beyer, certified Cicerone® and owner and founder of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: $13 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

It’s refreshing for a brewery to use Maris Otter malt. Even more so in a West Coast IPA because it lends it a little more sweetness than normal malt and a very subtle nutty flavor. Modist Brewing uses it in their West Coast-style IPA called Teal Label.

Tasting Notes:

The beer is soft, and the hop profile is a balanced combination of piney, citrus, and resiny hops without it being overly sticky or heavy on the palate. I consider it to be a newer age West Coast that you can have a few of without overwhelming your taste buds.

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin

Alex Barbatsis, head bartender at The Whistler in Chicago

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $13 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA. If you enjoy the original Ballast Point Sculpin but prefer more citrus flavor, you’ll love this version. The tart freshness from the grapefruit paired with the citrus hops create a memorable, hoppy beer.

Tasting Notes:

Grapefruit is big on the nose. There are also floral notes and some sweet malts. The palate continues this trend as grapefruit takes center stage followed by light malts and floral, dank, resinous, biting hops at the finish.

Russian River Pliny the Elder

Tom Muscolino, director of beverage innovation at Landmark Hospitality in Plainfield, New Jersey

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $8 for a 16.9-ounce bottle

The Beer:

I really enjoy Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company. It’s a double IPA made in very limited quantities and made to drank fresh. It’s quite difficult to get, but well worth it. It is a perfectly balanced beer, in my opinion, one that set the groundwork for the thousands of craft IPAs that came after.

Tasting Notes:

The use of Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops gives this beer a ton of tangerine, grapefruit, and resinous, floral flavors.

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed

Drew Russ, lead bartender at Venteux in Chicago

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA is a rare balance that is a big mosaic and Citra hop bomb but is still refreshing and not heavy, with floral and lemon notes. This is an IPA that can be enjoyed on a humid day and not weigh you down.

Tasting Notes:

This memorable beer is hoppy, piney, and is loaded with passionfruit, grapefruit, and orange zest. It lives up to its fresh-squeezed name.

Lagunitas Sumpin’ Easy

Jared Bailey, bar manager at Soho Cigar Bar in New York City

ABV: 5.7%

Average Price: $15 for a twelve-pack

The Beer:

Lagunitas Sumpin’ Easy is the preferred west coast IPA for me. Its delicate flavors, lower abv, and drinkability make it an easy go-to in the spring and summer especially with all of the fruit-forward, but subtle flavors.

Tasting Notes:

With flavors like sweet wheat, tropical fruit, and bright, floral hops, this easy-drinking IPA is light but manages to still be full of complex flavors.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo

George Hummel, grain master of My Local Brew Works in Philadelphia

ABV: 7.2%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale is the granddaddy of the style. It’s the beer I cut my teeth on as a young beer geek. It’s, in fact, the beer that first inspired me to Homebrew. Sadly, it’s only a seasonal beer. That’s why my pick is the equally great Sierra Nevada Torpedo. Made using the brewery’s proprietary dry-hopping device, this “extra IPA” is bursting with hop flavor and aroma.

Tasting Notes:

Citrusy and piney hop notes meld with caramel toasty malt character. It’s just a classic beer you’ll go back to again and again.

Back in 2021, the then-HBO Max ordered two adult animation shows: a Scooby-Doo spinoff titled Velma, and a second season of the 2003 cult classic Clone High. Surprisingly, Velma was the one that caused a ton of backlash, and not the one that stars JFK as a horny teenager. But there is still time!

Clone High will make its grand return twenty years after the original series, created by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, aired. The show follows fictionalized versions of important historical figures, like Marie Cuire and Paul Revere, while putting them in the worst situation imaginable: high school. Here is the official synopsis for season two:

A modern refresh of the hit series of the same name, CLONE HIGH follows a high school for clones of the greatest minds in history. Twenty years after the original experiment was put on ice, Joan, JFK, Abe, and Cleo have been thawed out to resume school with their new clone classmates – all while navigating a new set of cultural norms and overly dramatic teen relationships.

Many of the original cast are returning, including Will Forte as Abe Lincoln, Nicole Sullivan as Joan of Arc, and co-creator Chris Miller as JFK. In addition to the returning players, a fun slew of guest stars will stop by to voice important historical figures as teens, including (but not limited to): Ayo Edebiri as Harriet, Kelvin Yu as Confucius, Jana Schmieding as Sacagawea and Danny Pudi as Dr. Neelankavil. If those people aren’t important to you whatsoever, then you’re in luck: the cast also includes Michael Bolton as Michael Bolton and Mandy Moore as Mandy Moore, which nobody can argue with.

Season two will also introduce all of the fun stuff that we didn’t have in 2003, like social media and iPhones. Are you ready to see JFK try to FaceTime? No? Good… nobody should be.

Clone High will debut on Max on May 23rd.

While every traveler has their specific vision of what a “bucket list” trip would include, there are some destinations in the United States that seem to show up again and again – like a trip to California wine country. And while there are many areas of California known for beautiful vineyards and incredible wine, nothing approaches the prestige of the Napa and nearby Sonoma wine regions.

Home to many of the most well-known and exclusive wineries, restaurants, outdoor recreation spots, and hotels – there is something in these NorCal communities for every kind of traveler (except the budget kind, the region is pricey). Still, you don’t have to be a wine enthusiast – or even a wine drinker for that matter – to enjoy the lush green beauty and quaint towns that dot these legendary wine regions. I recently spent a week solo exploring Sonoma and Napa, barely scratching the surface of what this surprisingly large area offers, here are my recommendations:

WHERE TO DRINK:

While Napa Valley and Sonoma County are incredibly diverse and offer a wide range of activities for any traveler, the big draw is still, of course, the wine. Grapes were planted in Sonoma County as early as 1812 while George Calvert Yount was the first to grow grapes in Napa Valley in 1839. In 1861 Charles Krug opened the first commercial winery in Napa Valley and by 1889 there were over 140 wineries in operation.

After many wineries were abandoned after prohibition and a destructive root louse, Napa and Sonoma began rebuilding – with California wine country truly being put “on the map” after the Paris tasting of 1976 where California Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay beat out their French competitors in a blind tasting for the first time.

You’ll need reservations for nearly any wine tasting in Napa and many in Sonoma. During peak seasons and weekends, these can be tricky to come by, so planning is of course the name of the game here.

BERINGER VINEYARDS — ST. HELENA

I spent a lovely afternoon at Beringer Vineyards – the oldest continuously operating vineyard in not just Napa but all of California. And while I’m sure any wine drinker has picked up some Beringer at the grocery store, let me tell you, there is so much more to experience at the vineyard. I first enjoyed a tour of the incredible grounds and wine caves with a glass while learning about the history of the vineyard before sitting down to a decadent Veranda Tasting at the historic Rhine House. The tasting included a selection of Beringer’s single vineyard reserve wines.

Tasting info:

There are various tastings and tours available, as well as the option to “Sip and Stroll” the grounds with a glass of wine. Prices start at $20 – $125 and can be reserved in advance here.

HALL WINES — ST. HELENA

Hall Wines came highly recommended to me by some other travelers earlier in my trip. After driving by the “Bunny Foo-Foo” sculpture that greets visitors to its St. Helena property, I knew this spot was my style. The “Modern Tasting Gallery” is a part modern art gallery, and part wine tasting room with over 35 pieces of contemporary art, and several options for tastings and tours.

I enjoyed a Cabernet tasting and a walk on the incredible grounds as the sun was setting. It was one of the most magical parts of my trip.

Tasting Info:

Tastings at the St. Helena location start at $60 and tours at $75. Book in advance here.

CHANDON — YOUNTVILLE

I couldn’t leave Napa Valley without stopping for a glass of my favorite bubbles – Chandon. While parts of the winery are undergoing construction, the grounds are still accessible and immaculate. I could ride a bike from my hotel – the nearby Napa Valley Lodge in Yountville – and enjoy a glass of rose bubbles under the sun. Open Thursday – Sunday, Chandon offers many different tasting experiences. I was happy to be able to purchase a glass on its own and relax – something that wasn’t available without a tasting at many of the other vineyards I visited.

Tasting Info:

Tastings start at $50 and can be reserved here.

VIANSA SONOMA WINERY & TASTING ROOM — SONOMA

When I asked the concierge at Fairmont Sonoma for a recommendation of a winery that I could A) walk into without a reservation and B) featured fantastic views, they immediately pointed me towards Viansa Sonoma Winery & Tasting Room. The 4th-generation run family winery in Sonoma is perched up on a hillside with incredible panoramic views of the Sonoma Valley, immaculate grounds, and hospitality that is as incredible as the Italian varietal wines. I enjoyed a tasting outside on the hilltop terrace with a selection of four wines.

Tasting Info:

There are many different tasting experiences available at Viansa starting at $35 for non-members and can be reserved here.

WHERE TO EAT:

Napa and Sonoma are both foodie destinations in their own right, with strong agricultural traditions, and are home to many high-quality, locally-sourced ingredients. The fertile soil and Mediterranean climate of the area make it ideal for growing a variety of crops, including grapes, olives, fruits, and vegetables. While I definitely spent more time wine-tasting and charcuterie board grazing than restaurant-hopping, all of the food I had was truly one of a kind.

NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN

While not technically a restaurant per se, the Napa Valley Wine Train was where I had some of the best food of my entire trip. I went all in on the full-day Legacy Experience that includes wine tastings with a 4-course meal between. We started the day with smoked salmon eggs benedict and bubbles during the ride to our first tasting. For my second course, I chose the grilled beef tenderloin, with parsnip puree, charred shallots, forest mushrooms, and bordelaise. The third course was a brie from Marin County with local honey, olives, fennel pollen, and ciabatta followed by the desert course where I chose a decadent chocolate cake.

It was as luxurious and extravagant as it sounds — and I recommend it to everyone.

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers the day-long experience as well as several other experiences that include tastings with lunch, afternoon tea, and even a seven-course “Tasting on the Rails.” Book your experience here.

AD HOC — YOUNTVILLE

Yountville is of course famous for chef Thomas Keller’s legendary French Laundry restaurant, but for a more casual experience, I opted to head to Keller’s more casual spot: Ad Hoc. Serving a set four-course menu each night with innovative takes of classic American comfort food, I was truly rendered speechless by my meal. I started with a kale salad, followed by an herb-roasted chicken with smashed potatoes and an incredible salsa verde. I finished my feast with a coconut cake while drinking great wine (of course).

The ambiance was sleek and I loved that it was within walking distance from my hotel in downtown Yountville.

KIVELSTADT CELLARS AND WINEGARTEN — SONOMA

After spending my entire trip budget on wine tastings (when in wine country, right?), I asked a local for a recommendation for “food that is not pretentious in an eclectic environment.” They recommended Kivelstadt Cellars and Winegarten on the spot– and I understand why. The menu is thoughtful and delicious without being overly fussy. I loved sitting in the wine garden patio area with some of their wine (served straight out of kegs to eliminate waste), a book, and a delicious burger.

WHERE TO STAY:

FAIRMONT SONOMA MISSION INN AND SPA — SONOMA

I was excited to stay at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa as I am a fan of the Fairmont brand, and again I was not disappointed. From the moment I drove onto the grounds I felt like I was in a fairytale. I was greeted by a 100-year-old sycamore tree and somehow the historic property just kept getting better and more scenic from there. As a member of the Historic Hotels of America, the property dates back to 1927, with a colorful history throughout its several iterations.

Situated over geothermal mineral spring pools, there are several hot pools at the spa along with a rejuvenating self-guided bathing ritual and — my personal favorite — a relaxing spa pool with music playing under the water.

I loved the balcony adjacent to my room among the sycamores, the nightly wine tastings in the lobby, and the guest shuttle was a great perk. Walk and bikable to much of Sonoma, it was the perfect spot for exploration and relaxation. Book your stay here.

With all of the various individual awards handed out, the NBA will spend the first week of May handing out the various All-League honors, starting with the 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie Teams.

The first team featured Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero of the Magic alongside Jazz big man Walker Kessler, Thunder forward Jalen Williams, Kings sharpshooter Keegan Murray, and Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin.

The second team features two pairs of teammates as two Pistons (Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren), two Rockets (Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason), and one Spur (Jeremy Sochan) round out the All-Rookie selections.

The voting shows how close it was for some of the second-team spots, with Eason beating out Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard by one point for the last spot. Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe, Atlanta’s AJ Griffin, and Denver’s Christian Braun all also received double-digit votes, but fell short of second-team honors.

Banchero was the lone unanimous first-team selection, with Williams getting 99 first-team votes and Kessler receiving 95. It is worth wondering if someone got the two Jalen/Jaylin Williams’ confused, as Jaylin got one first-team vote that very well might have been meant for Jalen, which would explain why he didn’t get unanimously selected. Overall, there aren’t a ton of surprises in the voting, as there are arguments to be made for a number of the players in the middle of the pack given it comes down to personal preference regarding role and production when it comes to the second-team selections.

Beyoncé rarely, if ever, comes in second to anyone. Taylor Swift rarely, if ever, comes in second to anyone. Something has to give this summer. Swift launched her The Eras Tour in March, and the North American leg will stretch until August 9. Beyoncé is beginning her Renaissance World Tour overseas this week before hitting North America from July through September.

According to Forbes, Beyoncé is poised to earn more than Swift in tour gross:

“Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter — also known as Queen Bey — could clear nearly $2.2 billion from her Renaissance World Tour — some $600 million more than the $1.6 billion Taylor Swift could earn from Eras. Those eyepopping estimates are based on the most optimistic assumptions of the number of fans buying tickets at their concerts and high average ticket prices of about $700.

They also assume the artists take home a considerable share of merchandise proceeds and pay tour expenses of 20% of revenues — leaving them with the other 80%. Renaissance could gross between $275 million and $2.57 billion from tickets alone by the time it ends in September. Beyoncé’s most optimistic ticket revenue estimate — $2.57 billion — is well above Eras‘ $1.9 billion most optimistic box office.”

There were also parallels drawn between the two tours upon Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour announcement at the start of February.

After Ticketmaster epically botched the presale for Swift’s The Eras Tour last fall — underestimating fan demand by millions and canceling the general sale — the Beyhive was stressed to hear Ticketmaster was also handling Renaissance World Tour ticket sales. The Senate Judiciary Committee even put Ticketmaster on notice.

In terms of Forbes‘ projections, initial demand for Renaissance World Tour tickets would indicate that Beyoncé is in for a record payday. Some fans were relegated to the waitlist during Ticketmaster’s pre-sale raffle, and Megan Thee Stallion had to put in a direct request.

Finally, a bit of good news that should have us all shouting “Yes (Chef)!”

On Monday, FX announced the return of The Bear this summer. The second season of the breakout Hulu drama is set to be delivered on June 22nd with the show adding an extra two episodes of back-of-house chaos to its order. After earning praise from critics and amassing a huge fanbase on social media when it premiered last summer, this next 10-episode run picks up where the season one finale left off — with Jeremy Allen White’s Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto shutting down his family’s Italian beef-ery to open a new, next-level shop the neighborhood can be proud of.

Ayo Edebiri (Sydney) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Cousin Richie) are set to return as is the rest of the kitchen crew, helping Carmy plan his new menu, refine the joint’s reputation for hometown hospitality, and weather the struggles of permit setbacks and contracting hiccups as they bring their new restaurant to life. The show also welcomes some familiar faces as guest stars this season including Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk and Booksmart’s Molly Gordon.

According to FX’s release announcement, all 10 episodes of the new season will drop on Hulu come June 22nd, so plan your weekends accordingly.

(Via Variety)

Disney is definitely not backing down from its federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In a new legal filing on Monday, the Walt Disney Company has expanded its claims against DeSantis thanks to the governor’s public efforts to retaliate against the entertainment giant for opposing his controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

At issue in this latest filing is DeSantis’ new legislation that targets Disney’s monorail system and allows the state’s transportation department to conduct inspections of the system, which has historically been handled by the Disney-run special district that DeSantis has attempted to control and/or penalize by threatening to build a prison next to Disneyland.

Via CNBC:

Disney’s amended lawsuit also noted that Florida’s Republican-led legislature passed legislation last week targeting Walt Disney World’s monorail system.

“Governor DeSantis and his allies have no apparent intent to moderate their retaliatory campaign any time soon,” Disney wrote in its additions to the civil complaint it filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee last month.

While DeSantis has not pulled back on his Disney feud that has already lost him the support of several Florida Republicans and Fox News, the House of Mouse has remained equally resistant in trolling the governor. The “Disneyland After Dark: Pride Nite” is still moving full steam ahead in a blatant refutal of DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. The event will happen on three nights, June 13 through 15, during Pride Month.

(Via CNBC)