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No one insists on brand synergy quite like large entertainment corporations, and that can lead to some very strange crossover content.

On Sunday, Animal Planet hosted the 19th annual Puppy Bowl, and with TNT now part of Warner Bros. Discovery, that meant they got the Inside the NBA crew to do a spot for it. For some reason, they chose to have them breakdown Puppy Bowl XIX as a serious sports competition, doing a straight-faced look at Team Fluff and Team Ruff — while Ernie Johnson tried to squeeze as many dog puns into 90 seconds as possible.

The problem with this plan is, despite being pre-taped, they couldn’t get all the way through it without Shaq laughing at how absurd it was, as he couldn’t help but start snickering as Charles Barkley discussed Team Fluff’s size, as they have a great dane puppy named Velma.

To Shaq’s credit, he held it together long enough to do his read and for them to get through the promo, but I do wonder how many takes this took to get through because this was clearly the best one they had and Shaq was still laughing in it. I have to imagine there are dozens on the cutting room floor where Shaq couldn’t hold it together.

The New Orleans Pelicans have been trying desperately to hang on to a playoff position in the West over the past month and a half as Zion Williamson has been on the shelf with a hamstring injury.

At 29-28, they’ve been able to stay near .500 and in seventh in the West, hoping for a post-All-Star push with Williamson back in the lineup. Unfortunately, those plans for Zion have been scuttled after the All-Star forward aggravated his injury recently, with David Griffin telling reporters the expectation is for Williamson to miss several more weeks following the All-Star break, having already missed more than a month.

It is a brutal setback for Williamson, who was averaging 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in his 29 appearances this season, boasting a 60.8 percent field goal percentage. With Zion in the fold, the Pelicans were among the best teams in the West, but have struggled without him, even with Brandon Ingram returning from his own injury. New Orleans will now have to navigate what sounds like another month without Williamson (at the least), with further testing to come to determine his status for later this season.

The silver lining for New Orleans is they have one of the easier closing schedules in the league based on strength of schedule, but that still gets considerably more difficult to take advantage of with Williamson out and just 1.5 games separating them and the 11th place Jazz.

The Cavaliers were among the very few teams around the NBA who stood pat at the trade deadline, as they chose to not mess with the positive vibes of a 37-22 team ahead of the stretch run.

While there were rumblings they’d look to move Caris LeVert or Kevin Love, neither got moved and the Cavs shifted their attention to the buyout market to try and bolster the roster for the playoff push. Cleveland’s desire to add another 3-and-D wing was well-known, as that was where the bulk of their conversations about LeVert were focused. On Sunday, the Cavs managed to do just that by bringing in an old friend, Danny Green, who was bought out by Houston after being part of a 3-team trade that sent Eric Gordon to L.A. and Luke Kennard to Memphis.

Green has only just recently returned from his knee injury suffered in the playoffs a year ago, appearing in three games for Memphis before being dealt and bought out. Green will return to the team where it all started, as he was drafted by Cleveland in 2008 — albeit playing very sparingly in his two years with the Cavs. A career 39.9 percent three-point shooter, the Cavs will hope he can add some shooting pop to their bench and be a capable defender — which is the biggest question coming back off of injury. No matter what his on-court value, the Cavs have to be pleased with adding a veteran who has been there before to a young team with very little in the way of playoff experience beyond Love.

Jenna Ortega has a monster hit on her hands with Wednesday, the Addams Family spin-off that teamed her with no less than Tim Burton. The show quickly became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows, pulling in Stranger Things numbers. But shows tend to require longer hours than movies, and for its star — who not only had to be the lead but also had to learn how to do things like play the cello, fence, speak German, etc. — it wasn’t always fun.

“It was show up to set two hours early, do that 12- to 14-hour day, then go home and then get on a Zoom and have whatever lesson that I had,” Ortega said during a Netflix panel, as per Variety. “Or show up to my apartment, [and] my cello teacher was already waiting for me. It was just constantly going, and if you could on a weekend, if we weren’t shooting the sixth day that week, it was, ‘All right, well then, we’ll get your lessons in on that day.’”

The shoot lasted some eight months in Romania. Ortega singled out learning how to play cello, for a scene where she busts out The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” as particularly strenuous.

“I did not get any sleep. I pulled my hair out,” Ortega said. “There’s so many FaceTime calls that my dad answered of me hysterically crying.”

Eventually they started running out of time. Since Ortega’s character is in pretty much every scene, they had to start cutting corners, including during the cello scene.

“They had to start using stunt doubles or occasionally cello doubles if they didn’t have time to get hands,” she said, “but I was very adamant about being as well prepared as possible because I wanted them to be able to use myself, because that’s so much more believable if you could see your face.”

Luckily her director tried to calm her down. She said before shooting the cello scene, he tried to reassure her, telling her, “Oh, don’t worry, you’re going to do great. It’s gonna look great.”

Looks like it all worked out in the end, but it was still stressful. Indeed, Ortega revealed that she filmed her break-out dance scene while sick with COVID.

(Via Variety)

It’s been 13 years since Blockbuster, the once mighty video store chain, filed for bankruptcy. That doesn’t mean they no longer exist. As of 2019, there was one remaining store on the planet, located in Bend, Oregon, and it’s still going strong — so strong that it’s got its own Super Bowl commercial, sort of.

As per Mediaite, the final Blockbuster will be airing a commercial at the same time as the Super Bowl. It’s called “Blockbuster: Until the Bitter End,” and it won’t air on ABC while the Philadelphia Eagles battle the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, it will run on the store’s Instagram page. It will also be available for rental from the store, on an old school VHS tape.

Those who live near Bend, Oregon can also go to the store during the game, where it will be played live on a TV set up for the big game.

“We wanted to show that a small business could do something fun during the Big Game,” said the store’s longtime manager Sandi Harding, who has kept the store afloat through thick and thin.

The Bend, Oregon Blockbuster has survived it all — not only the near-destruction of the franchise but also COVID-19. At the height of the pandemic, the store managed to stay operating without laying off staff. And of course, it’s survived the sitcom made by Netflix, the brand that effectively killed Blockbuster, only to kill it again by canceling the show after one season.

Those nowhere near Bend, Oregon can watch the commercial on its Instagram page at some point during the game.

(Via Mediaite)

These days, everything old is new again, or at least coming back for a reprise. For instance, Michael Keaton hadn’t played Batman since 1992…until Warner Bros. summoned him back. He filmed scenes for Batgirl, which was unceremoniously shelved, but he’s still coming back for this summer’s The Flash. His return sparked rumors that another big screen Bruce Wayne would be returning, too. But that one apparently ain’t happening.

On Saturday, James Gunn — now, along with Peter Safran, one of the kings of the newly refurbished DCEU — innocently posted a photo of his dog. He was inevitably pelted with a lot of responses from comic book movie fans, one of whom asked if the rumors were true that George Clooney — who starred in 1997’s notorious Batman and Robin — would be returning, too. “Absolutely not,” Gunn replied.

That’s probably fine with Clooney, too, who played the role once and doesn’t appear to have enjoyed it. He’s even said he won’t let his wife, Amal, to ever watch it, lest she lose “respect” for him. That film, which featured Arnold Schwarzenegger as a pun-dispensing Mr. Freeze as well as Uma Thurman’s Poison Ivy, didn’t bomb exactly, but it was so poorly received that it killed the franchise dead for nearly a decade. He’s probably fine doing retro rom-coms, which don’t require him strapping on latex Batsuits with prominent nipples.

(Via The Daily Beast)

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: TIE. You People (Netflix film)

This power-packed feature film directorial debut from Kenya Barris combines the comedic genius of Eddie Murphy with the wit of Nia Long and the presence of Jonah Hill. The latter portrays Ezra Cohen, who takes a fateful rideshare with a woman, Amira Mohammed (Lauren London), and the adventure could prove to be a life changer. Ezra’s parents are portrayed by the delightful pair of David Duchovny and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and this is a modern love story, yes, but also so much more.

10: TIE. Murder In Big Horn (Showtime series streaming on Paramount+)

The world awaits Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which has been subject to delays on multiple fronts. First, this series follows similar themes within three parts that chart the centuries-long epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Big Horn County, Montana. Native journalists fire up a deep dive, and you’ll see in-depth interviews from law enforcement and Native families. When all is said and done (although not resolved), the long-suffering, grieving families will have communicated their truth through a powerful and stirring portrait of their community.

9. The Menu (Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios film streaming on HBO Max)

“Foodie horror” is a thing, and it’s a scathingly beautiful thing to witness. Ralph Fiennes portrays a sinister and downright insane bad boy of the kitchen, who goes much further in his degenerative behavior than one can imagine. You might long for relief from the chefs played by Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) and Lucas Bravo (Emily In Paris) after you watch this one, but all of it is worth the ride, especially since Anya Taylor-Joy can do no wrong on the screen.

8. The Walking Dead (AMC series on AMC+ and Netflix)

The Last Of Us viewers continue to stress how their apocalyptic wasteland series is (and this is true) more prestigious, but dammit, I will never be able to quit Daryl Dixon and friends. Soon enough, we’ll see the conclusion of Fear The Walking Dead along with at least three spinoffs, including a Maggie and Negan frenemies adventure in Manhattan, the reunion between Rick and Michonne, and Daryl, who is somehow in Paris. One can only hope that his crossbow washed ashore with him, too.

7. The Drew Barrymore Show (CBS Media Ventures show streaming on Paramount+)

Let’s get real here. I’d love to chat with Drew Barrymore about E.T. and Santa Clarita Diet, but since that probably will not happen, all due respect is going out to the best daytime talk show currently on TV. This thing is doing gangbusters on Paramount+ (watch out, Yellowstone), and her eternal optimism and commitment to a concept are contagious. Drew is a rare example of a former child star who has seen some sh*t and pushed past all of the garbage in Hollywood to truly do her own thing. Be forewarned, however, that this show will make you smile despite whatever else is happening in life.

6. Pamela, A Love Story (Documentary streaming on Netflix)

In the wake of Hulu’s Pam & Tommy, Pamela Anderson set out to tell the real story and give the finger to those who she considers “a**holes.” This project, which is produced by Brandon Lee (son of Pamela and Tommy), takes us behind the blonde bombshell curtain to give us a more textured picture of Pamela’s true personality. After five bad marriages, Pamela has a lot of stories, but this project show us her essence beyond the public image dominated by a stolen home video. That was a traumatic experience and one that caused a domino effect upon her professional and personal lives. She’s got a lot of adoration for the world, and her fans adore her, too.

5. Poker Face (Peacock series)

Natasha Lyonne continues to corner the market on tough, hard-talking characters who would be the ideal drinking buddy. She teamed up with Rian Johnson, who’s in the midst of his Knives Out trilogy and still bringing the twisty fun here. And of course, it’s obvious that Natasha’s Charlie is a not-Columbo-but-still-Columbo character who’s in command even in the face of those who attempt to shut down her ability to spot a lie. Natasha’s co-stars (Adrian Brody, Benjamin Bratt, Dascha Polanco, Lil Rel Howery, Chloe Sevigny, and more) are all giving the most, and Johnson’s still the modern master of cameos.

4. Plane (Lionsgate movie on Amazon Prime)

Gerard Butler stars in this film that he’s seemingly been prepping to launch for his whole career. As our own Mike Ryan wrote, this actioner improbably rips and shines as a perfect example of why Butler is one of the only actors who hasn’t gone the superhero route for one major reason: he doesn’t have to do so to make profitable films. He’s got creative control and is producing and making bank, and he can entertain like a mofo. Those days of dancing around in shamrock boxers really paid off, and now, he’s the guy having a blast while filming throwbacks like it ain’t no thing.

3. Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special (HBO Max special)

HBO Max has done a lot of trimming lately in the content department, but everyone’s blue-and-pink tinged supervillainess continues standing. Kaley Cuoco’s voice work and a cast of fabulous henchmen cannot be beat, so it’s time to get caught up. And whaddya know, here’s a free-standing episode that brings us Harley enjoying a first Hallmark holiday with Ivy while Bane gets frisky with skyscrapers to calamitous effect. If that doesn’t intrigue you, then I don’t know how to help you.

2. You (Netflix series)

This Penn Badgley show aims for reinvention and gets there but also suffers from a severe case of ennui in the process. Joe Goldberg has another new name, Jonathan Moore, and he’s laying low and attempting to avoid any semblance of his old stalker life. However, another stalker begins to stalk Joe, so his dream of a quiet life across the pond simply isn’t in the cards. Also, a predator cannot shake his own stripes, which means that he’s simply frustrated and dull, but there are some interesting supporting players. Lukas Gage stands out among the wealthy d-bag characters who make Joe’s skin crawl, and Tati Gabrielle’s Marienne continues to play the most nuanced female role of the show yet. She’s not quite done here, so hang tight on that note.

1. The Last Of Us (HBO series streaming on HBO Max)

As if there weren’t enough reasons to fire the latest HBO epic hit up, Melanie Lynskey’s arrival is a standout. This series also recently gave us (perhaps) the last great pandemic love story, and the pre-Super Bowl episode arrived early and will push your adrenaline levels to the max. Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin managed to deliver a rare successful video game adaptation, which will freak you out about fungus and make you wary of ever trying to make friends in the apocalypse, should it ever happen.

The two best fighters in the UFC squared off in the main event of UFC 284 from Perth, Australia, when Islam Makhachev (24-1), the No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter and the recently-crowned lightweight champ, did just enough to retain his title with a unanimous decision victory over Alexander Volkanovski (25-2), the current featherweight champion and the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

Makhachaev and Volkanovski spent the first minute testing their range, with the crowd erupting at Volkanovski’s first strike. The challenger sent Makhachaev stumbling backwards with a huge right hook, straight left combo. Makhachaev stood and traded hands with Volkanovski, dropping the challenger to a knee before earning the takedown against the cage. Makhachaev took Volkanovski’s back with less than a minute remaining in the first with his back against the cage, cranking on the challenger’s neck before the buzzer signaled the end of the round.

Volkanovski was incredibly active, refusing to let the champion control the pace. Volkanovski jumped in and dropped Makhachaev with a combination, but the champ earned a takedown and looked to swing the momentum. Volkanovski twisted out of control on the ground and made his way back to his feet, landing a glancing knee to the head on his way out. Makhachaev hurt Volkanovski with a straight left that sent the challenger backwards, but he was able to recover to throw more big shots of his own. Things slowed down a bit for Volkanovski, as Makhachaev looked to control the pace, walking the challenger backwards toward the cage. Volkanovski ended the round in dominant position, controlling the Thai clinch against the cage.

In the third, both fighters refused to give up any ground, as they traded shots while circling each other. An inside leg kick caused Makhachaev to stumble, as he went back to the Thai clinch and then transitioned the challenger to the ground. Makhachaev took Volkanovski’s back yet again, but he made his way back to his feet and turned into the champ against the cage. They traded bombs on the break, again refusing to give an inch in the evenly-matched bout.

To begin the championship rounds, Makhachaev’s southpaw stance gave Volkanovski problems before earning a takedown just two minutes in to the round. Makhachaev took the challenger’s back as he tried to make his way to the cage, locking his body up and wrapping his arms around his neck, effectively running out the clock on the round.

In the fifth and final round, Volkanovksi knew he needed to win the round to even have a shot at winning the fight. He continued to press forward, looking for any opportunity to cause damage. Makhachaev cut him with a shot to his left eye and Volkanovksi fought out of two takedown attempts. With two minutes to go, Volkanovski emptied the tank, throwing everything he had and earning a takedown of his own. Volkanovksi sat Makhachaev with a big right hand, then jumped on top and tried to end the fight with less than a minute to go. Volkanovski postured up and landed bombs before the bell sounded for this fight to go the distance. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 in favor of the champion, while one scored it 49-46.

Makhachaev submitted Charles Oliveira in October last year, taking care of the former champion in just two rounds. His win capped a meteoric rise that saw Makhachaev fight three times in 2021 and twice last year en route to becoming the top dog in the division.

Volkonovski’s resume heading into Saturday night may have been even more impressive. Wins over José Aldo and Max Holloway kicked things off in 2019, with victories over Brian Ortega and the Korean Zombie mixed in. He hinted at returning to featherweight for his next fight, with Yair Rodríguez winning the interim title earlier in the show.

For the first time since the 2016-17 NBA season, Terrence Ross will suit up for someone other than the Orlando Magic. Ross, the veteran swingman who has provided instant offense off the bench in Orlando for years, agreed to a buyout with the team on the heels of the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

As a result, Ross will be able to hit the free agent market, although he is not going to be available for long. Multiple reports indicated that the Dallas Mavericks were the frontrunners to acquire the 32-year-old wing. But in the early hours of Sunday morning, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Ross, following a push by high-ranking members of the organization, will change course and join the Phoenix Suns.

It’s been a busy couple of days for the Suns, which pulled off a high-profile move to acquire Kevin Durant and TJ Warren for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and some picks. While Ross is not able to bring all the things that Bridges and Johnson brought to the team, he should be able to provide a little more depth and scoring on the wings for a team that could use it. On the year, Ross is averaging eight points in 22.5 minutes per game and is knocking down 38.1 percent of his attempts from three, his best mark in four seasons.

Reggie Jackson’s time with the Los Angeles Clippers came to an end at the NBA trade deadline, as the team sent the veteran guard to the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that landed them Mason Plumlee. It was reported shortly after the trade got announced that Jackson and the Hornets would eventually come to terms on a contract buyout that would let him suit up for a team with postseason aspirations, and on Saturday night, we learned that Jackson will return to the Western Conference as the member of a contender.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, once Jackson’s buyout goes through, he plans on signing a deal with the Denver Nuggets, which currently hold the No. 1 seed in the West.

It’s a bit ironic that Jackson is heading to the Nuggets, as the Clippers agreed to a trade at the deadline with Denver that landed them second-year guard Bones Hyland in exchange for a pair of second-round picks. Jackson should be able to slide right into the team’s rotation and give them a ball-handler in the backcourt who can spell Jamal Murray for stretches or play off the ball when he’s on the floor with Nikola Jokic.

Jackson averaged 10.9 points and 3.5 assists in 25.7 minutes per game for Los Angeles this year.