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A lot of movies and show have been affected by the pandemic, and one of them was H. Jon Benjamin‘s other beloved cartoon, Archer, FXX’s long-running spy comedy. Once upon a time its 11th season was to bow on May 6. But once the nation and industry went into lockdown, that had to change, due, the network said, to “production challenges and scheduling issues.” But it’s still happening, in September, and the show released its action- and gag-packed trailer as proof.

The ad was dropped on Friday night, during the show’s Comic Con panel. It finds our functioning alkie spy hero awakening from a coma, unsure of who he is. But he evidently snaps back into place quickly. One reason Archer has kept its quality control highover its decade-plus existence is by reinventing itself, taking big risks and refusing to give fans the same-old. But it looks like the show is returning to its roots, with some changes. (Cyrill has abs now, for one.)

During the Virtual Comic Con panel, Team Archer revealed that the first two episodes will premiere on the same night, on September 16. There will also be at least two big guest appearances, from Jamie Lee Curtis and Simon Pegg.

You can watch the trailer in the video above. Archer returns on Sept. 16.

(Via EW)

Rick and Morty fans know they have to be patient. The show is (in)famous for the huge gaps between seasons, or even breaking the fourth and most recent one in two. It will surely take a good long while for Justin Roiland and team to fulfill their promise of 70 more episodes, 10 of which they’ve made good on so far. So if you’re already aching for Season 5, then here’s something at least: a crude, very rough draft version of a scene from an episode we’ll be seeing at some point.

The scene was dropped online during a virtual panel Friday night that wasn’t part of the ongoing at-home Comic Con; in fact, the Rick and Morty session went head-to-head with the one for Archer. The panel included co-creator Dan Harmon and cast members Sarah Chalke, Spencer Grammer, and Chris Parnell, and they mentioned Team Rick and Morty is laboring over Season 6 from remotely during the pandemic, and assured fans that Season 5 is already in the can.

Speaking of which, the scene they shared offers a glimpse at some of the hijinks en route in the forthcoming season. It opens with Rick seemingly fatally wounded on some faraway planet, and having some deep thoughts. “I can see the end,” he tells Morty. “Oh god there’ nothing. I know I’ve always said that but my god there’s really nothing.” He’s not quite dead, though, and in the 2 ½-minute clip we get a tentacled beastie, an ocean god, and yet another romantic plea from Morty to his beloved Jessica. The scene is fully drawn and mapped out — it just needs, well, more colors, detail, etc.

There’s no release date for Season 5 as of yet, but hopefully this should tide you over. Also of note: Harmon said there was one animated show he’d consider doing a Rick and Morty crossover episode with, namely BoJack Horseman. Two angry alcoholic cartoon characters in a room might be too much existential dread for one show.

You can watch the clip in the video above.

(Via EW)

For the most part, the bubble situation in Orlando has gone well. There were a few minor hiccups at the start, with a couple of players breaking quarantine protocols for food delivery, but otherwise, the safety precautions put in place to protect the players and other league personnel seem to be working.

Several players, however, have been forced to leave the bubble recently to attend to personal matters. Clippers teammates Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell both left Orlando abruptly last week, and on Friday Lou Williams became the latest to make a sudden departure that was being described as an “excused absence.” All are expected to return.

Rookie sensation Zion Williamson left more than a week due to attend to an “urgent family medical emergency,” and as recently as Wednesday of this week, there was still no clear timetable for his return. However, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweeted on Friday night that Zion has returned to Orlando and is back on campus.

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson has returned to Orlando NBA Campus tonight.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2020

The Pelicans Twitter account later confirmed that, along with a statement from Zion thanking the fans for their support.

Statement from Zion:

“My family and I appreciate the love and respect that everyone showed us while we dealt with a private family matter. I‘m excited to rejoin my team in Orlando and look forward to getting back on the court with my teammates after quarantine.” https://t.co/LRrHfLnIgX

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 24, 2020

Zion was reportedly undergoing daily COVID testing during his absence, which would shorten the amount of quarantine time he would have to undergo once he returned to the bubble. The Pelicans are slated to scrimmage against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, but even with his daily testing, it’s unlikely Zion would be cleared to play by then. Regardless, it’s good news for Pelicans fans who, up to now, faced uncertainty about his return for the restart.

Colin Jost has admitted at least one episode of Saturday Night Live hasn’t stood the test of time. Predictably, Donald Trump is very much involved. Jost was interviewed on MSNBC while promoting his new memoir A Very Punchable Face and was asked about a line from the book where he addressed Trump’s infamous 2015 appearance hosting SNL, where he danced to a parody of Hotline Bling while running for president.

In the book, Jost compared the appearance in SNL history to a Confederate statue and elaborated on that sentiment in the interview.

“There have been some hosts over the years who are real “confederate statues” of entertainment,” Jost wrote. “And that episode of SNL has not aged well, politically or comedically.”

Asked about that line by Andrea Mitchell, Jost called the appearance “surreal” and detailed how he feels Trump used ‘SNL’ on his way to the White House.

“I write about it in the book because I wanted people to have a sense of what that was like behind the scenes. Just look at this clip that’s playing,” Jost says as Trump’s Hotline Bling video played in a box alongside his face. “All these clips are so surreal when you look back. I think it also speaks to what he’s done and how he can feel charming or even manipulative sometimes with people.”

Jost joked about other people who have also written about Trump in recent months and how they share a similar experience with Trump manipulating them and then moving on.

“Think about it with all the people in his administration that he’s gone through and people that have learned that lesson and are now writing books about it,” he said. “I wanted people to be able to understand what was going on while he hosted and what that week was like because it was a pretty weird week for us on a lot of levels.”

Jost pointed out that Trump was not a passive host at all, and was at every rehearsal the show had even while he was running a national campaign that would eventually get him elected president.

“I think most people assumed in America that he would be burned out by that point and that campaign would have been over,” he said. “Instead he was fully in the middle of the campaign and somehow was also hosting our show every day.”

SNL alum Taran Killam has publicly spoken about the episode as well, saying how much the cast and writers “hated” the experience. So at the very least it’s a re-confirmation from the show’s co-head writer that those involved ultimately regret what happened. In a slightly related story, Jost has said in other promotional interviews that he’s “definitely” returning to the sketch comedy show despite admitting earlier in the month he wasn’t sure what his future holds.

[h/t Deadline]

Twitter exploded this morning over chatter that the New York Times essentially confirmed the existence of UFOs in an article about the Pentagon’s secret official UFO unit. They didn’t, but we’ll get to that in a second. The article in question confirms that despite the Pentagon’s earlier statements that it had disbanded a once-covert program charged with investigating UFOs, the program was actually still operational and had been renamed the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force and transferred into the Office of Naval Intelligence, where officials continue to study “mystifying encounters” between military pilots and unexplained aerial phenomenon.

A UFO task force part of Naval Intelligence? Sounds like a job for Space Force to us.

The program appeared most recently in a Senate Committee Report that outlined 2021 National Intelligence Agency spending and listed that the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force’s responsibility was “to standardize collection and reporting” on sightings of unexplained aerial vehicles, with a requirement to report some of its findings to the public within 180 days after the passage of the Intelligence Authorization Act, according to The New York Times.

That news and a quote from astrophysicist, Eric W. Davis, who previously worked as a subcontractor and a consultant for the Pentagon’s former UFO program, which stated that he had given a classified briefing to a Defense Department agency this March about the retrieval of materials from “off-world vehicles not made on this earth.” has left many a Twitter-user hoping that within a few months we might finally see some evidence of UFOs. Unfortunately, that’s probably not the case.

As credible a source as Davis is, the article mentions that his inability to determine the source of materials that had examined in the past led him to conclude that “we couldn’t’ make it ourselves,” whether that actually means the materials are in fact from an off-world vehicle, remains to be revealed. Additionally, an earlier version of the New York Times article inaccurately reported remarks from retired Senate majority leader Harry Reid that seemed to suggest that crashes of UFO had previously occurred and that retrieved material had been studied secretly in the past. However, the New York Times has sent corrected those statements.

The correction reads:

Correction: July 24, 2020

An earlier version of this article inaccurately rendered remarks attributed to Harry Reid, the retired Senate majority leader from Nevada. Mr. Reid said he believed that crashes of objects of unknown origin may have occurred and that retrieved materials should be studied; he did not say that crashes had occurred and that retrieved materials had been studied secretly for decades.

Admittedly, saying crashes “had occurred” sounds a whole lot more definitive than saying he “believed” that crashes had occurred, but unfortunately, this mistake is on the New York Times, not former Senate majority Harry Reid. Instead, the program’s main focus is on discovering whether potential adversaries might be using aviation technology that could possibly threaten the safety of the United States. So while the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force is set to reveal something soon, the chances of it being an alien aircraft look a little slim… even though that’s what we really want it to be.

A Marvel show is coming to Hulu. Yes, that’s correct and quite a development, but while Helstrom technically sits in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s currently intended to be a standalone story that was co-produced by Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios (part of Disney TV Studios). Oh, this is a dark one, all fiery and brimstone-y, for as this Comic-Con teaser trailer shows, it includes what’s possibly the worst family reunion ever. And a slight spelling modification.

In the comics, Daimon Hellstrom is the Son of Satan, although the TV show has notably gone with a single “l” for his last name, we’ll have to wait and see how many other changes are coming for the TV adaptation, but first, take a (frightened) look at what Hulu is presenting as Helstrom’s family portrait. Yikes.

The show’s protagonist, of course, will be Daimon (Tom Austen). He’s an exorcist and an ethics professor; he and his sister, Ana/Santana (Sydney Lemmon in a The Crying Game-esque wig), will reckon with their status as children of a serial killer. Their dynamic is a fraught one, and their mom, Victoria (Elizabeth Marvel — her real name), is a real (institutionalized) piece of work and apparently of no assistance. This should be one of Hulu’s bigger shows for fall, and the streaming service announced today that a full 10-episode season will be ready to roll accordingly.

Helstrom‘s first season comes to Hulu on October 16.

In a historically frenzied offseason for the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury were determined not to be left out of the action. The team signed star guard Skylar Diggins-Smith from the Dallas Wings in a blockbuster move, slotting her in alongside Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner to establish a new “Big Three” in the league. Last season, Phoenix advanced to the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but fell short in first round. Taurasi struggled to make it onto the floor after undergoing back surgery for a disc protrusion in April and then suffering a hamstring injury, and only made six appearances for the Mercury in 2019.

The team couldn’t adequately make up for the loss of their point guard and other injuries whittled the active roster down, but there were some bright spots in Phoenix. Griner continued to put up strong numbers, Leilani Mitchell stepped up in Taurasi’s absence to win Most Improved Player for the second time in her career, and DeWanna Bonner was a reliable force for the Mercury. The latter two are no longer with the Mercury, however, as Mitchell was picked up by the Mystics in February and Bonner has since departed to Connecticut.

Heading into the 2020 WNBA season, the Mercury have freshened their roster added Bria Hartley and Shatori Kimbrough-Walker, two experienced guards who can create scoring opportunities. Forward Jessica Breland was deemed medically exempt and will not play this year, so the team brought in center Kia Vaughn to help shore things up in the frontcourt with Griner. With the possibility that this could be 38-year-old Taurasi’s final year in the league, the Mercury will be pushing hard for a chance at the championship in Florida.

The Mercury look like one of the most formidable teams in the league with a deep and experienced roster, and are early favorites for a title run.

WUBBLE ROSTER

Nia Coffey
Sophie Cunningham
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Brittney Griner
Bria Hartley
Alanna Smith
Diana Taurasi
Brianna Turner
Kia Vaughn
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brittney Griner: One of the few consistent performers for the injury-riddled Mercury last season, Griner averaged a league-leading 20.7 points and two blocks as well as 7.2 rebounds per game while having the highest usage rate. In her seventh year in the league, the 6’9 center was named a WNBA All-Star for the sixth time in her career and received a spot on the All-WNBA first team for the second time. She has continued to improve year-over-year, and last season, Griner became one of the most dominant post players in the league, averaging a league-best 14.1 points in the paint. The biggest of the big three, Griner is set to have a big year and will be expected to once again be in the MVP conversation.

Skylar Diggins-Smith: Diggins-Smith missed the 2019 season after giving birth to her son in April. But in 2018, she did it all for Dallas, averaging 17.9 points, 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per contest. She also suited up for Team USA during its college tour in the fall. The star guard is a very energetic player, and is excellent at running the point while also being a nuisance on defense. At 29 years old, she will definitely upgrade this Mercury team, both as a leader and as someone who can give Taurasi chances to rest.

EXPECTATIONS

Injuries, suspensions, and and overall lack of consistency made it hard for the Mercury to build chemistry and succeed last season. Losing Bonner and Mitchell, who really helped carry the team into the playoffs last year, will hurt, but with a healthy Taurasi and the addition of Diggins-Smith, Phoenix can compete for the title. With those two on-the-ball guards, Phoenix will have to work hard to make sure both players get their touches and run plays that ensure the two can perform at their best levels for the team.

The Mercury will also need Alanna Smith, Brianna Turner, and Sophie Cunningham to grow into more reliable players so that the scoring workload does not fall solely onto the big three. Talented as Taurasi, Griner, and Diggins-Smith are, they cannot expect to contend without a full team effort from the players around them.

X-FACTOR

Bria Hartley: The former New York Liberty guard describes herself as “the perfect combo guard,” someone who can hold the rock and run the offense but also knows when to use her speed to get out and up the floor. She is a solid shooter, averaging 9.8 points on 38 percent shooting and with a 33 percent clip from beyond the arc. Her addition to the fold should certainly help the team spread the floor and she can help get others looks as well; last season, she averaged 3.2 assists per game.

BIGGEST ON-COURT QUESTION

How strong is the Mercury’s depth and chemistry? Last season saw the Mercury’s roster tested to the limits as players fell left and right with injuries. Taurasi’s injury was the biggest one of all, and the team certainly needs her to be back at full strength if they have any real hope of winning their fourth championship. The addition of Diggins-Smith will certainly help take the load off the Mercury legend, but Phoenix needs to ensure that when the pair are on the floor together they get enough touches and have enough space.

The Indiana Pacers got a boost before their Orlando bubble schedule began when All-Star guard Victor Oladipo, who was not expected to take the floor as he continued to work his way back to 100 percent from the quad tear that delayed his 2020 debut until January, reversed course and decided to play. But while that’s excellent news, a separate Pacers star has been dealing with an injury issue in recent days that has now caused him to leave the bubble altogether.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis has to leave the bubble in the hopes of finding treatment for a foot injury that has left him hampered recently.

Earlier this week, Sabonis discussed the injury, which had been described as plantar fasciitis. The former Gonzaga standout explained that he’s taking a wait-and-see approach with the situation.

“With this kind of injury, you can’t really circle (a date),” Sabonis said, per Ethan Sears of the Indianapolis Star. “Every person is different how long it heals, how long it doesn’t. We’re just trying to do the best we can with everything we have here.”

It goes without saying, but losing Sabonis — who is averaging career-highs in scoring (18.5 points per game) and rebounding (12.4 boards per game) — would be an absolutely brutal blow for the Pacers, especially following such optimistic news about Oladipo. Indiana’s bubble slate kicks off next Saturday when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a game with major seeding implications ahead of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The tragic death of comedian Brody Stevens is still being felt in the entertainment world more than a year later, and some Los Angeles Dodgers fans have managed to pay tribute to the late entertainer even in a season where people aren’t allowed at the ballpark. A life-sized cutout of Stevens has made its way to the stands at Dodger Stadium as a tribute to Stevens, who was a big baseball fan and died suddenly in February of 2019.

As COVID-19 has impacted sports around the world, the return to play has come without fans in the stands. Some leagues choose to put mannequins in seats, while others started putting images of real fans in stadiums for a fee they donated to charity. A handful of baseball teams in the United States have followed suit, offering fans foul balls if they happen to get their cardboard cutouts dinged during games.

As it turns out, some friends of Stevens got the money together and his image was approved by the Dodgers. Before Thursday’s opening day, the cutout became a bit of a mini-game, with the people involved offering a prize if someone was able to spot him on TV.

Of course, the cutout was shown on ESPN during the broadcast on Thursday night, and a number of people shared the image and remembered Stevens online.

One comedian, Anthony Jeselnik, pointed out that it was somehow fitting that Stevens would show up during a commercial.

As Adrian Garro wrote for MLB.com last year, Stevens was a baseball player in college and maintained his fandom throughout his life, so it’s certainly a loving tribute to Stevens that resonated with a lot of people when he showed up on national television once more on Thursday night.

Longtime Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is looking to sell the team to someone new. The headlines in recent days have been dominated by a group looking to purchase the squad led by Kevin Garnett, the greatest player in franchise history and someone who has been ultra-critical of Taylor in the past, but on Friday, we learned of another group led by a separate retired hooper.

According to Pat Graham and Dave Campbell of the Associated Press, Arron Afflalo and a group of investors with some serious financial muscle want to get involved in the bidding process. Not only that, but the group hopes to jump into the fray soon, as the report indicates that Afflalo and co. plan on bidding “no later than this weekend.”

The people familiar with Afflalo’s group said the team won’t be relocated. The 34-year-old Afflalo would be the face of the group, with venture capitalist Brock Berglund spearheading the financing. The only Black primary owner in the NBA now is Michael Jordan in Charlotte.

It’s a diverse group seeking to place minorities in positions of power and uplift the community in the wake of the death of George Floyd, the handcuffed Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for nearly 8 minutes.

Afflalo, who retired following the 2017-18 season, never played for the Timberwolves, but had a respectable career as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Sacramento Kings. He suited up for former Minnesota coach Flip Saunders as a member of the Pistons, and Saunders’ son, Ryan, is now in charge of the Timberwolves. Revered for his tenacity and savvy on the defensive end of the floor, Afflalo averaged 10.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over his 11-year NBA career.