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As the NBA enters a busy offseason, Ron Wyden has tough words for any moneyed interests looking to take the Portland Trail Blazers out of Rip City: “Nobody takes the Blazers team out of town unless they stomp all over me in broad daylight,” the Oregon senator tells Rolling Stone.

The Trail Blazers are up for sale, at a moment when NBA franchises are fetching astonishing valuations. In March, the Boston Celtics changed hands for $6 billion; the Lakers agreed to be sold for $10 billion earlier this month. The sale announcement for the Blazers,...

Zohran Mamdani is making headlines for leading an unapologetically progressive campaign amid the tumultuous periods, nabbing the nomination against former mayor Andrew Cuomo for New York City’s mayoral race. And like many political figures, Mamdani has some Hollywood ties, albeit more organic, as his mother is the revered Indian filmmaker Mira Nair.

While known for hits like Salaam Bombay! and Vanity Fair, Nair once helmed a Denzel Washington-led rom-com, Mississippi Masala, which doesn’t get enough flowers.

Mira Nair directed Denzel Washington’s revered rom-com, Mississippi Masala

With a 92% rating on the Tomatometer, Mississippi Masala is arguably one of the most overlooked rom-coms of the ’90s, as it failed to make a big splash commercially upon its release, grossing $7.3 M (via Box Office Mojo). However, its underwhelming box-office run doesn’t paint the full picture, as the movie remains evergreen for its depiction of an interracial romance between...

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Whether or not you’re a die-hard WNBA fan (and if you’re not, you should be), there’s one name that’s impossible to ignore: Caitlin Clark. The 23-year-old Indiana Fever guard first went viral during the 2023 NCAA tournament while playing for the University of Iowa. Fast forward to 2025, and she’s a household name — not just in women’s athletics but across the entire professional sporting world.

Here’s Three Highest-Rated Basketball Movies On Ott! (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

If you have ever watched the 2018 sports comedy film Campeones (or even if you haven’t) and if it left you inspired and craving more sports stories with heart, you’re in for a treat. Here are three top-rated basketball movies that deserve your attention. And the great news: they are all available to stream on Indian Ott platforms. Here’s where you can watch them!

3. Hoosiers (1986) Streaming On – Amazon Prime Video Rt Score – 92% Directed By – David Anspaugh

Plot: The sports drama follows the story of Norman Dale (played by Gene Hackman), a basketball coach with a troubled past, who gets one last chance to turn his life around by training a small-town high school basketball team. With the help of Shooter (Dennis Hopper), a local man who loves the game but struggles with alcoholism, Norman works hard...

Denzel Washington initially didn’t have a particular name in mind when asked about the greatest of all time in the NBA. However, he had a particular story about an NBA legend, which makes it pretty obvious who the acting legend considers the Goat. Being a huge fan of basketball, Washington got to experience firsthand the fame enjoyed by Michael Jordan.

Washington also revealed that he was a huge Lakers fan. He closely observes the game and knows well enough to assess the greatness of a player. Interestingly, he appeared as a basketball coach in the 1998 sports drama film, He Got Game, alongside professional player Ray Allen.

Denzel Washington reveals his encounter with Goat Michael Jordan Denzel Washington during his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Credits: ABC

Denzel Washington‘s love for basketball was brought up when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He is a huge Lakers fan, a...

The prosecution is about to wrap up its case during the ongoing trial against P Diddy at the Manhattan Federal Court. During the court proceedings, many celebrities were mentioned by name. However, Cassie Ventura, Kid Cudi, and Dawn Richard were the only celebrities who testified in court. Nicole Blank Becker, who represented R. Kelly, explained why the prosecution did not bring more celebrities to the stand.

Diddy is facing five counts of serious charges, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of s*x trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in pr*stitution. If charged, the hip-hop mogul is looking at life in prison.

Why were celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio & Usher not called to testify in P Diddy’s trial? Diddy in a still from Black-ish | Credits: ABC

In the trial against P Diddy, Cassie Ventura and Kid Cudi appear to be the only star witnesses until now.

Eric Bauza is a Canadian-American television and film voice actor best known for his work in the Looney Tunes franchise, namely as Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in various projects like Space Jam: A New Legacy and The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. Some of his other notable roles include Puss in Boots in The Adventures of Puss in Boots and Foop in The Fairly OddParents. He has also voiced several characters in popular television shows on Cartoon Network like Rick and Morty, Steven Universe, and Bob’s Burgers.

Bauza has won three Emmy awards for his work in Looney Tunes Cartoons from 2020-2024, Bugs Bunny Builders and Teen Titans Go!

Eric Bauza Biography: Early Life, Age, Family, Education

Bauza was born on December 7, 1979 (Eric Bauza’s age 45) in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto, Canada. His parents immigrated to Canada from the Philippines, and his Filipino heritage...

ColorCreative, the management and production company co-founded by Issa Rae, Deniese Davis and Talitha Watkins, is launching the third year of its Find Your People Program.

Designed to elevate emerging creative voices, Fypp aims to nurture talent, foster community and expand access to the entertainment industry, with partners including Canva, Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand Black Community Commitment, Mac/Viva Glam, Ghetto Film School and Pop Culture Collaborative.

The program is inspired by Stanford Business School’s Interpersonal Dynamics course, preparing participants to lead with confidence in high-stakes creative environments. Returning as executive producer and producing mentor is Bronwyn Cornelius, whose work on 2019’s Clemency earned the Sundance Grand Jury Prize.

“Fypp is our commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive creative industry,” Watkins said in a statement. “We’re not just discovering the next wave of storytellers — we’re preparing them to lead with vision, resilience and impact.”

Ahead of year three’s kickoff,...

Diddy’s trial began earlier in May 2025, and since then, new revelations have been coming to light every day the defamed mogul steps into the courthouse. From disturbing details about his romantic relationships to testimonies from people who had spent time with him, the case has got to be one of the worst to come out of Hollywood.

The thing that has been on everyone’s minds since Diddy’s arrest are the freak-offs, the rapper’s alleged s*x-filled, drug-fueled parties. We have heard countless stories about these infamous parties, including speculation on which Hollywood A-listers have attended them. Now, let’s take a look at four revelations made about the freak-offs in court.

1. How many freak-offs did Cassie Ventura participate in? Cassie Ventura in Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) | Credits: Walt Disney Studios

Motion Pictures

Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ ex-girlfriend had filed a lawsuit against him in 2023, one that...

The 2025 NBA Finals are heating up!

Game 5 of the championship series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers is happening tonight, and you can watch it live on ABC at 8:30 p.m. Et from the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

The series is currently tied 2-2, so tonight’s game is a big one as both teams fight to take the lead.

Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the league Mvp this year, scored a game-changing 15 points in just the last four minutes of Game 4, helping lead his team to a comeback win. He finished with 35 points total!

Here’s everything you need to know…

Date: Monday, June 16

Time: 8:30 p.m. Et

Channel: ABC

Location: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Ok

How the series has gone so far:

Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104

Game...

In one of the most mind-boggling and confounding turn of events in the history of Hollywood controversies, the P Diddy allegations have been taken to court in a much more massive federal criminal court trial than anyone might have expected. What’s making it even more interesting are all the other names that are being embroiled in this contentious fire.

While the music mogul himself is currently standing at the receiving end of disgrace as his trial unfolds in court, many other names have since popped up in the case. But the more surprising part is that Katt Williams actually predicted long ago that celebrities are now at risk as the Diddy trial’s ripple effect might have him snitch on them in court!

Katt Williams predicted long ago that celebrities would be embroiled in the P Diddy fire P Diddy in the Closer to God music video. | Credits: Diddy / YouTube.

The now-disgraced music mogul P Diddy is currently being sincerely examined in a court of law due to all the allegations against him, and this scrutiny into his past and love life is especially bringing about some truths that people never really knew of. Like his previous love affairs that were never quite confirmed publicly by either party.

This includes the record producer’s being romantically linked with numerous celebrities, including the likes of Lori Harvey, Steve Harvey’s stepdaughter, and model Tina Louise, with whom the rapper was reported to have had a “casual” and “fun” romance, among others. That said, here’s a deeper dive into those rumored relationships.

P Diddy reportedly dated Lori Harvey and Tina Louise Lori Harvey. | Credit: @loriharvey / Ig.

While Diddy has made headlines for all the women he has been romantically linked with in the public eye to date, he has also garnered...

Before social media debates and legacy wars, there were Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, two of the most iconic players to ever share a court. Shaq once called himself Superman. But even Superman knew when another hero was rising beside him.

A resurfaced clip from their early 2000s championship run is making the rounds online, and it’s hitting fans right in the feels. The video shows a young Kobe Bryant, fresh off a three-peat, wearing a Michael Jordan jersey. Standing next to him, Shaq then calls themselves the Superman and Batman of basketball. A small moment, but one that felt huge in hindsight.

Shaquille O’Neal calls Kobe Bryant the Batman to his Superman…

The now-viral video dates back to the early 2000s, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ golden era, when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were fresh off completing a historic three-peat, winning three consecutive NBA championships...

Two-time Oscar winner Sam Rockwell isn’t just impressed by big box office returns; he’s captivated by filmmakers like Ryan Coogler and Patty Jenkins who are bold enough to take risks and emerge victorious. In a recent interview with Variety, Rockwell made headlines for his praise of Coogler’s work in the recent 1930s-based horror movie, Sinners.

Rockwell likened the success of Sinners to that of Wonder Woman, helmed by Patty Jenkins. His comment comes as an encouraging pat on the back- an acknowledgement of Coogler’s writing and directorial prowess in delivering an R-rated, genre-bending movie full of sensuality and gritty themes. Rockwell’s enthusiasm in praising the film underscores his feeling that such movies are an emerging beacon of hope for Hollywood.

Sam Rockwell is in awe of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners

When Sam Rockwell praised Sinners, he wasn’t simply admiring a well-delivered movie- he was...

Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs’ trial has taken an interesting turn as more explosive details have been revealed. One of the rapper’s ex-girlfriends, who chose to remain anonymous and used the pseudonym ‘Jane’ while testifying, revealed more details about the rapper’s s*x life.

Delving deeper into their freak-off sessions, the ex revealed there were times they would role-play at the behest of the music mogul. Shocking to hear was that the rapper would compare himself to famous sports stars, including Michael Jordan, who is now apparently upset at being named during Diddy’s ongoing trial.

Diddy allegedly role-played as Michael Jordan during freak-offs P Diddy | Credits: Arthur / Cc-by-sa 2.0 / via Wikimedia Commons

Diddy‘s anonymous ex-girlfriend spent four days revealing the lifestyle of the disgraced music mogul, from their relationship to the infamous freak-off parties. During her recent testimony, ‘Jane’ revealed details about their s*x life and Combs’ s*xual appetite,...

The four-episode saga Chimp Crazy, which in August became HBO’s most watched docuseries since 2020’s McMillions, follows Tonia Haddix, a fiercely spray-tanned Missouri animal broker who has pled guilty to multiple felony charges related to the well-being of her pet chimpanzee Tonka. By the end of the series, director Eric Goode had informed PETA that Haddix was planning to euthanize Tonka to avoid legal retribution, after which the primate was relocated to a chimp sanctuary.

Initially, Haddix was furious with Goode. He’d enlisted a proxy director while shooting some of Chimp Crazy to avoid outing himself as one of the engines behind the similar Netflix megahit Tiger King, whose principal subject, Joe Exotic, is serving a 21-year prison sentence. But Haddix also relished the attention she got from Goode’s cameras, eventually befriending him. Since August, he has counseled her to stop selling baby primates to people unprepared...

P Diddy’s trial is ongoing at the Manhattan Federal Court, where Cassie Ventura, Dawn Richard, and several others have taken the stand against him. An ex-girlfriend of the hip-hop mogul testified against him under the pseudonym Jane. She described being pressured into participating in demeaning s*xual performances. Her details included some graphic descriptions and mentions of NBA legends.

Diddy is facing five counts of serious charges, including one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of s*x trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in pr*stitution. There were reports that famous celebrities with ties to Diddy were lawyering up to avoid testifying in the trial. If charged, the hip-hop mogul is looking at life in prison.

P Diddy and his ex-girlfriend used the names of NBA legends as their s*x nicknames Diddy in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Credits: FX

P Diddy‘s former girlfriend...

When you’re 12 years old, everything that happens is a “matter of international security,” according to Ramy Youssef. His animated series #1 Happy Family USA literalizes that for its hero, Rumi, a tween Egyptian boy growing up in post-9/11 New Jersey. As a Muslim American dealing with widespread xenophobia, Rumi has to worry about more than just whether his crush likes him.

” ‘I didn’t get invited to Courtney’s pool party’ is 9/11 when you’re a kid,” Youssef says. “This is where I really draw from my own real childhood, where you go, ‘What did Courtney say behind my back?’ But then, ‘And are the phones in our house being tapped?’ “

#1 Happy Family USA creator Ramy Youssef Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

The fact that the sitcom, which Youssef co-created with Pam Brady, is animated gives the comedian free rein to take his often serious premise to ludicrous levels. Rumi, voiced by Youssef,...

Sports documentaries have long been a staple of sports culture, often offering a deeper dive into iconic moments, behind-the-scenes rivalries, and the personalities who define an era. But in the streaming age, the genre is evolving — and fantasy-inspired narratives are at the centre of it. Whether it’s the intense stat-driven focus of Formula 1: Drive to Survive or the front-office chess matches in Quarterback, modern sports documentaries are beginning to mirror the data-rich, strategic mindset found in Daily Fantasy Sports (Dfs) communities.

That crossover isn’t accidental. Platforms like Lines — which cater to fans who analyze player performances daily — reflect a growing demand for content that goes beyond the scoreboard and into the “why” behind every play. Streaming services are taking note, creating documentaries that appeal to fans who want both the drama and the data.

From Highlight Reels to Human Calculators

Traditional sports documentaries often celebrated key victories or personal struggles,...

Money in the Bank has always been one of those must-watch events that keep us on the edge of our seats. We all have childhood memories of the chaos and excitement, and even now, it’s still one of WWE’s most thrilling PPVs.

Unlike anything else, this match is pure unpredictability, a ladder match where multiple superstars battle it out to grab the briefcase, which guarantees a championship match anytime within the next year. It’s led to some of the craziest, most unexpected moments in WWE history, making it a fan favorite every single time.

Who is the most successful/ Money in the Bank wrestler? Edge with his WWE championship title | Credits-wwe

Edge is basically the Michael Jordan of Money in the Bank. He’s the only superstar to win back-to-back Mitb matches and cash in successfully both times, in 2008 and 2009. That’s the wild thing about Mitb,...

According to South Park co-creator Trey Parker, The Lyons Group once offered him a buttload of money to direct a long-forgotten Barney movie if he could only fit his sense of humor under a G rating. That’s like if an NBA team tried to pay Michael Jordan millions of dollars to play basketball without jumping.

Even before South Park premiered on Comedy Central back in late 1997, the entertainment industry understood that Parker and his creative part Matt Stone were destined to be massively successful, and all of Hollywood was clamoring to capitalize on their talent. The two stop-motion short films that originated the characters and style of South Park, both titled The Spirit of Christmas, were cult hits in entertainment circles, as was Parker and Stone’s black comedy live-action film Cannibal! The Musical.

However, none of Parker and Stone’s early work indicated that the pair were especially interested in family-friendly projects,...

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Air Jordans are arguably the most famous shoes of all time. The sneaker line — masterminded by Michael Jordan and Nike — has produced some of the world’s most recognizable, sought-after shoes, starting with 1984’s Jordan 1 Og, all the way through to the ongoing Travis Scott x Air Jordan releases.

But there’s a catch with the coveted, stylish sneakers: All the fame means Jordans can be hard to track down.

Before Michael B. Jordan worked with Ryan Coogler on Sinners or found fame with Sylvester Stallone in Creed, he was a simple student, a common person, and a lover of acting and basketball.

Although the iconic star has worked in these big movies and franchises, Michael B. Jordan got his first big break even before the Creed franchise did in 2015. The actor had a significant role in the 2002 show The Wire, and it broke his heart when his character was killed off in season one of the show.

Michael B. Jordan was really sad after his time on The Wire

It was 2002, and The Wire had just made it onto national television, and Michael B. Jordan was allowed to portray the role of Wallace in the show. Although he was 15 years old, Jordan was good at what he portrayed in front of the camera.

Michael B. Jordan played Wallace in...

Audiences have responded incredibly favorably to Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan’s most recent collaboration, Sinners. The success of the movie has also sparked discussions about a potential sequel.

While there’s no official confirmation of a sequel to Sinners, the film’s ending and mid-credit scenes have sparked considerable speculation about a potential follow-up. The mid-credit scene set in 1992 also leaves the door open for a sequel, possibly exploring the intervening decades or introducing other supernatural threats.

At the box office, the film has made over $200 million domestically and $318 million internationally, demonstrating its significant success. However, Coogler has stuck to his decision to forgo a sequel despite the film’s enormous success.

What did Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler say about the possibility of Sinners 2?

Michael B. Jordan has shown interest in revisiting the Sinners universe. As per Collider’s April 28 report, when asked about a potential...

When we come to think of the shrewdest and most cunning businessmen, the name of Vincent Kennedy McMahon, more popularly known as Vince McMahon, is up there. Despite his legacy being tarnished over legal issues since 2024, it can’t be denied that he revolutionized the wrestling industry, becoming the biggest sports entertainment brand with his WWF/WWE.

Interestingly enough, over the years, there have been many instances where he has outright ascertained the claims of him being outright petty. From firing superstars for talking back to him to sacking big talents without hesitation, the Evil Genius’ ego is as big as it gets.

However, sometimes pettiness reaches new heights because Mr. McMahon wants to prove his point. This is how it went in 2009 when he made the LA Lakers and Denver Nuggets face off inside the ring after Raw was forced to move from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

When Bray Wyatt, along with his Wyatt Family, made their debut on Monday Night Raw in 2013, the WWE Universe was on their feet, lighting their mobile screens resembling the fireflies. Though each member had their ups and downs, the leader of the family flawlessly played his persona.

Over time, he had a firm grasp of his character, making him an infectiously popular mysterious character that rivaled the same charm of WWE Hall of Famer, The Undertaker. Sadly, disaster struck in 2023, when the world learned how the Leader of the Fireflies was not between them anymore.

His memories were preserved with Uncle Howdy; his brother leads a new pack under the name The Wyatt Sicks. While the faction made occasional appearances, they decided to appear in tonight’s SmackDown, making it noteworthy because today marked the 38th birthday of the deceased wrestler.

The Wyatt Sicks return to lay waste and pay...

While P Diddy is facing 5 counts of serious charges—one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of s*x trafficking, and two counts of transportation to engage in pr*stitution—a few of his associates are facing hard times in the real world. One among them is NBA star LeBron James, who recently got called out on Joe Rogan’s podcast.

During a recent episode on the podcast with Aaron Rodgers, Joe Rogan reflected on the number of celebrities who not only attended Diddy’s parties but also openly talked about enjoying those parties. And well, considering how LeBron James was one among the handful of people, Rogan and Rodgers literally blasted the star.

Aaron Rodgers exposed LeBron James on Joe Rogan’s podcast

While NBA legend LeBron James is usually in the news for breaking records or flexing his muscles courtside, this time, he’s making headlines for parties.

Sinners had quite a run at the box office. Despite releasing around the same time as Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, the film managed to hit impressive numbers and had quite a strong theatrical release. On top of this, the conversations surrounding it online have been just as helpful for its success, with many raving about how interesting its storyline is.

Given how talked about this film was, those who haven’t seen it must be feeling like they missed out. Thankfully, they can soon watch it from the comfort of their homes.

Sinners is coming home this summer A still from Sinners | Credit: Warner Bros

The storyline of Michael B. Jordan’s Sinners was truly very interesting. From the outside, it seems like a simple story having a double role for the character. However, no one could have expected Jordan to make a period piece about vampires with Hailee Steinfeld and the director of Black Panther,...

In the competitive and athletic theater of sports, where passion ignites jaw-dropping plays and rivalries push athletes to their edge, there are two sides to a coin. The masses love the first for what they do, while the other is hated and criticized for every action they commit on and off the game.

Such is the case with LeBron James, who has risen to a legendary status with the Los Angeles Lakers and has become an indelible figure in the world of basketball. However, Randy Orton feels otherwise and has not shied away from speaking his heart out, as he has publicly criticized King James.

To make things all the more interesting, he has been vouching for Michael Jordan and believes him to be the Goat of the NBA and the best there ever is.

Randy Orton is the #1 LeBron James hater

Over the years, Randy Orton has become one...

Sinners recently wrapped up its fifth weekend at the box office, and the film has yet to earn less than $15 million over a full weekend or drop more than 33% between weekends. At the time of writing, Ryan Coogler’s vampiric period thriller has grossed $244.6 million at the domestic box office and $76 million internationally for a worldwide cumulative total of $320 million. This newfound global total is enough to push Sinners past The Expendables 2, the 2012 action sequel starring Jason Statham that concluded its run with $311 million. However, its box office split was the opposite of Sinners — The Expendables 2 earned the lion’s share of its earnings internationally, with $226 million, and it collected only $85 million in domestic markets, barely a third of Sinners' domestic haul.

The success Sinners has found during its box office run has been nothing short of unprecedented. After opening with $48 million at the box office to finish...

Michael Alaimo, a theater and film actor known for his roles in “Space Jam” and the Oscar-nominated “The China Syndrome,” died Friday, May 2, in Burbank, Calif. He was 86.

Alaimo’s death was confirmed to Variety by Alaimo’s daughter, longtime TV PR and communications executive Gabriella Alaimo Thomas. While a cause of death was not disclosed, an official statement said that he “passed away peacefully.”

As a multifaceted artist who worked in avant-garde theater and appeared in dozens of films and shows, Alaimo notably had roles in “Space Jam,” “Mr. Mom,” “The China Syndrome” and “All I Want for Christmas.” In “Space Jam,” he played a doctor, where he appeared alongside Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray. He also had a long TV career with roles in “Cheers,” “The Wonder Years,” “Scrubs,” “Barney Miller,” “Mr. Belvedere,” “Hill Street Blues” and “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.”

Prior to moving to Los Angeles,...

On Wednesday May 21 2025, truTV broadcasts We Beat the Dream Team!

Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “We Beat the Dream Team” on truTV promises to take viewers on a fascinating journey into the world of college basketball. This episode will focus on a little-known story about a group of college players who played a crucial role in preparing some of the greatest basketball legends for their Olympic debut in 1992.

In this episode, the narrative will delve into the behind-the-scenes efforts of these college athletes who were tasked with helping Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and the rest of the Dream Team. As they trained together, the college players faced the challenge of stepping up their game to match the skills of these basketball icons. The episode will highlight the teamwork, dedication, and determination required to support the Dream Team during their preparation.

Viewers can expect to hear firsthand accounts...

A Mickey Mouse marching band, Cowboys cheerleaders and Seth MacFarlane singing — oh my! Last week, Disney, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon and YouTube wrapped up their annual upfront presentations to Madison Avenue, leaving advertisers to now face a difficult decision: Where and how to place their bets and allocate their budgets.

That choice will be particularly complicated this year with buyers reevaluating decisions in the face of President Donald Trump’s rapidly-evolving tariff policies. The declining linear TV business is also grappling with more pressure than ever as viewers continue flocking to streaming, a viewership model that’s increasingly popular but has yet to provide the same consistent financial returns that traditional TV did in the past. Add in the appetite around sports and other live events — programming that viewers still prefer consuming live, which benefits buyers — and this year’s presentations felt hungrier than most.

When it came to the presentations themselves,...

In a surprising and exciting revelation, the legendary actor Tom Cruise expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Michael B. Jordan on a future project. During a recent interview, Cruise praised Jordan’s talent and hinted at an upcoming collaboration, sparking speculation and anticipation among fans and industry insiders alike.

This announcement follows Cruise’s support for Jordan’s latest film, Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler, in which Cruise publicly celebrated Jordan’s performance. The prospect of these two powerhouse actors joining forces is thrilling, promising a project that could blend Cruise’s action-packed legacy with Jordan’s rising star power.

Tom Cruise’s admiration for Michael Jordan Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) | Credit: Paramount Pictures

What makes Tom Cruise a legendary star is his high-octane and blockbuster movies, as well as his admiration for cinema and the people working around him. Cruise’s admiration for Sinner...

Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001 sent shockwaves throughout the world of NASCAR unlike any racer's death before or since. "It's not that people didn't die racing," says documentarian Daniel Lindsay, executive producer and co-showrunner of Prime Video's docuseries Earnhardt. "That was apart of the sport. It was just so seemingly unbelievable that the star of the sport would lose his life in that way."

Despite not growing up as a NASCAR fan, Lindsay was nevertheless drawn to Earnhardt's rags-to-riches story. "I came of age in the '80s and '90s, and was aware that there was a racer named Dale Earnhardt," Lindsay told Gold Derby, "but I didn't really know much about him. I found myself fascinated by his life and the life of his family." Born in small-town North Carolina to short-track racer Ralph Earnhardt, Dale "was responsible for the growth of NASCAR," and "through grit and determination...

The NFL heads to YouTube for the first time, and Dazn strikes a deal to stream Club World Cup matches in bars and restaurants.

The NFL schedule release essentially took TV news writers hostage this week. That’s not surprising considering how the NFL stands head-and-shoulders above other programming in terms of drawing ratings in the United States, but it leaves room for other key stories in streaming to be lost in the shuffle.

We’ve assembled a list of the most important stories in streaming you may not have caught this week, including the return of an NBA legend to TV, improving capabilities on a popular streaming device, and yes, more NFL news.

What are the stories in streaming you may have missed this week?

Dazn strikes deal to stream Club World Cup games commercially

NFL, YouTube confirm plans to stream game free

Fubo agrees to deal with European...

In the glory days of the TV upfronts, the broadcast networks would build up to a big reveal: The schedule release.

The fall schedule would be revealed, and media buyers could get a glimpse of what show would get that prized Friends or CSI lead-in.

In 2025, the upfronts still build up to a schedule release, but it isn’t a fall lineup: It’s an NFL game.

The only connective tissue between this year’s upfronts, from NBCUniversal and Fox to Disney, YouTube and Netflix was sports, and the NFL in particular, with every company using their presentation to reveal an upcoming matchup that advertisers will want to buy into. Netflix and YouTube each had NFL commissioner Roger Goodell make the reveals himself (though only Netflix made him wear a Santa Claus-esque coat).

NBCUniversal used its event to tout the return of the NBA on NBC, bringing out John Tesh...

The so-called streaming wars are morphing into the sports wars.

“The streaming world is different than the linear world. The big bundle protected linear in a way that streaming doesn’t have that protection. So one way to protect it is continuity in the sports calendar,” said Comcast CFO Jason Armstrong.

He told investors Thursday at the MoffettNathanson media conference in New York City that he finds it “helpful” Disney is pricing it upcoming stand-alone ESPN streaming app at $29.99 a month. Disney announced the pricing and name Wednesday for the flagship Dtc service available alone or bundled with Disney+ and Hulu.

Armstrong said Comcast bid for the NBA last year “because it fits exactly what we needed. We had a real void in the second quarter. [It’s] when you get into the heart of the playoffs. The playoffs have been fantastic, right? So we...

Now that she’s away from the mob, Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) can finally build her life on her own. However, knowing Charlie, she finds herself roped into absurd schemes through no fault of her own. “The Taste of Human Blood” is one of those episodes, with plenty of absurdity hanging over it. Luckily, it’s got the TV vets and comedic actors to pull off the ridiculous premise with brilliant execution. Kumail Nanjiani and Gaby Hoffman lead a fun ensemble this time around.

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoilers for Poker Face Season 2. Related: ‘The Twilight Zone’ Cast: What Are They Doing in 2025? Poker Face — “The Taste of Human Blood” — Recap

Police officer Fran Lamont (Gabby Hoffman) handles routine crimes in her local community. When she returns to the office, Chief Hal (John Sayles) informs her she’s been nominated for the 2019 Florida Panhandle Cop Award for Officer of the Year. The “FlopaCopas...

Welcome to It’s a Hit! In this series, IndieWire speaks to creators and showrunners behind a few of our favorite television programs about the moment they realized their show was breaking big.

A basketball-themed Netflix comedy starring Kate Hudson might seem like a surefire recipe for a hit, but as showrunner David Stassen told IndieWire, you really just never know.

“We felt like we had a great cast, and we had the benefit of a lot of time with the show before going to production, because of a delay in the room starting and then the writers’ strike, I like to say the show just got to bake a little longer,” he told IndieWire. “We really knew who our characters were, and we knew the family and the dynamics. We loved the world and the family, and we loved our cast, but you just don’t know how something’s going to be received.

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” host Jimmy Kimmel was back cracking wise at the Disney upfronts on Tuesday, and at first it look like he might be doing remotely — his daughter is about to give birth, so it was touch and go whether he’d be able to give his annual monologue in person.

“I’m going to be a grandfather, and once I am a grandfather, I can’t wait to see this thing we’ve been talking about for so many years,” he said in a pre-tape. “What do they call it again? Oh, right, ‘CBS.’ I’m hearing great things from the younger old guys.” (It was one of several old jokes at the Eye network’s expense.)

But after the pre-tape (with special guest Dr. Dre!), in which Kimmel offered selling naming rights for his grandkid, he still came out in person at the Javits Center to roast the industry,...

Jimmy Kimmel typically doesn’t pull many punches in his annual appearance/roast at Disney’s upfront, but his monologue Tuesday carried something of an existential edge.

“I might not see you again. This could be it,” the Jimmy Kimmel Live host told the audience of ad buyers in New York. “… I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know a lot of you over the last 23 years — and I also know that many of you are worried that AI might take your jobs. But I don’t think it will. I don’t believe a computer — even the most powerful computer — will ever be able to do what you do. And you know why? Because no computer wants to do what you do. Your jobs suck. Every year, our audience gets smaller, and we tell you it’s bigger, and we want more for less. It’s exhausting, I know.

The tradition continues: Jimmy Kimmel wrapped Disney’s upfront presentation Tuesday with yuks about the competition like the naming of Comcast’s Versant and that “wrinkly Peacock who’s finally old enough to watch CBS.”

After Disney’s 80-minute presentation that included an off-key musical performance by Peyton and Eli Manning and an “Alien invasion” to promote Noah Hawley’s new Alien: Earth, Kimmel kicked off his annual appearance with a pre-taped skit from his daughter’s maternity room that featured Dr. Dre in scrubs.

That’s right: Kimmel’s about to be a grandpa!

After offering naming rights for his grandkid to the advertising world, Kimmel showed up live on stage at the Javits Center to deliver his much-anticipated bon mots before ending his monologue with a quick plea to advertisers to support shows like 60 Minutes.

“You have the power because you have the money to support journalism,...

Michael Jordan is returning to the world of basketball!

On Monday (May 12), it was announced that the 62-year-old basketball legend is joining NBC Sports as a special contributor for the network’s NBA coverage beginning this fall.

“I am so excited to see the NBA back on NBC,” Jordan shared in a video message shared on NBA on NBC’s X account. “The NBA on NBC was a meaningful part of my career, and I’m excited about being a special contributor to the project.”

Keep reading to find out more…“I’m looking forward to seeing you all when the NBA on NBC launches this October,” he added.

This fall marks NBC’s return to covering the NBA after a 23-year year absence. The network had NBA rights from 1990 through 2002 and carried all six of Jordan’s championships as player for the Chicago Bulls.

NBC now has an 11-year...

Law & Order laid the foundation for the interconnected procedural dramas that dominate networks today. It's hard to imagine a TV landscape without the franchise, and yet, it has been subjected to the same trials and tribulations as its peers. Svu has been forced to write two detectives off before its next season, Joe Velasco (Octavio Pisano) and Kate Silva (Juliana Martinez), and now, the franchise will have a new show following it on Thursday nights.

Law & Order used to hold down prime time on Thursday night by itself, between Law & Order, Law & Order: Svu and Law & Order: Organized Crime. The third of these shows was moved over to Peacock, however, meaning there's a huge vacancy where the Christopher Meloni-led series once was. And the network is going to try to fill it with a new series (again).

If you're struggling to think of what show...

For their next act, Jude Law and Andrew Garfield are pulling off a magic trick.

The actors will star as Siegfried & Roy in the Apple TV+ limited series Wild Things, based on the podcast of the same name about the infamous magicians.

More from TVLineJosh Charles to Headline Fox Adaptation of UK Medical Dramedy Doc MartinCasting News: 9-1-1: Nashville Adds Two, Morris Chestnut Returns to Reasonable Doubt and MoreOwen Wilson Stars in Apple TV+ Golf Comedy Stick - Watch Trailer, Get Premiere Date

The eight-episode series, showrun by John Hoffman (Only Murders in the Building), “tells the wild...

One Chicago has weathered the storm. Sure, the franchise is going to have to make some changes in order to limit its budget, and part ways with select stars, but all three shows have been renewed by its network, NBC, for additional seasons. And apparently, the good news doesn't stop there.

One Chicago was one of the franchises singled out and praised during NBC's Upfront presentation on May 12. The network presented its fall plans, and Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios Donna Langley assured loyal One Chicago fans that the network is making moves to ensure that the franchise performs better than ever. How? By leaning into sports coverage.

NBC plans to create 'halo effect' around shows CinemaCon 2025 - Universal Pictures And Focus Features Presentation | Gabe Ginsberg/GettyImages

The network recently signed a $2.5 billion deal to increase its sports programming, with particular emphasis on the NBA. The network is so adamant...

A presentation of the NBA on NBC, as envisioned through the Peacock app. (Courtesy image)

Comcast’s streaming service Peacock will offer a number of enhanced features like in-game statistics, real-time highlights and other interactive perks when its broadcast network NBC starts offering games from the National Basketball Association (NBA) later this year.

The features, rolling out later this year and timed to coincide with the start of the NBA season, promise to deliver an “exciting and inclusive streaming experience to draw in the broadest range of basketball fans and celebrate the league’s dynamic elements to give users new ways to get into the game,” Comcast’s NBC Sports said on Monday.

Some of the features, like real-time statistics, are present on other connected TV platforms like YouTube TV and Fubo — and even through Peacock during other events like the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. But Peacock will build on what...

The invitation to NBCUniversal’s 2025 upfront presentation promised “a sneak peek at the greatest two years in the history of any media company.”

Hyperbole? You bet. We’ll all be content if the entertainment industry just stays afloat through 2026. But it’s always easier to make lofty claims when you’re first at bat, as Comcast’s evolving TV, film and streaming conglomerate was at Radio City Music Hall on Monday morning. NBCU kicked off a week that will see all major players in ad-supported visual media make a plea for spending commitments in a time when a volatile economy has purse strings ready to snap shut quicker than a gate door at Newark Airport.

Perhaps all that uncertainty is why NBCU chose to open its two-hour program not with a musical performance from whoever’s mentoring on The Voice these days — that was the closer! — but with a tip...

Last year, it was movies. This year, it seems, it’s all sports. The Upfronts kicked off at Radio City Music Hall with NBC reminding advertisers that it will soon have NBA basketball.

The company scored the first basket at the three-day event that will likely be dominated by live sports with the news that Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, had signed up to be a special contributor to its NBA coverage.

“Sports is definitely having a moment in the industry and, God knows, you’ll hear the word ‘sports’ ten-thousand times this week, how some sports are moving to streaming or other platforms are adding a day or two to their schedule,” said Mark Marshall, Chairman, NBCUniversal Global Advertising & Partnerships.

But Donna Langley, whose team just put together its first fall schedule (sort of) that includes primetime basketball, said that she hopes its $2.5B annual deal will have a positive impact on the rest of its programming.

Langley, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studio, said, “Every game will be a new event, a weekly tentpole that maximizes the impact of the league across our platforms and delivers a sizable audience watching in real time for our advertising partners. By adding NBA games to the schedule, we’ll build on decades of sports programming on NBC and create a halo effect around the entire entertainment schedule. So whether you’re a Bravoholic, a cinephile, a sports fanatic, news junkie, or simply can’t miss Weekend Update, our franchises offer something for everyone, which means our advertisers can, without question, reach the broadest possible audience.”

NBC’s October schedule features less than a third scripted programming with only one new series – Jimmy Fallon’s marketing reality series On Brand, with The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe, who were on stage, being added at some point over the fall.

There were a handful of other NBC stars on stage including David Alan Grier and Wendi McLendon-Covey from St. Denis Medical, which is returning for a second season, Reba McEntire, star of Happy’s Place and a coach on The Voice, and S. Epatha Merkerson from Chicago Med.

“One of the many powers of this portfolio is the ability to build and maintain audiences season after season whether it’s newer comedies like our show St. Denis Medical or iconic legacy franchises like Law & Order or Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago Pd, Chicago Sanitation and Chicago Municipal Zone,” Grier joked.

The Upfronts presentation leaned heavily on Peacock programming including The Office spinoff The Paper and Dig starring Amy Poehler.

Poehler, who was joined on stage by her “work husband” Tina Fey, said that production on the show, which reunites her with her Parks and Recreation cohort Mike Schur, starts this summer.

The company showed a trailer for The Paper, which comes from The Office’s Greg Daniels and Michael Koman, which featured The White Lotus star Sabrina Impacciatore as a female Michael Scott. “You’re going to get tired chasing my pretty little butt around with that camera,” she says in the clip.

Oscar Nunez, who played Oscar Martinez in The Office, is back, this time in Toledo, Ohio. “Oh, no, not again, I’m not agreeing to any of this. Don’t you guys have enough after nine years, I’m starting over with another of these things,” Nunez’s Martinez says in the trailer.

“I told Mr. Greg Daniels that if Oscar came back, he would probably be living in a more, bustling, cosmopolitan city. Greg heard me and moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton, so it was nice to be heard,” joked Nunez.

Domhnall Gleeson plays idealistic journalist Ned Sampson. “Fans of The Office will be delighted to see Oscar back at work. Some older fans will look at me and be glad that Meredith is also coming back. That’s a red hair joke,” said Gleeson.

Elsewhere, Elizabeth Banks, Keke Palmer and Dakota Fanning were on stage to promote The Miniature Wife, The Burbs and All Her Fault, respectively.

Banks, whose series is a marital comedy also starring Matthew Macfadyen, joked that her relationship with NBCU goes back to the time that she did a spot on Third Watch, which ran between 1999 and 2005, as well as an appearance on Law & Order: Svu, which Palmer also starred on when she was 12.

“Every person you see up here today, every performance, trailer or clip actors have prepared for you, brings us back to four little words, the mantra that greets us every day in the headquarters in Los Angeles: Above All Else: Entertain, and that’s what we do best,” concluded Langley.