[Editor’s Note: The following review includes spoilers for “Ballers,” including Season 5, but not the series finale.]
“Ballers” never felt like a serious show. Offering a glammed-up look inside the life of ex-nfl star Spencer Strasmore (played by a besuited Dwayne Johnson), Stephen Levinson’s HBO pseudo-comedy kept the stakes pretty low, even in its final season. Big spending led to big paychecks, which led to bigger spending and bigger paychecks, until Spencer had accumulated enough wealth to be a viable option for NFL ownership. Audiences never needed to worry if ol’ Spence was gonna be okay, just if he was going to be able to afford the expensive things — his own agency, acquiring other agencies, an NFL team — he craved.
And yet serious issues still popped up, like a tag-along tax on all that big money being thrown around. As Levinson and his team of writers searched for appropriate challenges for their uber-rich characters, the real-world weaved its way into “Ballers.” But rather than engage with such relevant matters as Cte,...
“Ballers” never felt like a serious show. Offering a glammed-up look inside the life of ex-nfl star Spencer Strasmore (played by a besuited Dwayne Johnson), Stephen Levinson’s HBO pseudo-comedy kept the stakes pretty low, even in its final season. Big spending led to big paychecks, which led to bigger spending and bigger paychecks, until Spencer had accumulated enough wealth to be a viable option for NFL ownership. Audiences never needed to worry if ol’ Spence was gonna be okay, just if he was going to be able to afford the expensive things — his own agency, acquiring other agencies, an NFL team — he craved.
And yet serious issues still popped up, like a tag-along tax on all that big money being thrown around. As Levinson and his team of writers searched for appropriate challenges for their uber-rich characters, the real-world weaved its way into “Ballers.” But rather than engage with such relevant matters as Cte,...
- 10/13/2019
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Several prominent National Football League quarterbacks have gone down from injury and illness in the first two weeks of the season. But still, no one has called on former 49er Colin Kaepernick.
Despite his agents contacting such teams as the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, all of whom had their star quarterbacks either go down or retire, no teams appear interested in the controversial Kaepernick.
He is known as the first player to take a knee during the National Anthem, allegedly in protest of police treatment of suspects and road stops on minorities. He has played up that rebel image in a series of Nike ads and filed a lawsuit against the NFL alleging collusion in that he was denied an opportunity to play again, eventually settling out of court. Kaepernick hasn’t played since the end of the 2016 season, when he opted for free agency.
Despite his agents contacting such teams as the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets, all of whom had their star quarterbacks either go down or retire, no teams appear interested in the controversial Kaepernick.
He is known as the first player to take a knee during the National Anthem, allegedly in protest of police treatment of suspects and road stops on minorities. He has played up that rebel image in a series of Nike ads and filed a lawsuit against the NFL alleging collusion in that he was denied an opportunity to play again, eventually settling out of court. Kaepernick hasn’t played since the end of the 2016 season, when he opted for free agency.
- 9/19/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
How did “Guns Akimbo” director and writer Jason Lei Howden convince Daniel Radcliffe to play a character with guns nailed to his hands? Easy, he sent him the script.
Radcliffe joined Howden and “Ready or Not’s” breakout star Samara Weaving in the Variety’s Toronto Film Festival studio, presented by AT&T to talk the limits of acting with weapons attached to your hands, snorting vitamin C and the worst parts of the internet.
“Guns Akimbo” takes place in a world where a nefarious underground internet movement, called “skism,” live casts random strangers fighting each other to the death. When the morbid streaming service turns its eye on Radcliffie’s mild-mannered, troll-hating desk jockey, Miles, things get even more violent. His character is kidnapped, knocked out and revived with guns literally bolted to his hands. Now stuck inside this real-life, video game hell, he must fight or die.
“I feel...
Radcliffe joined Howden and “Ready or Not’s” breakout star Samara Weaving in the Variety’s Toronto Film Festival studio, presented by AT&T to talk the limits of acting with weapons attached to your hands, snorting vitamin C and the worst parts of the internet.
“Guns Akimbo” takes place in a world where a nefarious underground internet movement, called “skism,” live casts random strangers fighting each other to the death. When the morbid streaming service turns its eye on Radcliffie’s mild-mannered, troll-hating desk jockey, Miles, things get even more violent. His character is kidnapped, knocked out and revived with guns literally bolted to his hands. Now stuck inside this real-life, video game hell, he must fight or die.
“I feel...
- 9/15/2019
- by Meredith Woerner
- Variety Film + TV
The National Football League’s regular season kicks off Thursday night with a mouth-watering encounter between the Green Bay Packers, led by Aaron Rodgers who has a point to prove, and the Chicago Bears, boasting a formidable defense.
However, while fans won’t have to wait long to find out whether offense or defense will come out on top in Chicago, one thing that seems likely is that offense will dominate the league once again in 2019, after an astronomical number of touchdowns and offensive yards helped the NFL to a ratings rebound in 2018.
2017 saw an alarming dip of 10% in totalviewers for the NFL — but the league bounced back across the board last year with NBC up 6% to just over 19 million viewers with “Sunday Night Football,” ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” up 8% to 11.6 million viewers, and Fox and CBS’s Sunday afternoon games up 2%.
“We’re coming into the season with high expectations,...
However, while fans won’t have to wait long to find out whether offense or defense will come out on top in Chicago, one thing that seems likely is that offense will dominate the league once again in 2019, after an astronomical number of touchdowns and offensive yards helped the NFL to a ratings rebound in 2018.
2017 saw an alarming dip of 10% in totalviewers for the NFL — but the league bounced back across the board last year with NBC up 6% to just over 19 million viewers with “Sunday Night Football,” ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” up 8% to 11.6 million viewers, and Fox and CBS’s Sunday afternoon games up 2%.
“We’re coming into the season with high expectations,...
- 9/5/2019
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
A lot of “Jeopardy!” fans seemed to think James Holzhauer intentionally threw in the towel, after he tweeted high praise for now-ex Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who announced he is retiring over the weekend.
“I hope to be as brave as Andrew Luck one day,” Holzhauer wrote Saturday night after the Indianapolis Colts quarterback announced his retirement due to chronic injury problems.
He continued: “Imagine reaching the pinnacle of the only job you’ve ever trained for, finding no joy in it, and having the guts to do the right thing for yourself even though millions of fans will hate you for it.”
Also Read: Why 'Jeopardy!' Champ James Holzhauer's Daughter Hopes He Loses - and Soon
Here’s the tweet:
I hope to be as brave as Andrew Luck one day.
Imagine reaching the pinnacle of the only job you've ever trained for, finding no joy in it,...
“I hope to be as brave as Andrew Luck one day,” Holzhauer wrote Saturday night after the Indianapolis Colts quarterback announced his retirement due to chronic injury problems.
He continued: “Imagine reaching the pinnacle of the only job you’ve ever trained for, finding no joy in it, and having the guts to do the right thing for yourself even though millions of fans will hate you for it.”
Also Read: Why 'Jeopardy!' Champ James Holzhauer's Daughter Hopes He Loses - and Soon
Here’s the tweet:
I hope to be as brave as Andrew Luck one day.
Imagine reaching the pinnacle of the only job you've ever trained for, finding no joy in it,...
- 8/27/2019
- by Rosemary Rossi
- The Wrap
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck announced his retirement on Saturday, shocking the NFL as it came just two weeks before the season.
Luck's decision, following the latest in a litany of injuries in his seven-year career, also sparked a remembrance from Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur. Luck guest-starred on a pair of episodes of the Indiana-set NBC comedy in 2013, including one in which the guys from the show hang with Luck, then-Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and owner Jim Irsay (a real-life friend of Parks and Rec star Rob Lowe) during Andy's (Chris Pratt) bachelor party.
"...
Luck's decision, following the latest in a litany of injuries in his seven-year career, also sparked a remembrance from Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur. Luck guest-starred on a pair of episodes of the Indiana-set NBC comedy in 2013, including one in which the guys from the show hang with Luck, then-Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and owner Jim Irsay (a real-life friend of Parks and Rec star Rob Lowe) during Andy's (Chris Pratt) bachelor party.
"...
- 8/26/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
We love these products, and we hope you do too. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a small share of the revenue from your purchases. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. You can never have too many good books. We've already shared our growing list of must-have beach reads and books by boss ladies we love. But of course, we must keep up with what novels, memoirs and nonfiction our favorite stars are soaking up this summer too. Fortunately, many bookworm celebs have their own book clubs with plenty of recommendations to keep our libraries stacked. From Andrew Luck to Reese Witherspoon, here's a sample of stars' July 2019 book club picks. (You can also check out...
- 7/2/2019
- E! Online
We love these products, and we hope you do too. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may get a small share of the revenue from your purchases. Items are sold by the retailer, not E!. You can never have too many good books. We've already shared our growing list of must-have beach reads and books by boss ladies we love. But of course, we must keep up with what novels, memoirs and nonfiction our favorite stars are soaking up this summer too. Fortunately, many bookworm celebs have their own book clubs with plenty of recommendations to keep our libraries stacked. From Andrew Luck to Reese Witherspoon, here's a sample of stars' June 2019 book club picks.
- 6/11/2019
- E! Online
"How often have you suffered because of your last name?" That's one of Tom Hanks' first-ever questions to Andrew Luck ... straight-up wondering how much the Indianapolis Colts Qb has been made fun of in his life. Don't worry ... Luck played off the awkward question well -- "It goes both ways!" -- and the two had a pretty fun first encounter Wednesday nonetheless. Hanks and Luck were together for an event at The Children's Museum...
- 5/23/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
“Real Life Rock Top Ten” is a monthly column by cultural critic and Rs contributing editor Greil Marcus.
1. “Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff Debuting New Country Song at the Ally Coalition Talent Show” (YouTube): From December — and can this performance really have had less than 9,000 views? There’s no title: With Antonoff strumming an acoustic guitar, then hinting at a figure, the song refers to Hank Williams in its first verse, but that’s as close to what’s sold as country as it gets. In the melody as it slowly takes shape,...
1. “Lana Del Rey and Jack Antonoff Debuting New Country Song at the Ally Coalition Talent Show” (YouTube): From December — and can this performance really have had less than 9,000 views? There’s no title: With Antonoff strumming an acoustic guitar, then hinting at a figure, the song refers to Hank Williams in its first verse, but that’s as close to what’s sold as country as it gets. In the melody as it slowly takes shape,...
- 4/25/2019
- by Greil Marcus
- Rollingstone.com
America’s favorite pastime is finally back.
If you felt like you needed therapy to get through the long baseball off-season since the Red Sox clinched the World Series in October, then you are not alone.
In the Mlb Network’s new campaign “Not That Kind of Analyst,” baseball stars Mike Trout, Marco Gonzales, Whit Merrifield and Kyle Freeland get the couch treatment from studio show hosts.
“Sometimes I feel left out,” Los Angeles Angels All-Star Trout laments in the video exclusive to TheWrap. “You are not left out, you’re a center fielder,” Mlb Network studio analyst Harold Reynolds tells him. Erm, that’s not quite what he meant …
Also Read: Pro Bowl Qb Andrew Luck and Mlb All-Star Mike Trout Bust a Move in '70s Disco Dance-Off (Video)
Three-time All-Star Reynolds is joined by Hall of Famer Jim Thome, 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster, 12-year Mlb veteran...
If you felt like you needed therapy to get through the long baseball off-season since the Red Sox clinched the World Series in October, then you are not alone.
In the Mlb Network’s new campaign “Not That Kind of Analyst,” baseball stars Mike Trout, Marco Gonzales, Whit Merrifield and Kyle Freeland get the couch treatment from studio show hosts.
“Sometimes I feel left out,” Los Angeles Angels All-Star Trout laments in the video exclusive to TheWrap. “You are not left out, you’re a center fielder,” Mlb Network studio analyst Harold Reynolds tells him. Erm, that’s not quite what he meant …
Also Read: Pro Bowl Qb Andrew Luck and Mlb All-Star Mike Trout Bust a Move in '70s Disco Dance-Off (Video)
Three-time All-Star Reynolds is joined by Hall of Famer Jim Thome, 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster, 12-year Mlb veteran...
- 3/28/2019
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
With viewer interest in college and NFL football surging, NBC Sports Group is adding a high-profile showcase for high school players to its portfolio, acquiring the All-American Bowl from All American Games LLC.
NBC has broadcast the annual contest held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX, since 2004. The company described it as “the nation’s premier high school football game” in an announcement of the deal, which gives it multi-platform rights as well as ownership of the game and related events. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The 20th edition of the bowl game is set for January 4, 2020. The 2019 game last month drew a total audience of about 3 million viewers, making the game the most watched high school sporting event in the U.S.
During its two-decade history, the game has featured 453 NFL players, 159 Ncaa All-Americans, 50 Super Bowl champions, and 16 Heisman finalists.
“We are excited to continue the...
NBC has broadcast the annual contest held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX, since 2004. The company described it as “the nation’s premier high school football game” in an announcement of the deal, which gives it multi-platform rights as well as ownership of the game and related events. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The 20th edition of the bowl game is set for January 4, 2020. The 2019 game last month drew a total audience of about 3 million viewers, making the game the most watched high school sporting event in the U.S.
During its two-decade history, the game has featured 453 NFL players, 159 Ncaa All-Americans, 50 Super Bowl champions, and 16 Heisman finalists.
“We are excited to continue the...
- 2/25/2019
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
The F in NFL now stands for Fashion ... 'cause Wednesday morning, pro and college football team helmets were the hot accessories in Virgil Abloh's big runway show! Abloh is one of the Hottest names in the industry -- and his Fall/Winter 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week was one of the most anticipated events! Of course, people are talking about the unique clothing -- but the headwear is also getting some serious buzz. From...
- 1/16/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Ever seen a person giddy to be smashed to the ground by a 6-foot-3, 265-pound man?? Well, now you have ... 'cause Andrew Luck says he was downright Happy to have been destroyed by Terrell Suggs during the Ravens-Colts tilt Monday night. "I told Anthony [Castonzo] on the sideline, I said, 'Man, it was sort of fun to get hit by Suggs right there!'" Luck said. Terrell Suggs sacks Andrew Luck to end the Colts drive.
- 8/21/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Did you know Andrew Luck was jacked? We didn't ... until now. The Indianapolis Colts Qb was flexin' a legit 6-pack Thursday night in the locker room after his pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks ... a game where he went 6-9 for 64 yards. It was Luck's first NFL action since 2016 -- but just because he missed playing time doesn't mean he missed the gym ... at least judging by the video. Luck was standing behind coach Frank Reich...
- 8/10/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Vince McMahon's Xfl now has a boss ... and it's the same man who happened to raise one of the NFL's best quarterbacks -- Oliver Luck!! Andrew Luck's daddy will be the new commissioner and CEO of the WWE honcho's rebooted league -- McMahon announced Tuesday. It's not a gimmick ... Oliver's resume is legit. The 58-year-old's been president of NFL Europe, athletic director for West Virginia and recently served as one of the top execs in the Ncaa.
- 6/5/2018
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Oliver Luck has been named the newly rebooted Xfl’s commissioner and CEO, the league announced in a statement Tuesday.
Previously, Luck was the Evp of regulatory affairs and strategic partnerships for the Ncaa, where he oversaw all regulatory functions including enforcement, academic and membership affairs, and the Eligibility Center.
“Oliver and I share the same vision and passion for reimagining the game of football,” said Vince McMahon, Xfl Founder and Chairman in a press release. “His experience as both an athlete and executive will ensure the long-term success of the Xfl.”
Also Read: New Xfl May Allow Nicknames on Jerseys Again - But 'We're Not There Yet,' Vince McMahon Says
“Football has always been a constant in my life and I’m excited about the unique opportunity to present America’s favorite sport to fans in a new way,” Luck added. “The Xfl will create first-class organizations that...
Previously, Luck was the Evp of regulatory affairs and strategic partnerships for the Ncaa, where he oversaw all regulatory functions including enforcement, academic and membership affairs, and the Eligibility Center.
“Oliver and I share the same vision and passion for reimagining the game of football,” said Vince McMahon, Xfl Founder and Chairman in a press release. “His experience as both an athlete and executive will ensure the long-term success of the Xfl.”
Also Read: New Xfl May Allow Nicknames on Jerseys Again - But 'We're Not There Yet,' Vince McMahon Says
“Football has always been a constant in my life and I’m excited about the unique opportunity to present America’s favorite sport to fans in a new way,” Luck added. “The Xfl will create first-class organizations that...
- 6/5/2018
- by Daniel Kohn
- The Wrap
Two former Obama staffers are defending White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson amid conspiracy theories that he gave false information about Donald Trump’s weight after the president’s routine physical exam last week.
Jackson was appointed to his role by former President Barack Obama in 2013.
Alyssa Mastromonaco, who served as Obama’s former deputy chief of staff for operations, and Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Obama, described the White House doctor in tweets as a “saint and a patriot” who “took great care of all of us for many years.”
Their messages come as some Twitter users...
Jackson was appointed to his role by former President Barack Obama in 2013.
Alyssa Mastromonaco, who served as Obama’s former deputy chief of staff for operations, and Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser to Obama, described the White House doctor in tweets as a “saint and a patriot” who “took great care of all of us for many years.”
Their messages come as some Twitter users...
- 1/17/2018
- by Tierney McAfee
- PEOPLE.com
If you simply can’t wait for football season to start, get your fix of the rough-and-tumble sport from another outlet. The Onion has again partnered with Lenovo and DigitasLBi to bring the online video masses season two of its fantasy football-themed web series, Tough Season. Laden with the Onion’s renowned tongue-in-cheek attitude, Tough Season introduced viewers to Brad Blevins (played by Tim Baltz), the egotistical, obsessed fantasy football coach of Brad’s Awesome Team struggling to draft (last) pick players to pull him out of a losing streak of eight years. This year, Blevins will try to defeat his worst enemy, the team organized by his boss’s 13-year-old son. Real-life NFL players graced the screen as part of Blevins’s strategy, like Matt Forte and Andrew Luck. We’ll see many of them again this season, not just in the series but also interacting with Blevins, The Onion,...
- 8/22/2014
- by Bree Brouwer
- Tubefilter.com
Last season on Parks and Recreation, the men of Pawnee wound up at Lucas Oil Stadium as part of Andy’s dream bachelor party. In the first of Thursday’s back-to-back episodes (8 p.m., NBC), our gang returns to the home field of the Indianapolis Colts, and this time the women are playing along too. As part of the NFL’s campaign to promote one hour a day of physical activity for children, Leslie (Amy Poehler) arranges for 100 Pawnee kids to meet the Colts players. What happens when Leslie hits the field with wide receiver Reggie Wayne, April (Aubrey Plaza) encounters quarterback Andrew Luck,...
- 11/18/2013
- by Dan Snierson
- EW - Inside TV
Patton, Pawnee. Pawnee, Patton.
Patton Oswalt will guest-star on an upcoming episode of Parks and Recreation. The actor/comedian will try to make history — or rather, save it — in his role as Garth Blundin, adversary of Leslie Knope. In the installment, Leslie (Amy Poehler) takes issue with the town charter, which was written in the early 1800s and contains some dubious outdated laws. Convinced that it “needs some sprucing up, she introduces a bill in the City Council to alter the town charter in certain ways,” series executive producer Michael Schur explains to EW. “Patton plays a guy who is a strict constructionist.
Patton Oswalt will guest-star on an upcoming episode of Parks and Recreation. The actor/comedian will try to make history — or rather, save it — in his role as Garth Blundin, adversary of Leslie Knope. In the installment, Leslie (Amy Poehler) takes issue with the town charter, which was written in the early 1800s and contains some dubious outdated laws. Convinced that it “needs some sprucing up, she introduces a bill in the City Council to alter the town charter in certain ways,” series executive producer Michael Schur explains to EW. “Patton plays a guy who is a strict constructionist.
- 2/21/2013
- by Dan Snierson
- EW - Inside TV
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