Month: December 2024

Categories
Pop Daypop

Jeannie Mai, Rob Gronkowski added as co-hosts on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”

Jeannie Mai arrives for the 2019 REVOLVE Awards on November 15^ 2019 in Los Angeles^ CA

Television personality Jeannie Mai and retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski have been added as co-hosts on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”

Mai is presiding over festivities in Los Angeles and Gronkowski will co-host from Las Vegas from the Fountains at the Bellagio Resort. The West Coast party hosted by Mai will include performers such as Alanis Morissette, with special guest Reneé Rapp, Dasha and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!, a performance that includes stars like Ja Rule, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain and more.

Ryan Seacrest is slated to host the broadcast for the 20th time alongside co-host Rita Ora in NYC’s Times Square, featuring previously-announced musical performers The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Megan Moroney and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, taking the stage before the ball drops in Times Square at midnight.

Set to take the stage in Las Vegas are Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett and Lenny Kravitz; and Jungle will perform from London, playing songs including their hit song “Back On 74.” The network said in a press release: “In his 20th year as host of America’s most-watched New Year’s Eve special, Ryan Seacrest will lead the countdown to midnight alongside global superstar Rita Ora live from Times Square, Dayanara Torres returns as co-host in Puerto Rico.”

The coverage of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” will air on ABC on Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m. ET and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Jeannie Mai, Rob Gronkowski added as co-hosts on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”

Jeannie Mai arrives for the 2019 REVOLVE Awards on November 15^ 2019 in Los Angeles^ CA

Television personality Jeannie Mai and retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski have been added as co-hosts on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.”

Mai is presiding over festivities in Los Angeles and Gronkowski will co-host from Las Vegas from the Fountains at the Bellagio Resort. The West Coast party hosted by Mai will include performers such as Alanis Morissette, with special guest Reneé Rapp, Dasha and DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live!, a performance that includes stars like Ja Rule, Kesha, Natasha Bedingfield, T-Pain and more.

Ryan Seacrest is slated to host the broadcast for the 20th time alongside co-host Rita Ora in NYC’s Times Square, featuring previously-announced musical performers The Jonas Brothers, Carrie Underwood, Megan Moroney and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, taking the stage before the ball drops in Times Square at midnight.

Set to take the stage in Las Vegas are Blake Shelton, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett and Lenny Kravitz; and Jungle will perform from London, playing songs including their hit song “Back On 74.” The network said in a press release: “In his 20th year as host of America’s most-watched New Year’s Eve special, Ryan Seacrest will lead the countdown to midnight alongside global superstar Rita Ora live from Times Square, Dayanara Torres returns as co-host in Puerto Rico.”

The coverage of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” will air on ABC on Dec. 31, starting at 8 p.m. ET and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga stepping down in his 14th season

stone sign greets visitors to the University of Miami and Watsco Center which is home to the University of Miami Hurricanes basketball teams.

Longtime University of Miami men’s basketball coach Jim Larrañaga announced Thursday that he is stepping down amid his 14th season with the Hurricanes.  Larrañaga, 75, was under contract through 2026-27; Miami has appointed veteran assistant Bill Courtney to serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich told reporters that Larrañaga informed the school Sunday that he planned to step down; he was then asked to reconsider the decision, but it was finalized by Monday.  Larrañaga said in a news release: “After more than 50 years in college coaching, it is simply time. There is never a great moment to step away, but I owe it to our student-athletes, our staff and the University of Miami to make this move now when my heart is simply no longer in the game and I owe it to Liz, Jay, Jon, and my grandchildren to be a greater part of their lives. The university needs a new leader of the program, one who is both adept at and embracing of the new world of intercollegiate athletics. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of the Hurricane family and to represent this world-class institution. Most importantly, I have been so blessed to have coached the hundreds of young men who chose to wear the UM jersey and who have gone on to flourish in their respective journeys. I will always be a Cane.”

Larrañaga took over at Miami in 2011; he was named 2013 Naismith College Coach of the Year, and led the Hurricanes to a 274-174 record over the last 14 seasons- including six NCAA tournaments and four Sweet 16 appearances. Miami went 11-6 in NCAA tournament games during Larranaga’s tenure and won two ACC regular-season championships (per ESPN).  His departure comes just two seasons after he led the Hurricanes to their first Final Four in school history at the 2023 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.

The Hurricanes (4-8) started their 2024-25 campaign with three consecutive victories. They then lost eight of their next nine games, including a 78-74 overtime setback to Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday in Coral Gables, Fla.

Over his 39-year Division I coaching career, Larrañaga – who previously coached at Bowling Green and George Mason – owns an overall record of 716-483.

Editorial credit: Barbara Kalbfleisch / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater coming out of retirement, rejoining Detroit Lions

Horizontal^ medium closeup of "Ford Field" Detroit Lions' football field stadium's exterior facade brand and logo signage on a sunny day. Detroit^ MI USA - September 15^ 2021

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed on Thursday that veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has ended his short retirement and agreed to rejoin the Detroit Lions.

The 32-year-old Bridgewater had teased his return to the NFL earlier this month, shortly after leading his alma mater Miami Northwestern to a state title in his first year as their high school football coach. Bridgewater revealed that he was actively pursuing a return to the NFL earlier this month, stating: “we’ll see how these next week-and-a-half, two weeks play out. Might be signing with a team or something and then returning back to coach high school football in February. So we’ll see. We wanted to win a state championship and then coach goes back to the league, see what happens and then come back in February in the offseason and continue coaching high school football. So we’ll see how it plays out.

Campbell said about Bridgewater’s return: “to be able to add somebody back here that’s got experience, he’s stayed in shape, he’s been throwing … it just brings a level of professionalism, veteran presence. Somebody that’s great for our team, great for the position … This gives us somebody that’s played a lot in the NFL.”

Campbell felt that Bridgewater returning was a great opportunity to get someone familiar with the team who has that veteran presence and experience, saying that the vet “brings a certain level of comfort” to the coaches and they have that trust in him, given their previous relationship: “It’s great for our team. I think everybody in that locker room respects Teddy and what he stands for, the type of human being he is, but also the type of player … When you get guys that you feel like make everybody around them a little bit better, it’s hard not to have those guys around, or add them if you can.”

Bridgewater, a 2014 first-round pick of the Vikings out of Louisville, also played for the Saints, Panthers, Broncos and Dolphins. He appeared in just one game for the Lions last season, but did not record a pass attempt. In his career, Bridgewater has a 33-32 starting record, while throwing for 15,120 yards, 75 touchdowns and 47 interceptions.

Editorial credit: Bruce VanLoon / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Wicked’ to make its streaming debut on New Year’s Eve

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the premiere for Wicked at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. LOS ANGELES^ CA. November 09^ 2024

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, will be available for purchase on Prime Video and other streamers beginning on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31st.)

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shared a clip promoting the release, with Erivo (who plays Elphaba) saying: “It’s time to relive the experience together,” while Grande, who portrays Galinda, adding: “Let’s watch Wicked at home”

The release will contain three extra hours of footage comprised of cast commentary, and additional scenes. The film will be available to both purchase and rent, with fans able to get a bonus Sing-Along version and three hours of bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.  In addition to Prime Video, viewers will be able to buy or rent the film on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV.  Fans will also be able to get a hard copy shortly thereafter, with “Wicked” debuting on 4K UHD, Blu-ray

“Wicked” is in theaters now; with Part 2 – titled “Wicked: For Good” — hitting theaters on November 21, 2025.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

‘Wicked’ to make its streaming debut on New Year’s Eve

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande at the premiere for Wicked at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. LOS ANGELES^ CA. November 09^ 2024

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, the film adaptation of the Broadway musical, will be available for purchase on Prime Video and other streamers beginning on New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31st.)

Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande shared a clip promoting the release, with Erivo (who plays Elphaba) saying: “It’s time to relive the experience together,” while Grande, who portrays Galinda, adding: “Let’s watch Wicked at home”

The release will contain three extra hours of footage comprised of cast commentary, and additional scenes. The film will be available to both purchase and rent, with fans able to get a bonus Sing-Along version and three hours of bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.  In addition to Prime Video, viewers will be able to buy or rent the film on Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV.  Fans will also be able to get a hard copy shortly thereafter, with “Wicked” debuting on 4K UHD, Blu-ray

“Wicked” is in theaters now; with Part 2 – titled “Wicked: For Good” — hitting theaters on November 21, 2025.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Zack Snyder to direct LAPD action film for Netflix

Zack Snyder at the premiere for Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire at the TCL Chinese Theatre. LOS ANGELES^ USA. December 13^ 2023

The Hollywood Reporter shared that director Zack Snyder has a new project lined up at Netflix centering on the Los Angeles Police Department.

Snyder will co-write the feature with Kurt Johnstad, whom he previously collaborated with on the 300 and Rebel Moon movies; while Snyder, Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller will produce under their Stone Quarry banner.

Deadline reported that the as-yet untitled film takes place in “a high-stakes world of life and death,” following an elite LAPD unit as it is “relentlessly confronted with the unforgiving collision of law and morality.”

Snyder said in a statement: “Years ago, Dan Lin and I had a conversation about our shared interest in telling a compelling and visceral character-driven story set within the intense, complex and captivating landscape of the LAPD. It’s a conversation that has stuck with me. So, as you would expect, I’m very excited to now have the opportunity to partner with Dan, along with the rest of my amazing partners at Netflix, in developing this story.”

Snyder’s other Netflix projects include the animated series Twilight of the Gods, which premiered in September.
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Zack Snyder is set to direct a new feature film for Netflix, centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. He is co-writing the script for the currently untitled action film with frequent collaborator Kurt Johnstad (“300,” “Atomic Blonde”).

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Pop Daypop

Netflix to air documentary, last concert of the late DJ Avicii on Dec. 31

Swedish Dj Avicii performs a live concert at the Untold Festival in the European Youth Capital city of Cluj Napoca CLUJ NAPOCA^ ROMANIA - JULY 31^ 2015

Netflix will release Avicii – I’m Tim, a documentary on the life and legacy of Tim Bergling, the DJ and music producer known as Avicii. With Tim as the narrator, the film presents a look into his life, featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews.  Bergling died by suicide in 2018.

Netflix shared on its social channels: “AVICII – I’M TIM is coming to Netflix on December 31. The new documentary will explore the life and legacy of Tim Bergling, the renowned Swedish DJ and music producer also known as Avicii. AVICII – MY LAST SHOW, showcasing Avicii’s final performance at Ibiza’s Ushuaïa, also premieres December 31.”

An official synopsis for the documentary states it is “the story of Tim Bergling, a shy and insecure boy who, without realizing it, suddenly created one of the world’s most loved artists – Avicii. Through unique home movies and a huge private archive, we get to follow Tim on a winding journey through life – from the very first breath at the maternity ward in Stockholm in 1989 to the tragic end in Oman in 2018. This is a film where Tim himself is the narrator and he shares his inner self in a way we haven’t heard before. Through himself and everyone close to him – family, artist colleagues and best friends – we get to know Tim – the boy behind Avicii – for the first time.”

In addition to the documentary, Netflix will also premiere Avicii’s last show from Ibiza’s Ushuaïa.  The documentary Avicii – I’m Tim, as well as Avicii – My Last Show will both premiere globally on December 31st.

Editorial credit: salajean / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Baltimore Ravens dominate Houston Texans 31-2 in Christmas Day win

8 LAMAR JACKSON BALTIMORE RAVENS VS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS NOVEMBER 27^ 2022 at TIAA BANK FIELD JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA

The Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans with a score of 31-2 in their Christmas Day win.

Lamar Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns, running for 87 yards and another score. Derrick Henry carried the ball 27 times for 147 yards and a touchdown, with the Ravens as a team running 43 times for 251 yards.

Meanwhile for the Texans, C.J. Stroud struggled, only completing 17 of 31 passes for only 185 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Stroud was also sacked five times.

After the Pittsburgh Steelers loss to the Chiefs earlier in the day, the Ravens moved into first place in the AFC North and third place in the conference overall. Their final game of the season is against the Cleveland Browns. Houston falls to 9-7 with the loss, but have already clinched the AFC South. The Texans finish their regular season with a game against the Tennessee Titans.

Editorial credit: April Visuals / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Sports Daypop

Kansas City Chiefs clinch AFC’s No. 1 seed with 29-10 win over Steelers

KC Chiefs tie end Travis Kelce #87 celebrates their touchdown against the LA Chargers during an NFL football game at SoFi Stadium^ Aug. 17^ 2024^ in Inglewood^ Calif.

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas.

Patrick Mahomes completed 29 of 38 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns for the Chiefs, while Travis Kelce gad eight catches for 84 yards and Xavier Worthy had eight catches for 79 yards, with each receiving a touchdown

Meanwhile the Steelers offense continued to struggle — Russell Wilson completed only 23-37 passes for 205 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception and Wilson was also sacked five times. Najee Harris rushed for 74 yards on 13 carries, and Pat Freiermuth caught seven passes for 60 yards.

The Chiefs’ record now stands at 15-1, with Kansas City gtuaranteed home field throughout the playoffs. Their next game is against the Denver Broncos. The Steelers have now dropped to 10-6 after their three-game slide. Their final game of the season is against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Editorial credit: Ringo Chiu / Shutterstock.com