Television
The ESPY Awards commemorated a breakthrough year for women’s sports, with black women taking center stage
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Led by host Serena Williams, the ESPYS celebrated a milestone year for women’s sports. Thursday night’s honorees included Simone Biles, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, Dawn Staley and JuJu Watkins.
Staley, the coach of the national champion South Carolina women’s basketball team, received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Her friend, Tennessee star Nicki McCray-Penson, died of breast cancer, and Staley’s sister was diagnosed with leukemia.
“I have to admit that I feel a little unworthy of this honor. Previous Jimmy V Perseverance Award recipients have faced incredible challenges and proven to be true warriors,” Staley said. “I was merely a spectator of such incredible courage and resilience.”
Staley’s Gamecocks won the Best Team award.
Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces won within the categories of best female athlete and best WNBA player.
“It’s crazy to think that a young girl who didn’t even want to play basketball is now up for even one ESPY Award,” she said in a taped speech.
The best male athlete was Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He was also named the NFL’s best player.
“I’ve been around this kid for a few years now, and watching him grow as a player, as a teammate and as a leader has been phenomenal,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of accepting the offer on Mahomes’ behalf, “but most of all, watching him grow as a father and a husband has been the best part.”
Biles earned the title of best comeback athlete just weeks before her performance on the Paris Olympics. The most decorated gymnast in history withdrew from the team competition on the Tokyo Games to prioritize her mental health.
Clark, of the Indiana Fever, also won two trophies: for her record-breaking achievement of becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, and for essentially the most collegiate female athlete for her basketball profession at Iowa State.
“I’m a little busy in Indianapolis,” Clark said on video. “It’s been a special year in women’s sports.”
Watkins won the breakthrough athlete category, taking home the highest award after the show began half-hour late as a consequence of President Joe Biden’s news conference.
The Southern California basketball star had a stellar freshman season, leading the Trojans to the NCAA Tournament semifinals for the primary time in a long time.
“It’s crazy,” Watkins said. “I want to thank all the amazing, powerful women who came before me and made this possible.”
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Williams joked during her monologue on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, and later sang after Ciara opened the show with a musical performance. Williams’ older sister, Venus, got here out and joked about being asked to host, and the siblings engaged in a mock argument.
“You may wonder why I do this,” said fashionista Serena. “Any chance I get to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I’ll take it.”
The ABC broadcast returned from a business break in the ultimate minutes and commenced repeating the presentations of the 2 earlier awards. Williams’ farewell was also cut, as were the closing credits. ABC said a technical failure in the printed affected the live broadcast within the Eastern and Central time zones. It was to be corrected in an effort to delay the tape transmission within the Western portion of the show.
Prince Harry received the Pat Tillman Award for Service, and mentioned the mother of a deceased soldier who criticized ESPN for honoring a member of the royal family.
To a standing ovation by his wife Meghan, the Duke of Sussex accepted a trophy from three veterans who had been wounded in service. Harry served within the British Army for 10 years, including two tours in Afghanistan as a helicopter pilot.
In 2014, he founded the Invictus Games, a multi-sport Paralympic Games for wounded soldiers and veterans.
“This award belongs to them, not me,” Harry said.
Tillman’s mother, Mary Tillman, criticized ESPN’s number of Harry, saying there are honorees working within the veterans community who could be more appropriate. Harry thanked Tillman’s widow, Marie, for her presence and likewise recognized Mary Tillman.
“Her advocacy for Pat’s legacy is deeply personal, and I honor that,” he said. “The bond between mother and son is eternal and transcends even the greatest losses.”
Retired NFL player Steve Gleason was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. He was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2011. His nonprofit organization, Team Gleason, helps people with ALS live their lives to the fullest by providing programs and support services.
Gleason received a standing ovation as he entered the stage in a motorized chair and was kissed by former New Orleans Saints teammate Drew Brees. Gleason’s voice was audible through special technology. His young son, Rivers, stood next to his father, holding the trophy.
“For me, this honor represents a certain encouragement and triumph for families currently living with ALS, for anyone living with a disability or other illness,” he said. “I suppose if you’ve never experienced fear, isolation or suffering, you can roll your sacred ass out of here.”
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers was named the MLB MVP; Connor McDavid of the Stanley Cup runner-up Edmonton Oilers was named the NHL MVP; and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks was named the NBA MVP.
Montverde (Florida) Academy point guard Cooper Flagg and Ventura (Calif.) High School track and field athlete Sadie Engelhardt won the Gatorade National Players of the Year award.
The three-hour ABC show was delayed because Biden’s nationally televised news conference began late and ran half-hour before the tip of the show.
Television
Why is Michelle Obama’s ‘Later Daters’ the most popular series on Netflix?
I hadn’t heard of The Later Daters on Netflix until I saw a post on Instagram stating that Michelle Obama was an executive producer. Naturally, if our everlasting first lady was involved, I had to examine it out and see what this show was all about. Much to my delight, “The Later Daters” turned out to be one in all the funniest, funniest, and most profound reality shows I even have seen in an extended time.
“The Later Daters” follows older singles in the “silver” years of their lives as they give the impression of being for an additional probability at love. Some of the daters are widows and widowers who lost their past loves. Others are divorcees (and in some cases, multiple divorcees) who try love again. It’s a various forged that features silver foxes of each shade and race, although the Black singles featured on the show give latest intending to the phrase “Black don’t crack.”
What I discovered the most entertaining storyline was the case of a later date named Anise. Not only does she have an exceptionally fit body and a lovely face, but Anise has endured incredible heartbreak, losing her first husband shortly after giving birth to her two children a long time ago. Anise became, in line with many, the prototype of the successful black woman. Educated and independent, she received her PhD, currently lives in a lovely house, her children are doing well, and in actual fact, the only thing she needs is the missing piece of affection in her life.
Unfortunately, regardless that she is 62 years old, so beautiful and smart, Anise has problems finding love. One of her dates on the show is an ideal example of what young women often undergo lately – and unfortunately, many older women apparently undergo it too. You know the drill: people objectify them, see their achievements and are intimidated into saying the stupidest things. In this case, adults. In one scene that went viral on social media, the silver fox, who is also an adult, divorced and has children, asks Anise if all three of her children have the same “little daddy.” He also tells her, without irony, that he likes his women who’ve a “little ghetto” in them. Yes, it really happened.
Now Anise, very uncomfortably, tries to navigate this awkward conversation gracefully, but rattling, at the age of 62, should she?! In that sense, “The Later Daters” is so relatable because even with the generation gap, if you happen to watch the show as a millennial like me, you see that there are particular features of dating which might be just universal. But what I actually like about this show is the way it shows that all of us have a universal desire for love, even later in life. Sometimes in society we speak about seniors – or anyone over the age of 55 – as if their best days were behind them. As in the event that they had no motivation to proceed to look good and feel good, be sexy or want sex and love. This series did an important job of further humanizing and complicating what it means to be an older American in the so-called “golden” stage of life.
Other great features of the show include watching the later daters with their children, arm in arm, being interviewed about every little thing from their first kiss to what they’ve learned about sex to what they give the impression of being for in a partner. Even with adult children, there is loads of sensitive giggling and facial covering once they hear about their parents’ love lives and future love lives. However, there is also a bond that happens when children provide perspective on their parents and what they think they need to learn about what they should offer and what they deserve of their next relationship.
“The Later Daters” is a must-watch show, especially in terms of intergenerational bonding. I used to be texting and kiki-kiing with my mom all week long, laughing at a few of the crazy scenes and funny conversations and who we thought would find yourself with who on the show. But it also made me smile to think that even at 38, when I’m beginning to feel many days older than my age, raising a small child, running around, maintaining a house and a relationship, there is still a lot to see in life and love.
Seeing a few of the love stories these Later Daters have been blessed with – and even the unlucky losses – reminds you that life is value living. Michelle Obama, the show’s executive producer, did an important job on this series and did society a service by not only allowing her and Barack’s love story to be the end of the story, but additionally speaking loudly and truthfully about the complexities of mature love. “The Later Daters” is very easy to look at and only has eight short episodes that you may watch over the course of an evening or every week if you happen to want. It’s an important reminder that we recover with age – and sometimes love does, too.
Television
Will Smith Says He Regrets Feud With ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ Aunt Viv’s Janet Hubert
Whether you watched it live or noticed the change while watching replays, the transformation of Vivian Banks, commonly often called Aunt Viv, into the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is a moment viewers will always remember.
For the primary three seasons of the hit series, Janet Hubert played Smith’s aunt, Vivian Banks. However, in 1993, the actress left the series, citing “creative differences”, and was eventually replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. For many years after her departure from the show, Hubert and Smith took jabs at one another, alluding to a deeper conflict outside the general public eye. At the time, Smith reportedly claimed that Hubert was on a mission to take over the show.
Now, in a brand new episode of “Black Comedy in America” produced by Vice, Smith, who also served as an executive producer on the series, opened up more about his controversial relationship with the actress, whom fans first fell in love with as Aunt Viv.
“I made a terrible mistake and misjudged her worth, strength and beauty on the show,” Smith told host Chris Spencer for the complex. “I horribly underestimated what she was to me at that point in my life.”
In 2020, the feuding stars reconciled with one another during an emotional special episode of HBO Max celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the hit series. Meeting for the primary time in many years, Hubert and Smith shared a candid moment during which they reflected on their conflicts and the impact they’ve on their skilled and private relationships.
“I lost a lot… When I left this system, I had a baby and nobody. “My family disowned me, Hollywood disowned me, my family said you ruined our name, and I was unprofessional on set,” she told Smith during their meeting. “I just stopped talking to everyone because I didn’t know who to trust, I used to be exiled. They said it was you who banished me. Because you were Will, you were a toddler. It was difficult.
“You took it all away from me with your words. Words can kill. I lost everything. Reputation, everything, everything,” she continued. “I understand you managed to maneuver on, but you realize the words, calling a black woman difficult in Hollywood is the kiss of death. It’s hard enough when (you are) a dark-skinned black woman on this business.
Understanding the importance of healing and moving forward, Hubert apologized for a way she spoke about Smith within the media over time. Similarly, Smith admitted that he might have been more sensitive to the actress’ experience and vowed to guard her in the longer term.
Since clearing the air, Hubert and Smith say they’ve a superb relationship. In 2021, the previous “Fresh Prince” actress said. People Magazine“We text one another on a regular basis. I meant it with all my heart after I hugged him because I saw that little boy, that little 21-year-old boy. I believe that if we had had the chance to speak then, something like this might never have happened.
Television
Simone Biles will join Snoop Dogg as a guest mentor on an episode of NBC’s “The Voice.”
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg AND Simone Biles they swapped their Olympic ties from this summer Paris Games takes on a latest challenge: a tandem of superstars will join forces on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Biles will join Snoop on an episode of the fact competition show that airs Monday. As the show’s coach, the rap star hired Biles as a mentor within the playoffs to advise the five singers vying for a spot within the live shows.
For Snoop and Biles, their pair was a perfect combination of sports and music icons who effortlessly brought their chemistry from the Olympics to TV’s “The Voice.”
“We were able to get together and give the artists the best insight into the next round,” Biles told The Associated Press in a recent interview with Snoop as the 2 finished filming the episode in Los Angeles.
“It was pretty easy, simple,” added Biles, probably the most decorated gymnast of all time, who won 4 medals, including three gold, on the last Olympics. “We are each very gentle. But if we’d like to boost this energy, we will do it. For us it was about giving us confidence for the following week.
Biles can have been known for her athletic achievements, but she had the power to attach with musical competitors from one athlete to a different.
“These are the stages of learning: learn, process, come back and work,” she said. “They all have vocal talent. It’s about using it, knowing when to bring it out, what songs to sing and what genre you fit into. And what should your legacy be? It’s a truly unique show, as is the judging. They can’t see the physical appearance first. It’s all behind the ears, listening and putting your craft together.”
Despite their different profession paths, Snoop and Biles respect one another and are capable of shine on the most important stages.
“We have very diverse careers. But what we were coping with, they’re coping with now,” said Snoop, a remarkably fluid artist who has adopted as a special correspondent IN Record-breaking NBC coverage. He can also be a coach on “The Voice.” Michael Buble, Reba McEntire AND Gwen Stefaniand every of them tries to find and train one other singing phenomenon.
Snoop said he felt the necessity to instill wisdom and confidence in each contestant.
“We have the best experience and knowledge that we can pass on to these contractors,” he said. “She is a performer. I am a contractor. We performed in extreme conditions. We always do our best. But sometimes things happen behind closed doors that you don’t know about. This allows us to talk about these issues and really put them at ease.”
During the Olympics, Biles and Snoop had several viral moments. The two got here together to cheer on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone during her 400-meter hurdles; gave Biles’ father, Ronald Biles, a Death Row Records gold necklace for his seventy fifth birthday; and was spotted dancing in the group through the women’s gymnastics qualifying round as Biles and her teammate Jordan Chiles joined.
On set, Biles smiled often as he watched Snoop in his charismatic element.
“I knew Snoop would stay true to himself and authentic on ‘The Voice,'” she said. “It’s nice not to have to adjust the form. There is room for everyone.”
Snoop said it made sense for each parties to work together on this episode.
“This is family. It feels good,” Snoop said. “(Biles) can do anything he wants. He picks and chooses what he desires to do. We are at this stage in our profession straight away. It should be a good feeling. You cannot force it or I do not do it. Dot, point, blank space.
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