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Republican bill would ban transgender girls from high school sports in California

LATimes
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Republican bill would ban transgender girls from high school sports in California


On the first day of the California Legislature’s new session, Assemblymember Kate Sanchez, an Orange County Republican, introduced a bill that would ban transgender high school students from competing on girls’ sports teams.

“Young women who have spent years training, sacrificing and earning their place to compete at the highest level are now being forced to compete against individuals with undeniable biological advantages,” Sanchez, of Rancho Santa Margarita, said in a video posted to social media.

“It’s not just unfair,” she added. “It’s disheartening and dangerous.”

Sanchez’s proposed law, called the Protect Girls’ Sports Act, is almost certain to fail in a Legislature controlled by a Democratic supermajority with a record of embracing inclusion for LGBTQ+ Californians.

But her introduction of it — notably, as her first bill of the session — underscores the persistent Republican emphasis on transgender issues, which continue to shape policy debates in California, where Democratic leaders have cast the state as a bulwark against President-elect Donald Trump, whose opposition to trans rights was central to his campaign.

Sacramento Democrats have blasted Sanchez’s bill as a political stunt, saying it is an unnecessary attack against transgender youth, who make up a tiny portion of California’s school-age population.

Supporters and opponents of banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports attend a meeting of the Riverside Unified School District board on Dec. 19.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Assemblymember Chris Ward, chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said in a statement that the caucus, whose members are all Democrats, “will not stand by as anyone attempts to use kids as political pawns.”

“Attacking kids is a failed 2024 issue,” said Ward (D-San Diego). “We are surprised the Assembly member introduced her first bill targeting a very small, vulnerable population of kids rather than using the opportunity to address key issues of affordability, housing and more that are impacting Californians.”

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, which researches public policy around sexual orientation and gender identity, estimates that about 1.4% of American teenagers ages 13-17 — about 300,000 individuals nationwide — identify as transgender. Fewer play sports.

While polls show that most Americans support protecting LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, they are deeply divided on issues involving queer children, especially kids who identify as transgender or nonbinary.

In a nationwide poll conducted last year for The Times by NORC at the University of Chicago, about two-third of adult respondents said transgender girls and women should never or only rarely be allowed to participate on female sports teams.

“Regardless of where Sacramento Democrats are on this issue, they’ll need to face facts,” Sanchez said in a statement to The Times, noting public opinion on the issue.

On the other side of the political aisle, state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) last week introduced the Transgender Privacy Act, which would automatically seal all court records related to a person’s gender transition in an effort to protect them from being outed or harassed.

“The incoming Trump Administration and Republican Congressional leadership have made clear that targeting and erasing trans people is among their highest policy priorities, and California must have our trans community members’ backs,” Wiener said in a statement about his Senate Bill 59.

A coalition of LGBTQ+ supporters listens to speakers during a press briefing

Supporters of LGBTQ+ students at a Dec. 19 Riverside Unified School District board meeting where demonstrators called on the district to “save girls’ sports.”

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Sanchez’s Assembly Bill 89, would require the California Interscholastic Federation, which regulates high school sports for public and private schools, to enact rules prohibiting any “pupil whose sex was assigned male at birth from participating on a girls’ interscholastic sports team.” It does not stop transgender boys from playing on boys’ teams or specify how the CIF would verify students’ gender.

California education code explicitly says students must be allowed to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including team sports, and must be permitted to use restrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. Then-Gov. Jerry Brown signed those rights into law in 2013.

Sanchez’s bill comes after several recent high-profile fights across California over trans girls and women playing high school and college sports.

In November, a Christian high school in Merced withdrew its girls’ volleyball team from a state playoff match against a San Francisco team with a transgender player.

This fall, the San José State women’s volleyball team was embroiled in controversy after current and former players and an associate coach tried to have a trans player removed from the roster by filing a federal lawsuit. A judge later ruled the player could compete.

In November, two female high school students sued the Riverside Unified School District, alleging a transgender girl unfairly ousted one of them from a spot on the varsity cross-country team. The federal lawsuit also claims that when the girls protested the situation — by wearing T-shirts that read, “Save Girls Sports,” and, “It’s common sense. XX [does not equal] XY” — school officials compared it to wearing a swastika in front of a Jewish student.

The suit claims that the district’s policies unfairly restrict the girls’ freedom of expression and deny them fair and equal access to athletic opportunities.

A group of people standing with hands clasped.

Republican Assemblymembers Bill Essayli, front left, and Leticia Castillo, front right, called on the Riverside Unified School District superintendent to resign over his handling of the issue of transgender athletes competing in girls’ high school sports at a board meeting last month.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

Two Republican Assembly members from the Inland Empire, Bill Essayli and Leticia Castillo, called on the district’s superintendent to resign over her handling of the issue.

In 2023, Essayli, whose district borders Sanchez’s, co-sponsored a bill that would have required school employees to notify parents if their child identified as transgender at school. Critics argued the bill would out and potentially endanger trans kids, while violating student privacy protections under California law. The bill died in committee, but similar policies sprouted up on school boards in conservative parts of the state, showing how a Republican idea that gets squelched in the state Capitol can still drive debate on an issue.

In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1955, which prohibits schools from mandating that teachers notify families about student gender identity changes.

Daisy Gardner, an outreach director for Our Schools USA, a nonprofit that supported AB 1955, called Sanchez’s bill and Republicans’ focus on transgender athletes “a very powerful organizing tool from the far right.”

The parent of an LGBTQ+ student who said she was speaking for herself, not on behalf of Our Schools USA, Gardner called Sanchez’s bill “a media stunt designed to whip up fear and hatred of trans people so that the far right can flip California red in 2026, and the casualties are trans lives.”

Gardner has been in contact with parents of two transgender high school athletes in the Riverside Unified School District amid the recent controversy and read a statement on behalf of one of the girl’s family during a raucous school board meeting last month.

“They are in pure hell,” she said of the parents. “They don’t know how to protect their kids.”

Matt Rexroad, a longtime California political consultant, said that while urban Democrats might be scratching their heads over Sanchez introducing this long shot bill on such a hot-button issue, it makes sense for her suburban district, which is “one of the more conservative areas of California.”

“It’s a good political issue for certain parts of California,” Rexroad said. “Clearly, Scott Wiener is not going to introduce this bill or vote for it, but not all of his bills pass either.”

Sanchez, he said, “is representing the views of her constituents.”

At least one of her constituents, though, was so angry about the Protect Girls’ Sports Act that she called Sanchez’s office and grilled a staffer about the specifics, like how a child’s gender would be verified.

Michele McNutt, a former Democrat who just changed her party registration to no-party-preference, said she was not satisfied with the staffer’s answers and called the bill “performative.”

“If it fails, they can frame it as, ‘California hates parents,’” said McNutt, whose two teenage daughters are student athletes in the Capistrano Unified School District. “I think the theater is the point, and it really isn’t about protecting girls’ sports.”



This story originally appeared on LA Times

Docker flagged as malware in macOS over file signing snafu

AppleInsider
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Docker flagged as malware in macOS over file signing snafu


Docker – Image Credit: Docker

Developers using the virtualization software Docker have been plagued by an issue for a week, with users complaining that macOS is wrongly detecting it as malware.

Apple’s security systems in macOS are designed to protect the user and their data from a massive amount of online attacks in normal use. However, those same systems can also trigger in legitimate software if a mistake is made.

That seems to be the case for Docker, a virtualization tool often used to develop apps on Mac. For over a week, users are discovering their Mac is blocking Docker from running, because of a supposed malware issue.

For some versions of Docker Desktop, users can see a message warning “Malware Blocked,” and that “com.docker.vmnetd was not opened because it contains malware. This action did not harm your Mac.” Docker Desktop then simply doesn’t run at all.

While alarming to users, it turns out that it isn’t a malware problem. Really it’s a signing issue that manifests in that way when analyzed by macOS security.

Bad signs

Apple built a number of security tools into macOS that apps must abide by in order to run. This includes XProtect for detecting malware, Notarization to check for malicious components and code-signing problems, and Gatekeeper for checking the validity of Developer ID signatures.

On the status page for Docker, an “active incident” is listed for Docker Desktop for macOS, starting from January 7. The official listing is “Docker Desktop on macOS unable to start due to malware reports.”

Alert window with yellow warning icon states malware blocked on Mac, preventing harm. Background features colorful gradient of blue, orange, and yellow shades.
The malware error message in macOS – Image Credit: Docker/Github

Initially, the Docker team offered a workaround that involved stopping Docker services, removing two binaries, reinstalling the binaries, and then restarting Docker.

The actual cause of the problem was uncovered on January 8. Some files in existing installations are incorrectly signed, tripping up the macOS anti-malware protection.

To solve the problem, the developers initially fixed it by copying correctly signed files from the Docker.app application bundle to the right places. It took until January 9 for a patch to be released for Docker Desktop versions 4.32 to 4.37, fixing the issue.

A support document has also been issued to help users, including guidance on how to install a patch. Users who installed Docker Desktop using Homebrew casks should perform a full reinstall to fix the issue.

An MDM script is also provided for IT administrators in corporate environments.



This story originally appeared on Appleinsider

Holly Holm on future: ‘In a perfect world, I’ll do both’ MMA and boxing

MMA Mania
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Holly Holm on future: ‘In a perfect world, I’ll do both’ MMA and boxing


On Monday (Jan 13th, 2025), news came out that the UFC had voluntarily released Holly Holm after the former women’s bantamweight champion requested her release, despite still having two fights left on her contract.

It was a pretty big surprise given Holm’s status in the company. She was the one who derailed Ronda Rousey with one of the biggest head kick knockouts in MMA history. She was a UFC champion. She headlined five network Fight Night cards. And while she’s ended up a gatekeeper to title contention over the past few years, she was still ranked No. 8 at 135 pounds.

So why did Holm ask for her release? In a new interview on the Ariel Helwani MMA Show, “The Preacher’s Daughter” explained how it all went down.

“It’s been 8 months since my last fight,” Holm said. “And I know I’m not gonna fight forever, but I still want a couple more. And I had been in talks just trying to see if anything would happen, and I did want to be able to dance in the UFC octagon one more time, but it just didn’t seem like it was something that was gonna be promised.”

“I did have 2 fights left on the contract, but you know, that’s not always promised. And I didn’t wanna wait around forever either. So I wanna see what other options there are.”

Holm came over to MMA from boxing where she had an even more impressive career. She was a three division boxing champion with 18 title defenses, and Box Rec considers her pound-for-pound the 12th greatest female boxer in history. With women’s boxing on the upswing right now, will she return to the ring?

“When I box, I fought at 140, 147, and 154,” Holm said. “I never fought at 135 in boxing. So sometimes I feel like it’s unfinished business. Do I go back? And the people that have belts at that weight class are Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor. So it’s like, is that unfinished business?”

It’s certainly lucrative business, but Holm doesn’t sound done with MMA yet.

“In a perfect world, I’ll do both,” she said. “Okay, if I can’t, I would like to have another fight for MMA and another fight for boxing … I still want another head kick knockout. You can’t do that in boxing. And then I also think, man, it’d be really cool to go and fight for a a 4th weight division in boxing, so why not?”

“I think of both of those things, pretty much down the middle. But, I think my heart still leans a little more towards MMA first. I don’t know. I just wanna see see what opens.”

It seems like the UFC ran out of ideas for what to do with Holly Holm — or fighters that could get past her. We’re not sure if there’s much out there for her in the greater MMA landscape either. She could rematch Cris Cyborg, or pushing back younger fighters trying to establish themselves. But in boxing, there’s a whole slew of top women’s fighters trying to gain the spotlight, and there are few opponents out there with a name as big as Holm’s.




This story originally appeared on MMA Mania

Where Trump’s FBI Director Nominee Went to School – Hollywood Life

Hollywood Life
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Where Trump’s FBI Director Nominee Went to School – Hollywood Life


Image Credit: Getty Images

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated fierce loyalist Kash Patel to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“I am proud to announce that Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Trump posted Saturday night on Truth Social. “Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People.”

It remains unclear whether Patel could be confirmed, even by a Republican-led Senate. In any case, find out more about him below, including his academic background.

Who Is Kash Patel?

Patel, born in 1980 to Indian immigrant parents and raised in Garden City, New York, gained prominence in 2018 when he served as an aide to Rep. Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. There, he earned Trump’s favor during the Russia investigation, with Trump later praising him for playing a pivotal role in uncovering what he called the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax.” Patel’s work as an advocate for truth and accountability led to his appointment in 2019 to the National Security Council. He later became chief of staff to the acting defense secretary in the final year of Trump’s first term.

Where Did Patel Go to School?

Patel graduated from the University of Richmond in 2002, before earning a certificate in international law from University College London Faculty of Laws, as noted on his Facebook page. He then went on to complete his law degree at Pace University in 2005.

Is Patel a Lawyer?

Patel is a lawyer who was initially admitted to the Florida Bar in 2005, but he is no longer eligible to practice law in the state. In 2014, according to The New York Times, Patel entered and later dropped out of an Above the Law charity bachelor auction benefiting the Switchboard of Miami after a blogger noted that his law license appeared to be outdated in the state.

However, Patel is still registered to practice law in New York, where he was admitted to the New York Bar in 2012.

What Is Patel’s Net Worth?

It’s unclear what Patel’s exact net worth is.

How Does Patel Make His Money?

After graduating from law school in 2005, Patel spent eight years working as a public defender in Florida—first with the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s Office, and later as a federal public defender. In 2014, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division as a trial attorney, also serving as a legal liaison to the Joint Special Operations Command. Three years later, in 2017, Patel was appointed senior counsel for counterterrorism at the House Intelligence Committee.

Since 2022, Patel has served on the board of Trump Media and Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, and holds a consulting contract reportedly worth at least $120,000 annually.

In addition to his 2023 memoir, Government Gangsters, Patel has published two pro-Trump children’s books.



This story originally appeared on Hollywoodlife

Europe’s 4th biggest country has no national anthem lyrics — no one can agree | Weird | News

Express.co.uk
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Europe’s 4th biggest country has no national anthem lyrics — no one can agree | Weird | News


Imagine a packed stadium, the roar of the crowd swelling as the national anthem plays. But instead of voices raised in song, all you can hear are hums.

The “Marcha Real”, translated as “Royal March”, has been the anthem for Spain since the 18th century but, unlike other European countries, it lacks lyrics for its people to sing to. Composed in 1761 by Manuel de Espinosa de los Monteros as a military march, it won the Royal seal of approval from King Charles III in the 1770s. Since then, it has always remained an instrumental tune.

This quirk has led to confusing incidents on the international stage, like during the 2018 World Cup when baffled viewers called out Spanish players for not singing their anthem. But what’s behind the silence of Spain’s theme tune?

Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to set lyrics to the “Marcha Real” yet all have ended in failure. Take 1870, for example, when General Juan Prim launched a competition to find suitable words – only to abandon the project after the judges could not agree on a winner.

Fast forward to Francisco Franco’s rule in the mid-20th century when poet José María Pemán added his own fascistic flair with verses: “Long live Spain! Raise your arms, sons of the Spanish people, which rebirths anew. Glory to the Fatherland that knew how to follow, over the ocean blue, the course of the setting sun.”

These were swiftly ditched following Franco’s demise and Spain’s move towards democracy.

In modern times, attempts to find a unifying set of lyrics since then have faced the immense challenge of catering to Spain’s diverse population, including Castilians, Catalans, Basques, and others, each of which have strong regional identities and identify more with those regions than a national Spain. There have been long-standing independence movements in Catalonia and Spain, for example.

The most significant recent attempt emerged in 2007 when Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), was moved by the fervent renditions of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield stadium, and sought to vocalise the “Marcha Real”.

A nationwide contest drew thousands of submissions, culminating in victory for opera singer Paulino Cubero’s entry: “Long live Spain! Let’s all sing together with different voices and one heart. Long live Spain! From the green valleys to the immense sea, a hymn of brotherhood.”

One phrase, though, sparked fierce backlash. Critics argued that “Long live Spain” carried echoes of Franco’s authoritarian regime, reigniting painful associations for many. Merely five days after the anthem’s revelation, the COE retracted the initiative, shelving the project.

Now, Spain remains among the rare nations like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and San Marino, whose people either stand in silence or hum along to their instrumental anthems.



This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk

Why I Switched from the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 to the Epson EcoTank ET2856: A Customer’s Tale of Frustration and Redemption.

LuxuryActivist
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Why I Switched from the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 to the Epson EcoTank ET2856: A Customer’s Tale of Frustration and Redemption.


Reading Time: 5 minutes

When I initially purchased the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740, I chose it for its promised performance and quality. This semi-professional printer boasts impressive features like A3 printing, high-quality resolution, and user-friendly functionality. For a personal printer used sparingly—printing fewer than 200 pages per year—I expected it to last for years without significant issues. Unfortunately, my trust in HP was shattered.

Poor and Inefficient Customer Support

The trouble began when my printer, only four years old, suddenly stopped working. The error message? It could no longer recognize the print head. While this issue was unexpected, I assumed HP’s customer service would help resolve the problem efficiently. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

• The Timeline of Frustration: I spent two months engaging with HP’s customer service team, only to end up furious and empty-handed. They asked me to perform endless technical manipulations, none of which worked. Each call ended in frustration, and the promised follow-ups often didn’t materialize. Appointments were missed without explanation, leaving me to start from scratch each time.

• The Final Straw: Despite my persistent efforts, including sending two emails to HP’s CEO, I received no meaningful response. Eventually, a representative told me bluntly that my printer was out of warranty and deemed irreparable. Their solution? Discard the device and buy a new one. The lack of professionalism, empathy, and accountability was astonishing. I also requested a written confirmation that my printer was not repairable for the insurance, and they never answered me. This shows how shameful their customer service is.

© Luxuryactivist.com

A Case of Programmed Obsolescence

Equally troubling was the realization that the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 appeared to be designed with a limited lifespan. Here’s why:

• Breakdown After Warranty: The timing was suspect. My printer failed after its warranty expired—a coincidence too familiar with modern electronics. Given its low usage and semi-professional classification, a failure after only four years is unacceptable.

• Irreparability: When the printer stopped recognizing the print head, I attempted to resolve the issue by purchasing a replacement head. It didn’t work. HP’s technician later confirmed that the printer was beyond repair and fixing it wasn’t “worth it.” The implication? This once-expensive A3 printer was now destined for the trash—a scenario that should not occur in today’s environmentally conscious world.

The Environmental Impact

In an era where sustainability is paramount, it’s disheartening to see major companies like HP contributing to electronic waste through poorly designed products. The inability to repair the printer or extend its life highlights a disregard for eco-friendly practices.

Enter the Epson EcoTank ET2856: A Breath of Fresh Air

After my experience with HP, I sought a company and product aligned with my values: reliability, sustainability, and excellent customer service. My search led me to Epson and their EcoTank ET2856. Here’s why I’m thrilled with my choice.

Epson-ET2856-reviews

1. Epson: A Company That Cares

Epson has earned a reputation for prioritizing quality and customer satisfaction. Known for its innovation in printing technology, Epson has embraced eco-conscious practices by creating products designed for longevity and reducing waste. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their EcoTank range, which eliminates traditional cartridges in favour of refillable ink bottles.

2. The EcoTank ET2856: A Game-Changer in Printing

Epson-refills-eco-conception-reviews

The EcoTank ET2856 is a remarkable device that has transformed my printing experience. Here’s what sets it apart:

• Eco-Friendly Ink Bottles: Unlike traditional cartridge-based printers, the EcoTank system uses refillable ink bottles. These bottles are:

• Cost-Effective: A single set of bottles costs significantly less than replacement cartridges and lasts much longer.

• High-Capacity: Each refill provides enough ink to print thousands of pages, making it ideal for occasional and frequent users.

• Reduced Waste: The absence of disposable cartridges significantly reduces plastic waste, aligning with modern sustainability goals.

• Long-Term Savings: While the printer’s initial cost is slightly higher than that of conventional models, the ink savings over time are substantial. This efficiency is a game-changer for someone like me, who prints less than 200 pages yearly.

• Reliable Performance: The ET2856 has proven to be a reliable workhorse. It offers consistent quality, user-friendly features, and seamless wireless connectivity.

Epson-reviews

3. Stellar Customer Service

Epson’s customer service has also impressed me. A quick search online reveals numerous positive reviews highlighting their promptness, professionalism, and willingness to resolve issues efficiently. This starkly contrasts with my experience with HP, where I felt like just another frustrated voice lost in a sea of complaints.

Conclusion: Lessons Learned and a New Beginning

My journey from the HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 to the Epson EcoTank ET2856 has been frustrating and enlightening. It taught me that:

1. Customer Support Matters: HP’s lack of professionalism and care for its customers has cost them a loyal client of over a decade. In contrast, Epson’s reputation for excellent service has already earned my trust.

2. Sustainability Is Non-Negotiable: Companies cannot afford to ignore environmental concerns today. Products designed for programmed obsolescence, like the HP 7740, are unethical and environmentally damaging.

3. Value Over Time: While the EcoTank ET2856 requires a slightly higher upfront investment, its long-term cost savings and environmental benefits make it far superior.

Finally, I’d like to emphasize the importance of warranties. After my experience with HP, I opted for a five-year warranty with Epson, giving me peace of mind that any issues will be handled professionally.

Ultimately, my switch to the Epson EcoTank ET2856 is more than just a printer change—it is a vote for accountability, sustainability, and quality. Companies like HP must note that customers will no longer tolerate poor service and wasteful practices in a competitive market. I’ve found a better alternative, and I couldn’t be happier.

José Amorim
The author sourced the information for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted, and reproduction rights are not available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 



This story originally appeared on Luxuryactivist

Noel Fielding’s Reported Absence From Set Leads to Cancelation of ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’

MovieWeb
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Noel Fielding’s Reported Absence From Set Leads to Cancelation of ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’


Apple TV+ have reportedly pulled the plug on The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin
despite the second season reportedly being almost finished. While details are still sketchy on exactly why the production has been shut down, reports have suggested it is because star and series writer Noel Fielding
did not return to the production following a Christmas break.

The details shared by The Sun have said that despite the series being around three quarters complete, Fielding’s apparent departure from the series has made the whole thing “unsalvageable” and Apple TV have simply decided to cut their losses. Cast and crew were told that the cancelation of the rest of the series was due to “the illness of a key cast member.” The publication quoted an insider as saying:

“[The crew] were understandably bewildered and infuriated by the bombshell because the shoe show required millions of pounds, months of planning and hours of work. It now effectively means that they are all out of work and looking for new jobs, but they still haven’t had a full explanation. Naturally, the rumour mill is in overtime as to what has happened with Noel, but it must have been very serious to axe the whole show. In most circumstances, execs will at least consider pausing filming, but for some reason they decided to throw in the towel before the situation got any worse.”

While it has been assumed that the “key cast member” is Fielding, other reports have claimed that he has actually left the country recently, and is currently residing in France, but these claims have not been substantiated. He is expected to begin filming soon on the next series of The Great British Bake Off.

What was ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin’ About?

The blurb for the now defunct series read, “Dick Turpin is a legendary British highway robber, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair; together with his gang of rogues, he sets out on new adventures, all while trying to escape the clutches of a thief-taker.”

Fielding was highly praised for his work on the first season of the series, which aired earlier this year. The reviews for the series were strong, with critics scoring it 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, comparing its style of humor to classic British shows such as Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Audiences were a little more critical of the series, with some calling the humor predictable and boring, but the majority liked it enough to land it an impressive 78% score.

Related


Noel Fielding Remembers Richard Lewis: ‘He’s Quintessentially New York’

The Bake-Off host and Dick Turpin star spoke about his new show and love for comedians Richard Lewis and Mitch Hedberg.

The renewal for Season 2 of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin was swift, and filming began late in 2024 until there was a pause for the festive break. However, Fielding’s failure to return earlier this month has seemingly led to the complete scrapping of the show. The reaction seems to be incredibly unusual, as this kind of setback would normally lead to shooting being put on hold rather than an immediate cancelation. For now, there is no further information available, and Fielding and Apple TV+ have yet to release an explanatory statement.

The Completely Made-Up Adventures Of Dick Turpin TV Series Poster

Release Date

March 1, 2024

Cast

Noel Fielding
, Duayne Boachie
, Ellie White
, Marc Wootton
, Dolly Wells
, Mark Heap
, David Threlfall
, Geoff McGivern
, Joe Wilkinson
, Kiri Flaherty
, Hugh Bonneville
, Asim Chaudhry
, Greg Davies



This story originally appeared on Movieweb

Every Law & Order: SVU Season, Ranked

ScreenRant
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Every Law & Order: SVU Season, Ranked


Since 1999, Law and Order: Special VIctims Unit has been one of the most popular crime procedurals on TV, and there have been plenty of changes across its 25 seasons. SVU season 26 is currently ongoing, but even its oldest episodes still make for great viewing. In the early days of the show, the focus was squarely on the exciting cases presented each week, as a team of detectives sought to unravel the tangled web of criminal deceit. In recent seasons, the personal lives of the detectives have become more important to the show, and it still produces some great seasons.

There have been so many cast changes on SVU that it can be hard to keep track. The only ever-present actor on the show has been Mariska Hargitay, who plays Olivia Benson. The constantly changing cast means that the show often feels completely different from one season to the next, especially because the writers and showrunners also come and go. SVU is by far the most successful spinoff of Law and Order, even surpassing the original in terms of longevity. SVU is one of the longest-running scripted shows on TV, so naturally, some seasons are better than others.

Related


Law and Order SVU: Main Characters Ranked By Intelligence

Several characters come together in Law and Order: SVU. Some personalities like John Munch present more smarts than others.

25

Season 22

2020-2021

Even those considered the worst seasons of SVU are still capable of producing some great episodes. Season 22, episode 9, “Return of the Prodigal Son,” is a fine example of this, bringing back Detective Stabler after years of being away as his family faces a terrible threat. Stabler and Benson are one of the most beloved pairs of detectives in the show’s history, so it makes sense that fans would remain interested in him even after leaving SVU.

Unfortunately, this is one of very few standouts in season 22, as the show struggled to strike the right chord after a fresh wave of questions against American law enforcement in 2020. SVU seemed unsure of how to approach such a delicate subject, and the result was a bit of a mess. With so many real-world struggles mirroring that of the show, it became hard for fans to engage with it the way they used to.

24

Season 25

2024

Law & Order: SVU season 25 arrived on screens in 2024. Thanks to the 2023 Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the episode count of season 25 was notably shorter than previous seasons, with only 13 episodes in total. Unfortunately, this was to the show’s detriment, and many fans and critics remarked that season 25 of Law & Order: SVU was one of the weakest in the series so far. After a strong premier with “Tunnel Blind”, the Law & Order: SVU season 25 gradually went downhill. Season 25 lost over a million viewers from the premier, for which 5.66 million viewers tuned in, to the finale episode, “Duty to Hope”, which netted in only 4.14 million (via Programming Insider).

Many viewers and critics felt that Law & Order: SVU season 25 had lost its way. There were many complaints that SVU was now relying too heavily on melodrama and lacked the realism that made the earlier seasons of Special Victims Unit so memorable. Of course, the response wasn’t entirely negative, and the show still maintained an admirable following. There was also some celebration at the return of Kell Giffish as Amanda Rollins as a guest star towards the end of the 13 episode run, for example. Some also praised the latest season of SVU’s commitment to exploring trauma. However, compared to other seasons of Law & Order: SVU, season 25 is widely considered a low point.

23

Season 16

2014-2015

Season 16 is the end of the line for Amaro, as his fiery personality finally gets him into too much trouble for him to overcome. The show, however, never leaves a detective’s spot vacant for long. New detectives transfer into the unit regularly. As Amaro leaves, the show fills his spot with Carisi.

Although he has since become a beloved character, Carisi starts out as an obnoxious presence, irritating everyone else in the 16th precinct. Season 16 is also notorious for having one of the worst episodes in the entire run of SVU. Episode 14, “Intimidation Game” tries to examine the toxic culture of masculinity in gaming, but its approach is heavy-handed at best. The series has never shied away from allowing real-world events to inspire their fictional stories, but it didn’t work here.

22

Season 18

2016-2017

Season 18 was the only season with Rick Eid as showrunner, who has also worked on Law and Order and Chicago P.D. Season 18 has a heavy focus on stories based on real life, but some work a lot better than others. Though the series has always focused on sexual assault, this season also gave special attention to the idea of what makes a predator as several episodes focused on family lineage, which not all fans loved.

Episode 16, “The Newsroom” plays on the harassment claims at Fox News, as Benson and Barba team up to gather evidence about a news anchor accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate workplace conduct. It’s an interesting dive into the psychology of survivors who stand up to famous perpetrators, but not all of season 18’s efforts are as nuanced.

21

Season 24

2022-2023

Season 24 starts off in the midst of “Gimme Shelter,” the brilliant Law and Order crossover event which also includes the original Law and Order and Law and Order: Organized Crime, which features Elliot Stabler. While fans don’t always love when the series crosses over with other Dick Wolf shows, like the Chicago franchise, expanding the world of Law & Order is always a welcome addition.

The later seasons of SVU have focused more on the detectives than the cases and the victims.

“Gimme Shelter” used SVU to give both of these shows a boost, but the crossover was more than just a publicity scheme since it involves fan-favorite characters the audience is actually interested in. The rest of the season is rather hit-and-miss, but with a few more misses than hits. The later seasons of SVU have focused more on the detectives than the cases and the victims, and episodes without a compelling case don’t have the same thrust.

20

Season 21

2019-2020

After initially departing after season 17, Warren Leight returned as showrunner for season 21. His seasons can be identified by the show’s increased focus on the personal lives of the detectives, which suited season 21 perfectly, as Olivia Benson was made Captain and Carisi became Assistant District Attorney. These were big changes for the characters, but also natural progressions for a show that had been on the air for 20 years.

Season 21 had to be cut slightly short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that there were only 20 episodes. In this truncated season, Rollins was frequently the most interesting character, with episodes like “I Deserve Some Loving Too” shining the spotlight on her. Rollins hadn’t started her time on the show as a favorite, but allowing personal lives to become a larger part of the stories worked in her character’s favor, unlike others.

19

Season 8

2006-2007

Season 8 came right in the middle of SVU‘s strongest era, but it doesn’t have as many memorable episodes as those around it. Mariska Hargitay missed a few episodes while on maternity leave, and while the show wasn’t as squarely focused on her character in season 8 as it is today, it still suffered during her absence. For better or worse, Hargitay is the heart of the show. Without her, it doesn’t have the same appeal to long-time fans, just as it didn’t in the early seasons if she missed an episode.

When she is involved, season 8 still produces a handful of great episodes. One of SVU‘s best guest stars appears in the season finale “Screwed,” which features Ludacris as Fin’s nephew who goes on trial for murder and rape. It’s a stepping stone in Ludacris’ acting career, and a standout episode for the show.

18

Season 3

2001-2002

Season 3 continued the long process of piecing the show together. It added some important fan-favorite characters to the show, like technology expert Ruben Morales, ADA Elizabeth Donnelly, and defense attorney Trevor Langan. All of these characters would go on to become vital to the show’s detailed portrayal of the criminal justice system. Where Law & Order differs from other crime shows is that it actually follows the entire process of investigation and apprehension of a suspect as well as their criminal trial. Shows like only follow the inves Criminal Mindstigation, not the trial, and not necessarily the forensics.

Season 3 also helped refine the twisty nature of the criminal cases. Episode 21, “Denial,” is one example of a case which seems simple at first, but the detectives uncover dark secrets as their investigation continues. That would become a prominent technique in the show moving forward.

17

Season 23

2021-2022

Season 23 features the 500th episode of SVU, which brings back old characters like Cragen and Amaro. It’s a fitting way to mark such an incredible milestone in the show’s run, but it’s more than just a nostalgia trip as it also allows for more exploration of Olivia’s past since the case Amaro brings to Olivia was one of Cragen’s and had personal implications for Olivia.

Other episodes sway between dense political drama and more old-fashioned cases, with one standout being “Eighteen Wheels a Predator,” which sees Fin and Rollins linking a crime in Kentucky to one committed in Central Park. While the authority that the NYPD has across state lines wouldn’t be likely in reality, the episode does feel like classic SVU. Season 23 is bogged down by a few weaker episodes, and the changes to the visual style are too jarring at times.

16

Season 19

2017-2018

Most seasons have made one or two cast changes, and the big news in season 19 was ADA Barba (Raúl Esparza) leaving SVU. Barba has made a couple of guest appearances since, but season 19 was his last major involvement. Season 19 also marked a new showrunner for the long-running series. Under the guidance of new showrunner Michael S. Chernuchin, season 19 gets off to a slow start, but the show eventually finds its feet.

“Gone Baby Gone” combines SVU‘s twin focuses of dangerous cases and the personal lives of the detectives superbly, as the squad unites to track down Benson’s missing son. When Noah is kidnapped from the mall, Olivia and the team set out to find him. It’s always interesting when Benson is at the center of a case from a personal standpoint instead of a professional standpoint because the way she works the cases changes and shows the layers to her character.

15

Season 14

2012-2013

Season 14 gets off to a great start, with Cragen and Amaro accused of being involved in a nefarious homicide plot in the first episode. There’s nothing like opening a crime procedural with team members accused of a crime. There are other highlights peppered throughout the season, such as “Born Psychopath” and “Monster’s Legacy,” which both raise difficult questions about the limitations of the criminal justice system, especially when it tries to apply strict rules to nuanced and morally complex cases.

“Born Psychopath” is especially an interesting episode because it raises the question of how to approach a child depressing psychopathic tendencies as early as ten years old. The character is even revisited again in season 22, allowing the show to remind the audience that the stories don’t end in a single episode. Overall, it’s a strong season, and if the rest of the episodes had maintained this high standard, then it could have been up there with SVU‘s very best.

14

Season 1

1999-2000

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit faced a tough challenge as the first spinoff from the original show, but season 1 makes a solid start. Initially, it kept to the same format the original series had, but focused on sex crimes instead of strictly murder investigations. Cragen crossed over from Law and Order, and a few other regular cast members made guest appearances in SVU season 1 to help get the series off the ground.

But SVU also had to forge its own path. Fortunately, Benson and Stabler’s compelling dynamic sprung up from the ground fully formed, and the show went from strength to strength throughout its first season. Some of the show’s best characters hadn’t joined yet, but the cases are still fascinating and the foundation for the dynamics between the partners was there.

Collage of character from the various Law & Order shows in the franchise

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13

Season 2

2000-2001

Season 2 was the first to include Neal Baer as showrunner, and it began to set up the show’s greatest formula. Fin Tutuola joined the squad to replace the outgoing Monique Jeffries, and his immediate rapport with Munch was a huge boost for SVU. The duo act as a secondary team most of the time, which allows them to inject some humorous touches into the show more often than Benson and Stabler. There’s a reason those two teams are fan-favorites despite their very different dynamics.

Season 2 gives them some great episodes together, such as “Legacy” and “Manhunt,” but they also frequently help out in the background. “Legacy” in particular is a great episode for expanding Munch’s character. Though he and Fin are the backup to Benson and Stabler, it’s Munch whose history gets explored a bit more during the case. He relates stories of his childhood to Benson and even stays by the side of the child who survived being attacked.

12

Season 20

2018-2019

Season 20 is characteristically uneven for one of the later seasons of SVU, but the highs are exceptional. “Revenge” is an example of SVU perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of online discourse and new technology, which isn’t always easy for a show that tries to keep up with the headlines.

The outstanding episode is “Alta Kockers,” however, which features Judd Hirsch and Wallace Shawn in top form as a pair of reclusive brothers who become the center of a murder investigation. It’s a great showcase for some fine acting, with the brothers each hiding decades-old secrets from one another. The investigation itself stems from a teenage writer’s death, but ends up tracking to these much older men for a very different story than what the audience was expecting. The twists of episodes like this one make the good episodes great.

11

Season 15

2013-2014

Season 15 changes the familiar formula of SVU, focusing primarily on a single case throughout the entire season. It’s rare for a crime procedural to do this, though Criminal Minds has done similar change-ups, maintaining cases of the week while connecting storylines to one longer arc. There are only a few episodes that don’t feature William Lewis, the man who abducts and tortures Olivia Benson.

Naturally, Benson becomes a key focus of the season, but Rollins also has a lot of great moments as her gambling addiction forces her into a corner and allows the audience to get to know her better. Even with these story lines simmering in the background, season 15 still has plenty of intriguing cases to keep things fresh on a weekly basis. Season 15 also marks Cragen and Munch’s farewell.

Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) thinking in Law & Order: SVU

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10

Season 13

2011-2012

When Christopher Meloni left SVU, the show suffered its biggest loss since it began in 1999. Somehow, season 13 managed to produce plenty of great episodes without Stabler. His absence is felt by the entire squad, but Benson struggles in particular, since the two had formed a tight bond over the years. It works because the show doesn’t just ignore the hole left by his absence, but leans into it.

Benson, of course, is still compelling without Stabler, and episodes like “Justice Denied” delve into her interesting past. Rollins and Amaro make great additions to the team, helping to soften the blow from Stabler’s departure. Season 13 has a different feel to its predecessors, with plenty of new writers as well, but that also works in the show’s favor as the new characters need those new voices in the writer’s room.

9

Season 12

2010-2011

Season 12 was the end of an era for Law & Order: SVU, with Christopher Meloni and showrunner Neal Baer leaving before season 13. Crucial characters George Huang and Melinda Warner also made their final appearances in season 12, so the squad’s technical help would never be the same. The show easily could have floundered under all of these big changes happening in the same few months, and while it did have to restructure, the series still found a way forward.

One of the show’s most shocking moments of all which also killed a beloved recurring character.

Before these key players departed, they contributed to plenty of classic episodes, like “Behave,” in which a serial rapist and stalker is found to have assaulted women all over the country. The season finale features the squad room shooting, one of the show’s most shocking moments of all which also killed a beloved recurring character.

8

Season 5

2003-2004

Alex Cabot received one of the most memorable send-offs of any main character in SVU in season 5, as she receives death threats for prosecuting members of a Colombian drug cartel. Cabot is forced to fake her death and go into the witness protection program – and she is the only main character to have to go this route during the show’s run. It makes for one of the most memorable episodes of the season. She is replaced by ADA Casey Novak, who is even more tenacious in her pursuit of convictions.

Most seasons of SVU feature cases based on real life, and season 5 is no exception. One of the most disturbing episodes is “Sick,” which takes inspiration from the allegations against Michael Jackson, with an acute focus on the culpability of the parents of the victims.

7

Season 10

2008-2009

SVU produces some of its best episodes when the personal lives of the detectives get tangled up with their work, and this is the case when Stabler finds that images of his daughter are being circulated on a website for sexual predators. It puts both Stabler and his daughter on the other side of the case, making for a different dynamic in the episode.

Season 10 saves the best for last, however, with the season finale “Zebras” also blurring the lines between personal and professional, when CSU Dale Stuckey murders a string of people. Everyone he murders is connected to a specific case and their deaths are in an effort to cover up his own error. The surprising reveal shows that nobody can be trusted, even within the SVU, which wasn’t something the audience would have truly considered before Stuckey’s reveal.

6

Season 17

2015-2016

More so than any season which came before it, season 17 of SVU digs into the dark secrets hiding in the NYPD. “Manhattan Transfer” focuses on two cops involved in an underage prostitution ring with ties to the city’s political elite, and “Collateral Damage” reveals a deputy police commissioner’s hidden business distributing child pornography. The final two episodes follow the case of Gary Munson, a corrections officer accused of sexually assaulting inmates. The crime is disturbing enough, but the way the perpetrator is sheltered by the system is even more upsetting.

Season 17, however, reminds the audience that being critical is still encouraged.

It’s seasons like this one that helps SVU to be more than what critics might refer to as “copaganda.” Fictional stories with law enforcement as the main characters and the heroes are often seen as an effort to provide propaganda for the very institutions portrayed. The idea is that seeing these characters as heroes all the time makes the audience less critical of real-life institutions. Season 17, however, reminds the audience that being critical is still encouraged, because not all members of law enforcement are created equal.



This story originally appeared on Screenrant

NBA reschedules Lakers, Clippers games postponed due to wildfires

LATimes
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0
NBA reschedules Lakers, Clippers games postponed due to wildfires


The NBA rescheduled Lakers and Clippers home games postponed last week because of wildfires, moving around six other scheduled games to accommodate the changes.

The Lakers game against San Antonio originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11, still needs to be rescheduled.

The first Lakers game postponed, Jan. 9 against Charlotte, will be played Feb. 19, shaving one day off their All-Star break and adding a home-road back-to-back, with the Lakers scheduled to play in Portland the following day.

The Lakers also will have a back-to-back removed from their schedule, with their game against the Utah Jazz originally set for Feb. 11 now scheduled for Feb. 10.

The Clippers will have four games rescheduled. Their Jan. 11 game against Charlotte will be played March 16. Their game with Chicago next Tuesday will be played Monday. A home game scheduled with Washington on March 16 will be played on Jan. 23. A road game against Utah moved from March 19 to Feb. 13, the day before the All-Star break.



This story originally appeared on LA Times

NBA suspends Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin 1 game without pay

ESPN
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0
NBA suspends Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin 1 game without pay


Jan 15, 2025, 10:00 PM ET

NEW YORK — Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA on Wednesday night for inappropriate contact and verbal abuse of a game official.

Mathurin was penalized for his actions with 3:58 left in the Pacers’ 127-117 home loss to Cleveland on Tuesday night.

“It was the moment,” Mathurin said after the game of his actions toward official Natalie Sago. “The game is so intense, especially myself — being this competitive, I just want to win. It was an unfortunate situation, but I was able to learn from it.”

Mathurin said after the game that he apologized to Sago, according the Indianapolis Star.

Mathurin will sit out Indiana’s game in Detroit on Thursday night. The suspension will cost him $41,642.

He’s averaging 16.5 points in 41 games this season.

Information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks and The Associated Press was used in this report.



This story originally appeared on ESPN

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