The global rise of microdramas, shortform vertical storytelling for the mobile generation, was in focus during a crowded panel session at MIP London on Monday. Among the topics of debate was a lack of big stars among casts, the growth outlook and the benefit of being able to watch microdramas in one of the most private spaces.
Sensor Tower’s annual report on the state of mobile recently highlighted that video streaming app downloads increasedglobally by nearly 39 percent in 2025, while their revenue increased nearly 18 percent. The gains were driven by short drama app downloads, which grew more than 100 percent over 2024, while traditional streaming app downloads fell by more than four percent.
Panel moderator Maria Rua Aguete, head of media & entertainment at intelligence and data firm Omdia, also highlighted on Monday that microdramas already account for $11.1 billion in global revenue, including $3.5 billion in advertising revenue.
Alex Montalvo, co-founder and chief content officer of GammaTime, a Hollywood-backed premium microdrama platform, was asked if vertical content wasn’t mostly bad. “I would beg to differ,” he replied. “This is a brand new medium,” and programming was continuously evolving. The firm’s genres and storytelling have continued to expand, he added.
After showing a sizzle reel of key short series, he said: “You can see, we’re already offering a wider range of options for consumers: true crime, thrillers, romance stories. We’re also finding early success in partnering with some of the most successful people in, dare I say, traditional Hollywood and bringing them into our ecosystem. As you saw on the screen, four of our projects were created and written by Anthony E. Zuiker, who is the creator of CSI.” Indeed, the platform showcases his thriller The Temptress, sex-crime drama Lust Cop, romantic series The Road Between Us and thriller series Kill Switch.
Concluded Montalvo: “We are adapting high-end IP, and it’s only just the beginning of the types of partnerships that we’re striking.”
The former executive of Warner Bros. Discovery and Jeffrey Katzenberg’s shortform mobile content service Quibi, which abruptly shuttered in 2020, was also asked why Quibi failed. “We probably were early,” he offered.
Anatolii Kasianov, co-founder and chief technology officer of Holywater Tech, the company previously known as Holywater until its recent acquisition of visual effects company Jeynixa, which specializes in facial animation, face replacement, de-aging and lip-sync work, also spoke on the panel. The European startup’s platforms include microdrama service My Drama and ad-supported streaming service Freebits.
He said the Jeynixa deal was designed to help the firm “disrupt how content is made [and] not only in vertical.”
Asked about how Holywater has attracted investment from the likes of Fox, Kasianov said: “We built this kind of IP incubation where we [take] hundreds of best performing, best selling books, then we transfer them into verticals and they already have an existing audience.”
He added: “We also recently signed, exclusively, Dhar Mann. He’s one of the biggest creators, I think second after MrBeast.”
Why have women been the core audience for microdramas? “I think that’s how the niche originated,” he offered. “It came from adaptations of books and performed very well, so it just started from this genre that was underrepresented, I think it’s already, on our platform, moving towards male as well.”
Tim Oh, general manager of COL Group International, where he oversees the likes of international operations, IP licensing and global expansion of the company’s microdrama and shortform content businesses, was asked about opportunities in the space for owners of existing intellectual property (IP). He said they should look at extensions of their franchises and “tell them in the microdrama space.” In fact, has team has been in talks with IP owners for “microdrama versions” of their brands that would come in a “quite tactical” way.
But Oh shared that so far, his firm has not looked to get Hollywood stars to act in its short dramas, sharing about acting talent: “We don’t cast famous actors at this point because [for audiences, watching is about] a fantasy.” And stars may distract from that.
So, is microdrama a fad or the future, the MIP London panelists were asked. “Is it a hype? Is it a fad? Yes, but at the same time, it is here to stay,” Oh offered. “Candy Crush was the biggest game at one point. People are still playing it, but there are a million other mobile games that have come out.”
He predicted a similar future for the microdrama space. “It is going to change, and it’s going to change very quickly,” Oh said. “The vertical format or short attention span is not going to change. You’re able to watch a microdrama on the way to work on the tube, walking back. It would be so hard to watch a full-length series of 40 minutes and finish it, but you get paid off and satisfied [with a microdrama].”
Oh saved one key benefit of shortform mobile content for last, sharing: “I can watch this on the toilet.”
The players of Survivor50 haven’t set foot on the beach yet, but many already know who they want out. As the landmark season approaches — with its Wednesday premiere date (8 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+) — returning contestants aren’t waiting to size each other up. They’re identifying threats, predicting alliances and comparing reputations.
The Hollywood Reporter spoke with all 24 castaways and posed one pointed question: Which player concerns you most because their game doesn’t align with yours? Their answers reveal the rivalries, suspicions and strategic fault lines forming long before the game begins.
***
Christian Hubicki: I have a hypothesis as to how this cast was put together and what everyone’s role are on the season from a Survivor standpoint. I think there are basically four categories of players divided among the 24 people. That’s six people — three men, three women. What are those four roles and what does this mean in terms of who I’m targeting?
One role: challenge beasts. You can think of those off the top of your head: You got you Joe, your Ozzy, your Jonathan Young. Those are your three men. You got your Tiff, your Chrissy, and your Stephenie, those are your women. Chrissy got four immunity challenge wins. These are what people are known for, in part, from their seasons.
Another category: witty confessionalists who are reliable narrators to tell the story. You wonder, where do I fall in these categories? That’s me, Mike White, that’s Rick. You got Aubry, Kamilla and Emily Flippen for the women. So I’m seeing these trios. This season is cast in trios, three tribes of eight.
Another category: drama. You can imagine who is drama. That’s your Coach, that’s your Q, that’s your Angelina and, in my opinion, Jenna Lewis. And our two unknown mystery 49ers. That’s where they sit. I would go so far as to say while I don’t know why the Rizgod walks among us, I believe the reason is he’s cocky drama. I think that’s why he’s here. I don’t know much about Savannah, perhaps someone who will stir the pot and not take nonsense from people.
Which leaves the final category: the threats, the people who do not stand out in any of these other categories. They are relatable people who are very good at this game. That makes them the most dangerous and with me. Charlie is a Harvard educated lawyer who runs marathons who’s charming, handsome and delightful. I stand out way too much against that.
These six — Charlie, Kyle, Colby, Genevieve, Dee, Cirie — are the people who are on this island because they are well-equipped to win.
Cirie Fields: Joe and Kyle. My history has shown that alpha men are, for some reason, quick to target me and usually afraid of me. They don’t have to be, but it’s usually a certain type. Aras [Baskauskas] was an alpha man, but a warmer alpha man. When I played with Colby in Heroes vs Villains, he wouldn’t even look in my direction. I’m waving, doing back flips and everything. He would not look at me.
Mike White: It’s hard to know off the bat, you have to vibe people out. But I feel that some people might feel like, “What’s this guy doing here?” Or think of me as a wild card. Some people might be trophy hunting, and I’d be a good head to put on the mantle. So maybe a guy like Charlie, who seems like he thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room — I could see him trying to go for me.
Charlie Davis: The people I’m most concerned about are the old schoolers who are more about honor and integrity — they keep it simple, build an alliance and never turn on players. I think they’ll be out here hunting anyone who gives them the vibe of a strategist or a nerd. People in that bunch might be Colby or Coach. Although I don’t know about Coach. He might be a different brand.
Jonathan Young: I don’t know anything about Taylor Swift, I’m not a Swiftie and while I think Charlie’s a great game player, we don’t have a lot in common. Cirie scares me because she’s so good. She’s like a mom out here. Everybody respects Cirie, but I think everybody fears Cirie.
Kyle Fraser: Charlie played a similar game to me in a lot of ways. He was a template for me and able to put his ego aside and hide in plain sight when he was clearly a great player. So he scares me because I think he can spot what I’m doing. Dee is scary; she can see BS really easily. The season 49 people concern me for a different reason, I just don’t have game tape on them.
Tiffany Ervin: Charlie probably concerns me most only because he’s played with me. He’s seen me play and knows how my mind works, he has intel on me. But also he’s one of those people that’s not a big, flashy, neon sign threat who could go undetected for a while. Q also has that same intel but doesn’t approach things in the most rational way, so people may not take his word at face value the way they would Charlie’s.
Dee Valladares: Rick Devens is smirking at everybody. It’s too much for my liking. He co-hosted the On Fire podcast with Jeff, he was the first one. But there can only be one co-host. Bye Rick, bye Charlie. Q concerns me a little bit just because he’s so chaotic. It’s going to be interesting to play with him. I feel like he’s going to drive me crazy, but I feel like we’re going to have a lot of fun. He’s kinda goofy and I want to play this game with goofy people.
Rick Devens: I hope that Aubry isn’t spreading the gospel of “watch out for Rick.” It’s been long enough that I don’t think people are thinking about me. I wouldn’t be surprised if some people here hadn’t watched my season. I didn’t have anyone in mind coming in but there are people around Ponderosa I’m not getting much of a vibe from, like Q. I’m not sure Q wants to play with me or has any idea who I am. But I don’t care because I kinda want to play with Q, he’s my son’s favorite player so that’s my in.
Quintavius “Q” Burdette: If you’ve ever sat at the end, whether you’ve won, lost or whatever, if you’ve ever pleaded your case at the end, I don’t want to work with you long term. I want you out of the game. You’re not going to get a second shot at either winning or a shot at redemption. It’s not going to happen on my watch.
Colby Donaldson: I think Kamilla played an incredible game with Kyle. She could be a huge threat in this game. Angelina, without a question, is a big threat. And believe it or not, a guy that concerns me is Q and I can’t quite put my finger on it. I watched him play and there were some things he did during his season that I think make him a question mark. I’m going to enjoy competing with him because he’s clearly good at challenges, but I don’t trust Q at all. In fact, there’s no way in the world I would put myself in a position where I had to rely on him.
Angelina Keeley: I’ve never met him and I could be wrong but I heard through the grapevine that Colby said, “Angelina, that girl seems like she’s chaotic.” Am I a little chaotic? Yeah, fair. But it’s not a good thing to say to someone else before we come out to Fiji. It’s season 50 — not season five. It’s been awhile for some of these folks. So we’ll see what happens.
Aubry Bracco: I’m a little worried about Genevieve. I want to play like Genevieve, I have so much respect for her as a player but she scares me. She can be a little savage in the game. I also think Chrissy can be a little bit savage, like smile and stab you in the back. I’m a little worried about both of them.
Jenna Lewis-Dougherty: Cirie is the biggest threat out here. Everybody in the world loves Cirie. I don’t know Cirie, but I know that I like Cirie when I watch Cirie. Take Cirie out, that’s gotta be number one. I would also say that Jonathan is a pretty big threat as is Joe and Kyle, who has won. Dee, another winner, is also a big threat but not as big as Kyle only because he has two people he worked with from his season.
Joe Hunter: Genevieve combined with Aubry and Emily. I’m just naming them because of how strategic they are. They’re brilliant players, and Charlie too. They’re all extremely strategic and that is dangerous as they know how to adapt to what’s in front of them.
Genevieve Mushaluk: I just saw, like we all did, season 48 where Joe in particular ran a strength and integrity alliance. I’m not really known for my physical strength, and integrity is open to interpretation. Would you think of Genevieve and think, “Yeah, strength and integrity?” Probably not. You might think resilience, you might think calculated, you might think independent. Joe didn’t lead an alliance with any of those names in the title. So I’m worried about maybe not meshing with him or not being a part of his plans or how he wants to play the game.
Emily Flippen: A lot of the big, burly dudes concern me a little bit. We’ve seen it in season 48 with the Joes of the world and the big, strong guy alliance. I look at somebody like Jonathan who’s obviously physically fit and is a physical asset to his tribe. These people tend to be protected early when I’m not and tend to want to keep other big threats around. So if I’m on a tribe with these big, buff guys I’m probably going to have a hard time not just associating with them on a physical level but on a personal level as well. I don’t know if we have a lot in common and that scares me a little bit.
Ozzy Lusth: One of the people who concerns me the most is Joe. He seems like a really loyal standup guy, and he’s a huge challenge threat. You also have Q and Kyle, who won his season. And you have Jonathan, Tiffany and Stefanie LaGrossa. She was the original, amazing physical threat. I used to have a huge crush on her. It’s just insane to be playing with some of these legends, like Colby Donaldson, the original Survivor heartthrob. There are some big, big physical threats out there.
Benjamin “Coach” Wade: I don’t get a good vibe from the two season 49 players. I don’t know them but I’m having flashbacks of Russell [Hantz] and how he came into Heroes vs Villains and nobody knew how he played and he lied to us. I have a fear of the two new players because they know all of us, and none of us know how they play.
Chrissy Hofbeck: Who concerns me because I think his game is a lot like mine is Christian. Not only is he charming and you want to be around him but darn it, he’s smart. He’s a person who I think will play a similar game to me, so that worries me. I have this feeling that Ozzy just won’t like me that much. Maybe that’s my season 35 fears coming back, he’s a cool kid and I’m not a cool kid. But maybe this season isn’t really full of cool kids anyway.
Kamilla Karthigesu: I think Genevieve’s game will clash with mine pretty badly. She’s a known flip flopper, she’s good at lying and she was part of so many blindsides on her season, which is scary. I don’t want another person out there good at lying because I could be lied to. Also, I’m pretty sure I saw her crush a puzzle in 47, and I don’t want puzzle competition.
Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick: Kamilla concerns me a lot. She prides herself on lying and likes to lie. Although I loved Kamilla and Kyle as a viewer, great gameplay. She is one of those people that can be 20 minutes behind in a challenge and if there’s a puzzle in the end, she’s going to blow you away. She is going to be a huge threat.
Rizo Velovic: There are a lot of people in their 50s, 40s and late 30s. I have to be more cognizant of older players like Stephenie, Cirie, Jenna Lewis. I want to make sure that I don’t come off as this bratty, young, cocky guy and be somebody more endearing who they want to work with because I remind them of their child. While I want to work with old school players, I think my personality fits better in the New Era and I want to make sure I don’t come across as something I’m not to these old school people.
Savannah Louie: A lot of these New Era people, especially the ones who are really social, are the ones who concern me the most. You have three people from season 48 here: Kyle, Joe and Kamilla. That’s a scary group. You have people like Dee and Emily and Genevieve who, while they didn’t all play together, probably bonded at Survivor events. Q, Tiffany and Charlie all played together. Who knows what’s going on in their DMs? A lot of the New Era people created these tight bonds, which may become alliances. I think maybe some of the old school players might be open to working with someone who’s a little less certain, being me.
***
Survivor 50 aires new episodes Wednesday at 8 p.m. on CBS, streaming on Paramount+. See how the cast is divided into their tribes here.
Kevin O’Connor is joined by Jason Timpf to check in with unhappy fan bases across the NBA. They discuss whether the criticism of Karl Anthony-Towns is fair and offer solutions to the problems in New York. Then, they break down the root of Atlanta’s issues since the Trae Young trade. Plus, what’s going on in Los Angeles and can it even be fixed?
Advertisement
Next, KOC shares why Collin Murray-Boyles could be the next Draymond Green and why the Celtics-Pistons matchup is the game of the week. Who should the Pistons target before the trade deadline? KOC gives his picks! Plus, is Ja Morant’s stock rising? Do the Timberwolves need to make a trade to find success this season?
Later, Justin Boone joins to discuss why the Buffalo Bills parted ways with Sean McDermott, recap the wild NFL divisional games and preview the upcoming championship weekend.
(0:15) Jason Timpf joins
(1:23) Unhappy fan bases: New York Knicks
(9:18) Unhappy fan bases: Atlanta Hawks
(15:49) Unhappy fan bases: Los Angeles Lakers
Advertisement
(25:16) Collin Murray-Boyles = Draymond Green
(29:13) Celtics vs. Pistons preview
(41:56) Is Ja Morant’s stock rising back up?
(49:19) Do Timberwolves need to make a trade?
(1:06:23) All-Star starters announced
(1:10:26) NFL 6 Points! with Justin Boone
Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images)
Nate Tice & Matt Harmon react to the latest NFL coaching hire news before determining what went wrong for playoff losers and what each team can do to get further next season. The duo start with their thoughts on the latest coaching hires, including the Miami Dolphins hiring Jeff Hafley, the Tennessee Titans getting Robert Saleh, the Detroit Lions hiring OC Drew Petzing and the Kansas City Chiefs hiring OC Eric Bieniemy.
Advertisement
Next, Nate & Matt deep dive on the four Divisional Round losers, determining what direction each team needs to take to retool and get even closer to a Super Bowl next season. The duo cover the post-Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills and their need to nail the next coaching hire, the Chicago Bears and how they can fix their defense, the Houston Texans and next steps to fix C.J. Stroud and the San Francisco 49ers, who are entering a sketchier offseason than you may realize.
(5:00) – Titans hire Robert Saleh
(14:10) – Dolphins hire Jeff Hafley
(20:30) – Key OC hires: Petzing to Lions & Bieniemy to Chiefs
Advertisement
(41:00) – Bills deep dive
(1:00:45) – Bears deep dive
(1:06:45) – Texans deep dive
(1:20:15) – 49ers deep dive
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a play against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an AFC Divisional Playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Per its title, the NBC sitcom “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” is a comeback story, but it’s also a reunion. Comedian Tracy Morgan has produced a wide-ranging body of work since his breakout on “Saturday Night Live” at the turn of the millennium — and, more dramatically, since sustaining severe injuries in a New Jersey traffic collision in 2014. But his most iconic role remains, if not himself, then a part directly adjacent to his own persona: Tracy Jordan, the chaotic yet lovable co-lead of Tina Fey’s meta entertainment satire “30 Rock.” For seven seasons, Morgan balanced deep-cut cultural references and cracks about corporate mergers with a needed dose of anarchy, while Fey and her writers formed a knack for channeling Morgan’s ebullient energy into absurd, instantly iconic bits like “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” or the concept of an EGOT.
“Reggie Dinkins” is co-created by Robert Carlock and Sam Means, two longtime staples of the broader universe one could call Feyworld. (Fey herself serves as an executive producer, as does Morgan.) Carlock has worked with Fey since their time at “SNL,” where they also overlapped with Morgan; Means did stints on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Great News” in addition to “30 Rock”; more familiar names, like “Girls5Eva” creator Meredith Scardino, pop up in the credits as the 10-episode first season moves briskly along. Although Fey’s TV adaptation of Alan Alda’s “The Four Seasons” broke from these shows’ otherwise consistent MO with decidedly mixed results, “Reggie Dinkins” is a return to form, both in style and quality. That’s great news for viewers, but also for Morgan, who finally gets a character equal to Tracy Jordan in channeling his particular charisma. And this time, his name — or rather, Reggie’s — is on the door.
Like many single-camera network comedies, “Reggie Dinkins” is a mockumentary. But unlike many shows that use the framing device as a given in a post-“The Office” world without an in-text explanation of the project in progress, á la “Modern Family” or “Abbott Elementary,” “Reggie Dinkins” makes filmmaking part of the plot. (As well as the TV trend: one character says he’s been practicing his Jim Halpert face for mugging to the camera.) Morgan’s Reggie Dinkins is a former NFL star who ended his career — and lost the New York Jets the Super Bowl — by betting on his own games, an act he likens to working for tips. Thanks to Reggie’s ex-wife and current business manager Monica (Erika Alexander, a seasoned pro playing a seasoned pro), Reggie is just fine financially. But he wants his legacy to be more than his mistakes, so he hires Oscar-winning documentarian Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe, who seems to have taken a liking to TV comedy after “Miracle Workers”) to make a movie about his quest to join the league’s Hall of Fame.
Arthur himself has fallen on hard times, taking a day job at the University of Maryland Center for Documentary, MMA and Pornography after a public meltdown on a commercial set and making Reggie’s story something he can relate to. In its premiere, “Reggie Dinkins” lightly pokes fun at the kind of feather-light, celebrity-commissioned films Arthur feels he’s demeaning himself to direct, with Reggie spouting platitudes like “a son is just a homie you make” while refusing to open up about his actual feelings. And to the extent that “Reggie Dinkins” is conceptually flawed, it’s that the show falls into this trap a bit itself. Emphasizing Reggie’s financial security, good relationship with his teenage son Carmelo (Jalyn Hall) and the mutual respect between Monica and Reggie’s young influencer fiancée Brina (Precious Way, hilarious) makes the setup gentle to a fault, sanding down potential edges and giving away opportunities to dig into topical issues like CTE, athletes’ post-retirement security and the new ubiquity of sports gambling. Based on “Reggie Dinkins,” you’d never know that Reggie’s life-altering scandal is now dangerously close to the new norm.
But there are also benefits to this trade-off, chief among them a cast with chemistry in spades and a proudly goofy, punchline-a-minute pace that’s like a balm to those of us who love the Fey-Carlock oeuvre, even deep cuts like the Peacock revival of “Saved by the Bell.” With his dweeby air, pretensions and position at the helm of an active production, Arthur is the Liz Lemon of this setup, but with the emphases reversed. “Reggie Dinkins” takes evident pleasure in tossing Radcliffe curveballs like belting out the Beatles, dressing in full camouflage so Arthur can embed himself and being insulted as an “Elijah Wood lookin’ ass bitch,” all of which the actor — now 15 years into building his post-Potter image as a game, adventurous performer — handles capably. As Arthur’s muse, Morgan naturally gives Reggie a sweetness and naiveté that makes his redemption easy to root for, even with questionable logic like “Fools run errands all the time; that’s why Wawa sells sushi!” He’s good enough to make you wish “Reggie Dinkins” would test its hero’s likability a bit more, if only because Morgan is clearly up to the challenge.
Despite the long shadows of Tracy, Liz and even Michael Sheen’s stuffy Brit Wesley Snipes, “Reggie Dinkins” is not merely a collection of reheated tropes from its creative teams’ back catalog. (Though to call Brina, who happily plugs a Takis-Tampax collab and threatens to go on a trashy reality show called “Engagement Peninsula” when Reggie drags his feet on wedding planning, the show’s Jenna Maroney is to pay her the highest of compliments.) Alexander’s warmth and evident savvy make her a welcome addition to the repertory company, while Bobby Moynihan plays Reggie’s best friend, roommate and former teammate Rusty with full-body commitment to the gloriously stupid bit. Literally: the oafish Rusty gets himself stuck in a washing machine, a predicament in which the rigorously ethical Arthur refuses to intervene.
Watching “Reggie Dinkins” cohere into an ensemble, you can feel the show swap out the trenchant questions about celebrity and storytelling raised by its pilot for the comforting consistency of a ragtag gang scrambling to stay afloat, but never at true risk of sinking. Should the show become a long-running concern, such points of emphasis will justify themselves. More seasons would also provide an opportunity to fill in the gaps. Once he’s risen from the ashes, maybe Reggie Dinkins can finally have it all.
The first two episodes of “The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” will air on NBC on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET, with remaining episodes airing weekly on Mondays at 8:30pm ET and streaming the next day on Peacock.
The New York Mets struck big last year when they reeled in Juan Soto from the Bronx to headline an eventful winter. However, after a disappointing 2025 campaign, the Amazin’s have been on a mission to retool this offseason, and thanks to David Stearns, they’ll go into 2026 with plenty of new faces and hope for success.
Advertisement
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the retooled lineup that the Mets have assembled, which includes signing Bo Bichette and trading for Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox. In addition to the signings of Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco, the new-look Mets are looking forward to a redemption season in 2026.
Later, Jordan and Jake talk about Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, why the Houston Astros cheating scandal caused Beltrán to have to wait and the improbable climb for Jones to make it into the Hall. Then the guys discuss the Philadelphia Phillies bringing J.T. Realmuto back to the City of Brotherly Love, Elly De La Cruz rejecting a big contract extension from the Cincinnati Reds and take a look at the LIDOM Championship Series.
1:12 – The Opener: New-look Mets
22:09 – Luis Robert Jr. trade
Advertisement
33:24 – Hall of Fame results
54:26 – Around the League: Phillies re-sign Realmuto
1:03:02 – Three-team trade
1:06:47 – Elly turns down extension
1:09:33 – LIDOM Championship Series
Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images
(Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Leading figures include Olympic veterans Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin and Chloe Kim. Vonn, who won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics, returned to the sport in 2024 after retirement and a partial knee replacement. Three-time Olympian and two-time gold medalist in snowboard slopestyle Jamie Anderson was not on the 97-person list.
Shiffrin, the most decorated Alpine skier, will compete in her fourth Olympics. Kim, a three-time Olympian, aims to be the first snowboarder to win a third straight gold in halfpipe.
Advertisement
“In many ways, making this team is even harder than the Olympics themselves,” snowboard program director Rick Bower explained in a statement. “The depth of our field is incredible, and selection truly came down to the wire.”
On the men’s side, the U.S. team will be led by three-time Olympian and 2018 slopestyle gold medalist Red Gerard, snowboard cross racer Nick Baumgartner, and 17-year-old Alessandro Barbieri, who’s seen as a medal contender in halfpipe.
Four-time Olympian Nick Goepper will head the freeski halfpipe squad, which also includes two-time Olympic medalist Alex Ferreira, Birk Irving and first-time Olympian Hunter Hess. Irving’s sister, Svea Irving, qualified for the women’s freeski halfpipe. Defending Olympic freeski slopestyle champ Alex Hall is also set to compete in his third Olympics.
Advertisement
Olympic champion and three-time cross-country skiing medalist Jesse Diggins will participate in her fourth and final Olympics. Chris Lillis is returning for the aerials team. He took gold at the 2022 Games.
At the 2022 Beijing Games, skiers and snowboarders earned 15 of the 25 medals for Team USA. For the 2026 Winter Olympics, they’ll make up nearly half of all the athletes representing the U.S.
When the New York Mets signed Bo Bichette and traded for Luis Robert Jr., many wondered if President of Baseball Ops David Stearns was finished making major moves this offseason. On Wednesday night though, Stearns had one more big surprise up his sleeve when he acquired someone from his past days in Milwaukee.
Advertisement
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the big trade that saw the Mets deal for Milwaukee Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers in exchange for a package of top prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams. With Peralta now headlining the Mets’ starting rotation, does this addition make them a World Series contender again? Also, how will the new additions to the Brew Crew’s prospect pipeline help them in the immediate future?
Later, Jordan and Jake talk about the New York Yankees and Cody Bellinger reuniting after his impressive 2025 season in pinstripes on a five-year, $162.5 million contract. The move further solidifies the Yankees’ belief in their offense, essentially running it back from last season—but could Brian Cashman and company have one more front-page deal before Spring Training kicks off? The guys then close the show by making their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.
2:03 – The Opener: Freddy Peralta to the Mets
29:43 – Jordan’s Prospect Hut: The Brewers’ return
Advertisement
38:28 – Yankees re-sign Cody Bellinger
52:00 – Scott Boras Scoreboard update
54:37 – The Good
1:01:13 – The Bad
1:06:44 – The Uggla
Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
(Photo by Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros react to a chaotic AFCON final and ask the uncomfortable question: was the spectacle a nightmare for the sport? The guys break down what went wrong, what it says about tournament organization, and why moments like this matter for global soccer’s credibility. Christian and Alexis dive into viral territory as iShowSpeed encounters his first ultra fans in Algeria — and quickly learns that not every football culture rolls out the red carpet.
Advertisement
Next, Copa90 creative director Shawn Francis joins the show to talk World Cup 2026 coming to America, why he’s completely flipped his stance on MLS’s new schedule, and what the league needs to do to actually become “cool.”
The episode wraps with a look at Manchester City’s recent slump and whether Pep Guardiola has the answers to pull City out of their funk.
Timestamps:
(8:00) – Was the AFCON final an embarrassing moment for the sport?
(26:30) – IShowSpeed encounters Algerian ultras
(34:15) – Shawn Francis joins The Cooligans
(1:11:15) – Can Pep save Man City again or has he lost control?
It is officially the offseason, unfortunately, but just because the confetti has been cleaned up does not mean the conversations about the CFP have stopped. In fact it is quite the opposite. The difference is these conversations are not about what is happening on the field. The debate continues to rage on as commissioners discuss potential expansion of the CFP. Andy Staples and Ross Dellenger discuss what happened in the meetings that were held in the week leading up to the National Championship. The Big Ten and the SEC seem to be at an impasse of how much they want the College Football Playoff to expand. With the deadline fast approaching, no decision appears in sight. Ross explains why these two commissioners hold all the power for this decision.
Advertisement
Then, the guys shift from one hot button topic to the next. The transfer portal. Specifically one athlete. Darian Mensah. The Duke quarterback has officially entered the transfer portal even though he has a signed NIL contract with Duke. The Blue Devils are suing Mensah to prevent him from leaving. It is expected he will head to Miami to be their new quarterback. Andy and Ross discuss the differences between this situation and the one with Demond Williams and Washington. They share why it seems like Mensah has a good chance to win this case and how schools can prevent these situations in the future. Plus, they dive into Adidas’ potential impact in this situation and their overall aggressive handling of NIL. Also, Duke wide receiver Cooper Barkate has entered the portal as well, with Miami being a favorite to land him too.
Later, the big news in college athletics is no longer about football. It is over in the college basketball world as Charles Bediako has temporarily been granted the ability to return to Alabama basketball. There is a hearing next week that will determine whether or not he can return full-time. Bediako previously played at Alabama and entered the 2023 NBA Draft. Although he has never played in an NBA regular season game, he has played on multiple Summer League and G League teams. Andy and Ross discuss Bediako being allowed to play college basketball again and the impact this could have on college athletics.
The season is over but the news never stops with College Football Enquirer.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti & SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
