Category: Entertainment

Internet star Davis Burleson has spent his entire life performing.

As a child, he would spend hours pretending to host “American Idol” in his backyard in Texas, interviewing imaginary contestants. After moving to New York City in 2020, Burleson continued his interviews, this time with real people scattered across Washington Square Park, asking them about anything and everything, from their style and pop culture takes to their personal lives. Armed with a microphone and a sunny disposition, Burleson quickly went viral on TikTok for his quippy, man-on-the-street style interviews, amassing over two million followers. Six years since he began social media, the 23-year-old internet personality is now the host of two SiriusXM shows, dedicated to the same subject matter he’s spent his life consuming.

Launched on March 10, his two radio shows, “Verified With Davis Burleson” and “Pop Culture Picks With Davis Burleson,” are deep-dives into the current pop culture scene, with a special focus on music and a playlist hand-picked by the host.

“Working in radio has definitely helped people, especially my parents and their friends, understand what I do,” jokes Burleson. While his father may be a little confused by his son’s official job title, Burleson, in a way, has him to thank. Studying culture and media at the New School’s Eugene Lang College, Burleson received a call from his dad ahead of his sophomore year of college. His vertical interview TikTok page, “What’s Poppin?,” had just hit a million followers, and while Burleson was trying his best to balance college and work, his father saw his career path a little clearer than he did.

“You need to focus on this. You need to strike while the iron is hot, because you can always go back to school,” Burleson remembers his father saying. He lasted two weeks into his sophomore year before deciding to pursue entertainment full-time.

One of the perks of his newfound career path was a deal with SiriusXM. In the fall of 2022, the company was building its roster of hosts for a TikTok Radio channel, which had launched in August 2021.

“There was just an email in my inbox, stating TikTok Radio x Davis Burleson,” says Burleson, who was tapped to appear on the show by TikTok, with whom he’d previously collaborated. “I was screaming, because I never would have thought that I would do radio, although it was something I was always very interested in.”

When his contract wrapped up in November 2025, with TikTok Radio shifting to iHeart Radio instead, Burleson was asked back by SiriusXM, who wanted him to host his own shows this time around.

“’Verified With Davis Burleson’ is different from the previous show, because this is a full dedicated hour and I have songs that I am picking throughout,” explains Burleson, who describes the segment as “being with your best friend on FaceTime.” “With TikTok Radio, the only thing that I was doing was these 40-second soundbites. There really was no dedicated time for the listener to tune in.”

“When I first started recording [for radio], it was horrible. It was so hard, it took me over eight hours to record something that should have taken me an hour,” says Burleson. “I’m used to being on camera, using my face to show emphasis, whereas with radio, all you have is your voice.”

The disadvantage of audio media turned out to be Burleson’s favorite thing about working in radio. He credits the staff at SiriusXM in particular for their coaching, as they dissected his airtime each week, pointing out places where he said “um” or “like” too many times.

“I became obsessed with using your voice to your advantage when no one can see your face,” says Burleson. “That is what I love so much about radio, that there are so many different ways of fluctuating the voice.”

Burleson’s radio offer also came at a convenient time for the creator, who was looking to expand beyond his social media work and the man-on-the-street-style interviews that have become exceedingly popular in the past few years.

“We call Washington Square Park the newsroom now, because the entire fountain is filled with people doing interviews,” says Burleson. “My friend was like, ‘This is what you did, Davis!’” For the record, Burleson does not credit himself with popularizing the format, citing Chris Klemens and Billy Eichner as pioneers.

“It’s been really cool to watch the genre rise. It’s kind of lit something in me too, to be like, ‘Okay, if everyone’s doing this now, like, what can I do instead? What can I do to zig instead of zag?’” says Burleson. “I love talking to people, and I think that is why my show has been able to live on for five years now.”

The line between influencer and late-night talk show host has become an increasingly blurry one, and Burleson’s “What’s Poppin?” has no shortage of celebrity guests, from “People We Meet on Vacation” stars Tom Blyth and Emily Bader to Walker Scobell, who plays the titular “Percy Jackson” on Disney+.

“I feel as though I can confidently say that the influencer industry these days is very much focused on the creative and what is going to happen next. You have your following, you have your platform, what are you going to do with it?” says Burleson, who’s currently taking acting classes and hopes to someday write a memoir-esque tell-all about his life. “Benito Skinner took his following and comedy skills and made his show, ‘Overcompensating.’ Dylan Mulvaney posted her videos, and now she’s on Broadway.”

“It’s not just about building your platform and making videos on the internet, but creating something outside of that as well; a TV show, Broadway, creating a brand or being a consultant, it’s possible now, and it’s exciting. And that is where we are headed now.”

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While unbearably long TSA lines and delayed flights are an expected disruption during busy travel season, this year has already seen an unprecedented level of chaos due to unexpected airline issues that have left thousands stranded or delayed at airports across the country. To make things worse? Once people finally reach their final destination, their luggage may not even make it with them.

While much of the year’s aviatic disorder — the result of staffing shortages, weather problems and technological failures — has been out of travelers’ control, there are at least ways to make finding wayward bags easier in the future. The solution? Getting a mini tracking device like an Apple AirTag or Tile Tracker to trace your stuff.

Right now, both AirTags and Tile Trackers are on sale as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Amazon’s new deal gets you a four-pack of AirTags on sale for just $59.99. That brings the price of each tracker down to just $15 (for reference, Amazon sells a single, individual AirTag for $24).

Apple’s AirTags are one of the most popular tracking devices on the market these days, consistently ranking as a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon. More and more people are tagging their luggage with the Bluetooth tracker, which in the past was typically used to find commonly lost items like phones and keys.

But how do AirTags work and how does the Apple tracker compare to their main competitor: Tile? Tile Bluetooth trackers were actually released in the market before Apple AirTags, and Tile currently boasts four different offerings in its line: the Tile Pro, Mate, Slim and Sticker.

When it comes to AirTags vs. Tile, the difference could come down to the features you’re looking for, and the device you’re using. Here’s what you need to know.

AirTags vs. Tile Tracker: Which One Is Best?

The Apple AirTag is a coin-sized tracking device that you can tuck into your luggage or attach to a keychain-style holder (see chic AirTag holders here). If you’re using it for traveling, the AirTag will send you a notification when it safely arrives at the airport. If things go haywire, you can use Apple’s extensive “Find My” network to locate the exact location of your tag (and the contents associated with it). For iPhone users, this is the same place you go to activate the “Find My Phone” function and the same way you’d track your Apple Watch, laptop, AirPods, etc.

AirTags are particularly effective because your tag can still be tracked when it’s powered off or not connected to the internet. As long as the AirTag is in Bluetooth range of another Apple device that’s opted into the Find My network (of which there are reportedly close to one billion users, per Apple), then you’ll be able to find your bag on a map. You can then easily show the location to an airport agent who can hopefully then help you re-direct your luggage.

The Tile Bluetooth tracker has many of the same features as AirTags with a couple of differences. The main difference is on battery life, with Apple saying that AirTags have a one-year battery life, while Tile claims its trackers can run for up to three years before the battery needs to be replaced.

AirTags are also designed for iPhone users only — if you’re an Android user, you’ll want to pick up a Tile tracker instead. Tile trackers are compatible with both iPhone and Android devices.

The Tile Sticker — the brand’s smallest tracking device — weighs just 0.2 ounces, making it lighter than the AirTag and great if you want to stick a tracker on say, your pet’s collar (we found that the AirTag was too heavy on our cat’s collar and caused his neck to sag).

All Tile Trackers also have a built-in key hole, so you can easily attach it to your keys or affix it to your luggage tag or zipper. AirTag users have to buy a separate holder.

In our testing, the Apple AirTag is the most reliable, and that’s because Apple’s network is much larger than Tile’s. Apple has a network of more than one billion devices that “talk” to each other to help locate your stuff, while Tile’s network numbers into the millions.

The Tile Mate is a close second though, and it’s especially good for non-iPhone users. It’s compatible with both iOs and Android so by installing the Tile app on your phone, you can track your belongings in real time. The new Tile Mate comes in six different colors and has improved specs, with up to 350 feet or Bluetooth range and three years of battery life. It’s also fully water-resistant.

Leon Marchand, the swimming champion who turned out to become one of the Paris Olympics’ biggest stars — winning four gold medals for Team France — is authentically portrayed by his father in an event documentary series called “Leon Marchand, Beyond Gold.”

The three-part series, which was teased by commissioning broadcaster France Télévisions at Series Mania Festival in Lille, is produced by Quad Group’s Yann Le Bourbouac’h, whose track record in the field includes the smash hit Netflix documentary series “Tour de France: Unchained.” It follows Marchand, a native of Toulouse, in Southern France, over the course of one year, following the Paris Olympics’ adventure. It’s co-directed by Xavier Marchand and Sacha Vučinić (“Tour de France: Unchained”).

Certainly due to Marchand’s hot profile as a national hero (having broken a record of four Gold medals), the docu series brings together two major players who rarely collaborate: France Télévisions and TF1 Studios. As with “Tour de France,” “Leon Marchand, Beyond Gold” will not be a basic sports series. It will have a character-driven approach which Le Bourbouac’h developed closely with the athlete, his father, Xavier Marchand – also a swimming champion — and his entourage, to align on their vision they had for the documentary.

For Le Bourbouac’h, the series was approached like a fiction, and sheds light on how Marchand coped with his sudden fame in the wake of his four gold medals and how his life was ultimately very different from the way it appeared.

“What we filmed over the course of that year was Léon, who, after the Olympics, felt that the image people were painting of him — because he’d won a medal — was distorted,” says the Paris-based producer. “There were things that were false about who he was and all that. He wanted to set the record straight, and above all, he wanted to explain what his life was really like — that it wasn’t as rosy as people seemed to make it out to be.”

“Because people were saying he’d won four medals thanks to Louis Vuitton and Nike partnerships. He wanted to say: ‘To get here, guys, I work every single day,’” he continued. In fact, the documentary sees him pursuing his engineering studies.

It’s a true coming-of-age story, Le Bourbouac’h says, “because it’s really a look at what you do when you’ve won it all at 22, and we see Léon asking himself all the questions you have at that age: Who am I? Where do I come from? What’s the real purpose in my life now?”

Le Bourbouac’h points that gaining the trust of Marchand’s family was key to make this documentary, noting that he is “part of this young generation of athletes like Mbappé, who have their families around them. They were their pillars of support.” As such, it’s co-produced by CLOX, Marchand’s vehicle which he runs with his parents and brother.

The documentary will also be scored by hip French electro band The Blaze. “Hugo composes music, and in this case, he’s going to compose the music for the documentary with The Blaze — we set him up to meet The Blaze during filming and we filmed them teaching him.”

“He meets his idols, he does his thing, he makes the music, so he blossoms, if you will, alongside swimming,” says Le Bourbouac’h.

That one-year journey also shows Marchand stepping into adulthood after he graduates and obtains his engineering diploma.

“It’s about a son who leaves for good. At this end of the journey, he’s no longer Léon Marchand; he’s just Léon. You see that the father watching his son truly blossom and, on top of that, succeed in his studies.”

“There’s sports, there’s that storyline about the athlete, what he goes through on the tour, all the ups and downs, his return with the French national team, the World Championships in Singapore,” says Le Bourbouac’h. “And above all, it’s about a young man’s personal growth.”

Kate Hudson is getting back on the court for the second season of the Netflix sports comedy “Running Point,” returning as Isla Gordon, the sharp but underestimated executive who unexpectedly finds herself running the fictional basketball team, the Los Angeles Waves.

And the new episodes of the show, from executive producers Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz and David Stassen, appear to take advantage of Hudson’s soft-shoe skills by putting the two-time Oscar nominee at center court with the team’s dancers.

Season 1 saw Isla — who, as the only daughter of the team’s owner, was often overlooked by her late father and undermined by her brothers (Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur and Justin Theroux) — find her footing in her new role. But, in Season 2, which begins streaming on April 23, she’s no longer the surprise choice to lead the Waves; now, she’s the one with the target on her back.

“With the franchise finally rebounding after last year’s scandal, Isla is determined to prove she’s not just keeping the seat warm for her brother Cam (Theroux),” a synopsis teases. “What she doesn’t know is that Cam is quietly maneuvering behind the scenes to reclaim his post, turning every misstep into ammunition.”

The Season 2 trailer promises more hijinks and hilarity as Isla navigates the pressures of running the family business and navigating the high-stakes world of professional basketball, while balancing the drama of her personal life (with Max Greenfield and Jay Ellis as romantic interests). The ensemble cast includes Brenda Song, Fabrizio Guido, Chet Hanks, Toby Sandeman and Uche Agada, and recurring guest star Ray Romano, who plays the Waves’ new head coach.

The clip also reveals guest appearances by series co-creator Barinholtz, who plays the Gordon family’s kooky cousin Bennie, and Lisa Rinna, who appears as herself. Octavia Spencer (Hudson’s co-star in the Apple series “Truth Be Told”), Nicole Richie and Scott Speedman also appear as new characters.

“Running Point” also features recurring guest stars: Roberto Sanchez, Jon Glaser, Scott Evans, Rob Huebel, Marissa Reyes, Blake Anderson, Ken Marino, Tommy Dewey, Richa Moorjani, Aliyah Turner and Jake Picking.

“Every decision on and off the court counts,” the synopsis explains. “To survive the family power plays and the scrutiny of the board, she’ll have to rip up last season’s game plan and come up with a whole new playbook if she wants to close out the season on top.”

“Running Point” debuted last February and was quickly renewed for a second season. The show ultimately spent five weeks in Netflix’s global English Top 10 TV chart. Mindy Kaling, Barinholtz and David Stassen serve as writers and executive producers, with Stassen also serving as showrunner.

In addition to starring in the series, Hudson executive produces alongside Howard Klein, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis. Jordan Rambis serves as producer. The series is produced by Kaling International in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Kaling is under an overall deal.

Watch the full trailer below:

“Heated Rivalry” creator Jacob Tierney turned to Canada to make a show that he wanted.

“At first, it was supposed to be made with a U.S. platform. But he didn’t have the freedom he wanted. For example, [they wanted] to have the first explicit scene only in episode five to tone down the romance,” said Julie Roy, executive director & CEO at Téléfilm Canada.

“He decided to go back to Canada, and kudos to Crave who had the courage to welcome the full project. For me, that’s a great example of not being Hollywood and being authentic. Authenticity is something that really works.”

“Heated Rivalry” became a global phenomenon, thanks to its explosive combination of hockey, romance and explicit scenes. 

“This example is also interesting in terms of audience engagement. A high number of people just watched this series for the fifth time! It’s insane.”

Apart from Tierney’s hit, Roy listed other recent Canadian successes: “Empathy” and “North of North,” taking on Inuit stories. 

“The diversity of Canada, the richness of its perspective and storytellers is such a great asset,” she said. But it’s also an industry. “It’s important to highlight that as well. In Canada, the economic impact of the creative industry is equivalent to aerospace industry, and it’s more than fisheries and automobile industry.”

Talking during Series Mania Forum’s panel about Global Audiovisual Alliances, Roy admitted that many Europeans want to collaborate with Canada. “I’ll be curious to see if this new convention would be open to welcome Canada in it.” 

“We have 57 treaties of co-production, which is the highest number in the world. I think it’s quite an indicator that we really like to collaborate and co-produce and find international partnership.”

Gaëtan Bruel, CNC president, underlined: many people still believe in the future of creation.

“We [need to] keep true to our values, as Julie just mentioned, and the idea that creativity, taking risks and supporting the independent producers, these core principles and values, stay at the heart of what we do.”

He added: “The crisis in Hollywood may be a sort of good news, if we think less of who is the new ‘supreme leader’ of cinema and creation and more about how can we build together a new global governance for the moving image: a new multilateralism in which we don’t rely only on what is thought in Hollywood. There’s really a diversity at heart in Europe that really can be perhaps the new superpower.” 

Klaus Zimmermann, managing partner at Les Productions Dynamic, observed that for every U.S. success, they have “50 failures.” 

“I think that for the amount we have, we’re doing pretty well. With the streamers coming to Europe and investing, there’s an opportunity to create more shows, but also local shows. I don’t think this is a threat, but there needs to be courage and storytelling.”

Coming from Spain, which already established powerful relationships with Latin America, some producers aren’t dependent on Hollywood financing, noted Mariela Besuievsky (Tornasol Media).

“It’s true that the opportunities and windows that have opened are very big, and that also drives us to think in another way about the storytelling. I like what you said about ‘Heated Rivalry’: You have to find your own way and really believe that what you are telling and how you are telling it is going to communicate with the audience.” 

According to Bruel, the real competition is no longer between national industries. 

“Worldwide, we see audiences, especially the younger ones, shifting faster than expected toward free, low-cost content, of course more and more generated by AI. It’s an economical challenge for the creators, the producers, the broadcasters. It’s also, and perhaps above all, a sanitary catastrophe. This is a sanitary catastrophe,” he said, pointing at his phone.

“Our kids’ relationship with screens is becoming a health world problem, but also a democratic one. We have been discussing and forging alliances for a long time, but today we are facing a moment that is as important and as fascinating as the invention of cinema itself. The first revolution was led by the creators and the entrepreneurs. Today, it’s quite different. Today, we need policymakers, non-profit organizations and those who really care about the interest of the public.”

The rise of Korea has also been notable over the past few years, with Hyun Suk Yoo, Acting President of Kocca, talking about recent BTS comeback and the Korean wave, Hallyu, that brought about popular K-dramas. 

“Rather than the government leading the success from the front, in order for the content ecosystem to function effectively, it would be more accurate to say that it played a supporting part from behind. From planning to production and distribution, in order to reduce the challenges faced by the industry, we are continuing to communicate with the stakeholders on the ground,” he said. 

Besuievsky added that because of the changing rules of streamers, more deals are needed – also to gap finance new productions. “I feel that that the co-production laws were established many of years ago and they are moving more slowly than the changes we have been facing. It’s time to think in a more flexible way, but we cannot lose the regulatory framework that gives us security.” 

Bruel mentioned TF1 and Netflix, which announced the first very strategic distribution deal. 

“It was a way for them to meet halfway,” he said. “We believe, more than ever, that we need to think differently about how we can work together. We have a lot to learn from the streamers and they say they have a lot to learn from other models.”