MagazinAisle

Blog

  • Nick Offerman on Auditioning for ‘The Office’ Pre ‘Parks and Rec,’ and Scoring Emmy Noms for ‘Death by Lightning’ and ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’

    Nick Offerman on Auditioning for ‘The Office’ Pre ‘Parks and Rec,’ and Scoring Emmy Noms for ‘Death by Lightning’ and ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’

    Nick Offerman is one of the great character actors of our time.

    The 56-year-old is best known for playing Ron Swanson, the director of the Pawnee Parks and Recreation Department (and a man who hates government and loves bacon), on the beloved comedy series Parks and Recreation, which ran on NBC for seven seasons spanning 2009 through 2015, and for which he won the Television Critics Association’s Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy in 2011.

    Since that show came to an end, he has been busy with a wide variety of other projects, from co-hosting, with his Parks and Rec costar Amy Poehler, the NBC craft competition show Making It (2018-2021), for which he received three Emmy noms for best host for a reality competition program, to giving a heartbreaking dramatic turn on the first season of the HBO drama series The Last of Us (2023), for which he won the best guest actor in a drama series Emmy.

    But never has he had a year quite like the past one, during which he played key supporting roles on two major TV projects, garnering Emmy nominations for both. He is up for best supporting actor in a comedy series for Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles, on which he plays a former wrestler trying to reintegrate into the life of his daughter; and best supporting actor in a limited or anthology series or movie for Netflix’s Death by Lightning, on which he plays a corrupt drunk who winds up as vice president of the United States.

    Over the course of a conversation at the L.A. offices of The Hollywood Reporter, Offerman reflected on the people who shaped the person and artist he is today, from his mentor, Shozo Sato, to his wife of 26 years, actress Megan Mullally; how he landed on the radar of the creators of Parks and Rec back when they were still focused on their earlier show, the American version of The Office, and what the subsequent monthslong casting process for Parks and Rec was like for him; why, post-Parks and Rec, he yearned to play parts very different from Ron Swanson, and how he found them in The Last of Us, Death by Lightning and Margo’s Got Money Troubles; plus more.

  • Snoop Dogg Biopic Finds Its Tupac Shakur in Camron Jones (Exclusive)

    Snoop Dogg Biopic Finds Its Tupac Shakur in Camron Jones (Exclusive)

     
    Camron Jones has joined nothin but a gangsta party.
     
    The actor, best known for his work on Amazon Prime’s young adult drama Panic, is set to portray influential rapper Tupac Shakur in Snoop, Universal Pictures’ biopic of entertainment mogul and music icon Snoop Dogg.
     
    Craig Brewer is directing the feature, which is being produced by Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, the veteran producer behind the semi-autobiographical Eminem drama 8 Mile, and the company’s Allan Mandelbaum. Snoop Dogg and Death Row Pictures president Sara Ramaker are also producing.
     
    Jonathan Daviss, one of the stars of Netflix series Outer Banks, is portraying Snoop Dogg, who emerged from Long Beach, Calif., in the 1990s to become one of the biggest names in rap. The feature has been casting up in recent weeks and now has Myles Bullock Be as Dr. Dre and Lauren London as Snoop Dogg’s mother on the roll call.
     
    Shakur was famously the troubled West Coast rapper who had success in the recording world as well as Hollywood, appearing in movies such as John Singleton’s Poetic Justice and crime movie Gridlock’d, but who also served time in prison. He was ultimately killed in a drive-by in 1996.
     
    Snoop Dogg and Shakur were both signed to Death Row Records and collaborated on hits such as “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” The two had a major falling out when Shakur pressed Snoop Dogg to take sides in the West Coast-East Coast rivalry.
     
    Brewer, who recently directed Song Sung Blue for Universal’s specialty studio Focus Features, wrote the latest draft of the script, which was initially written by Joe Robert Cole. The feature will incorporate music from Snoop Dogg’s vast catalog.
     
    Jones, who has notched credits on shows grown-ish, The Purge and Shameless, will appear in the upcoming third season of Starz’ P-Valley. He is repped by Clear Talent Group and Venture Entertainment Partners.

  • Shannon Wallace, Curtiss Cook, Lauren E. Banks, Liv Symone, Jason Dirden Join Starz Black Rodeo Drama

    Shannon Wallace, Curtiss Cook, Lauren E. Banks, Liv Symone, Jason Dirden Join Starz Black Rodeo Drama

    Shannon Wallace, Curtiss Cook, Lauren E. Banks, Liv Symone and Jason Dirden are set to join the cast of a Starz drama series within the world of Black rodeo in Southeast Texas.

    The untitled, one-hour series received an eight episode order in April. The drama is Starz’s second self-owned series following its 2025 spin off from Lionsgate. The other is British boxing drama “Fightland,” which premiered July 31 from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

    The newly announced cast members join DeWanda Wise (“Three Women,” “Killing Faith”) as Anaya Clarke-Reagan, Tian Richards (“Tom Swift,” “Ballard”) as Rodney Clarke and Marcus Emanuel Mitchell (“Doctor Odyssey,” “Chicago Fire”) as Julius Calhoun.

    Wallace (“Diarra From Detroit,” “Beauty in Black”) plays Sebastian Clarke, described as “a former bull-riding champion whose career ended after a near-fatal arena accident.” Wallace is represented by Kimberly Hines, Matias Branger and Max Burbey at Luminary Partners and Cierra Carter at LaPolt Law.

    Cook (“The Chi,” “House of Cards”) plays Elias Clarke, said to be “the Clarke siblings’ estranged father and co-founder of the family rodeo who returns from prison to earn back his children’s trust.” Cook is represented by Harden Curtis Kirsten Riley Agency, Jordan Lee Talent and TCA MGMT.

    Banks (“Lawmen: Bass Reeves,” “City on a Hill”) stars as Wynter, “Sebastian’s ex-wife who is ready to finally do things for herself.” Banks is represented by CAA, Viewpoint and Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang.

    Symone (“Power Book III: Raising Kanan,” “Michael”) is Jojo Calhoun, “the younger sister to local bull riding star Julius and a talented rapper.” Symone is represented by Stewart Talent and Brave Artists Management.

    Dirden (“Bosch: Legacy,” “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”) plays Greg Reagan, “a respected District Court judge and husband to Anaya who has a carefully hidden past.” Dirden is represented by Adam Lazarus Artists & Representatives and Amanda Hendon Entertainment 3:33.

    Kirk A. Moore is showrunner and executive producer. Mark Johnson and Myki Bajaj of Gran Via Productions and Tony Hernandez, Elise Henderson and Lilly Burns of Counterpart Studios also serve as executive producers. Giovanna Desselle, vice president of original programming, and Christina Jokanovich, senior vice president of original programming, are the executives overseeing the series for Starz.

  • Veteran Hollywood Publicist Leonard Morpurgo Dies at 93

    Veteran Hollywood Publicist Leonard Morpurgo Dies at 93

    Leonard Morpurgo, the London-born international film publicist and communications executive who had senior posts at companies including Rogers & Cowan, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, CBS Theatrical Films and Lorimar Pictures, died of cancer on Aug. 12. He was 93. 

    Morpurgo’s career spanned over 50 years. He worked at newspapers before becoming a publicist. A gentlemanly figure who was a fixture at film festivals and markets worldwide, he was fluent in multiple languages and specialized in sharing his global perspective while representing independent and major-studio film and television productions. His experiences and observations from the international film world formed the basis of his 2009 memoir “Of Kings and Queens and Movie Stars,” a collection of stories recalling encounters with figures in the entertainment industry including Cary Grant, Steve McQueen and Omar Sharif.

    “He was in one desert for the filming of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and another for ‘Dune,’” said his son, Thierry Morpurgo in a statement. “That was the kind of life he led — always close to the world of movies, wherever the work took him.”

    Morpurgo was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and frequently participated on the Academy’s International Feature Film Committee. He also was a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles.

    In 2022, Morpurgo was nominated for the International Cinematographers Guild’s Les Mason Award for Achievement in Publicity, recognizing his longstanding contributions to the profession.

    “Leonard brought uncommon experience, intelligence, and perspective to every campaign and every conversation,” said longtime collaborator and president of Weissman/Markovitz Communications Rick Markovitz. “He was a skilled raconteur, and I will miss his passion for storytelling and hearing about the old days of Hollywood.”

    Morpurgo’s vast experience and enduring presence made him well-known as an international film publicity professional. 

    “Leonard was a sweet, kind and generous soul — and my second boss after I moved to Los Angeles nearly five decades ago,” said publicity executive Pamela Godwin-Austin. “He shared his knowledge generously and was a great mentor. He knew how to temper the pressures of the job with humor. I am grateful he showed me the way.”

    Along with his contributions to the film industry, Morpurgo was an accomplished needlepoint artist. In his final months, he took pleasure in seeing his work exhibited in a virtual-reality art gallery.

    Morpurgo is survived by his wife Elena-Beth Kaye, his twin sons Benjamin and Thierry, and his grandchildren, Violet, Oona and Lucien.

  • ‘Bel-Air’ Spinoff ‘Hilary’ Starring Coco Jones in Development at Peacock

    ‘Bel-Air’ Spinoff ‘Hilary’ Starring Coco Jones in Development at Peacock

    A “Bel-Air” spinoff is in the works at Peacock.

    “Hilary,” an offshoot of the Will Smith-inspired drama series starring Coco Jones, is in development at the streamer. The project hails from writer-producer Tracy Oliver, co-writer of “Girls Trip” and “Little.”

    If the series moves forward, “Bel-Air” will become Peacock’s first scripted original series to get a spinoff.

    Jones played Will Smith’s (Jabari Banks) cousin Hilary Banks across all four seasons of “Bel-Air,” a dramatic reimagining of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” that became a breakout hit for Peacock. The show followed Will Smith’s journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the luxurious gated mansions of Bel-Air. (We all know the song…)

    The logline of “Hilary” reads, “After accepting an unexpected job offer from celebrity chef Yvonne Durand, Hilary Banks impulsively moves to New York determined to prove herself beyond her Bel-Air connections — only to find that success, friendship and love in the city come with a cost she never anticipated.”

    Jones and Oliver executive produce “Hilary” alongside Will Smith, Terence Carter, David Boorstein and Miguel Melendez of Westbrook Studios; Benny Medina, Andy Borowitz, Susan Borowitz, Morgan Cooper, the Jeff Pollack trust and the Quincy Jones estate.

    In addition to work on “Bel-Air,” Jones got her start as a child actor on Disney’s “So Random” and “Let It Shine.” Her credits also include “Vampires vs. the Bronx” and “Strung,” and she is the Grammy-winning singer behind the hit R&B song “ICU.”

    With “Girls Trip,” Oliver became the first Black woman to write a film that grossed more than $100 million at the global box office. Her credits also include “The Sun Is Also a Star” and “The Blackening.”

    Deadline broke the news.

  • Ethereum Price Experiences a Dramatic Rally—What Happens Next? A Warning Has Been Issued

    Ethereum Price Experiences a Dramatic Rally—What Happens Next? A Warning Has Been Issued

    Benjamin Cowen, a leading analyst in the cryptocurrency market, analyzed recent technical charts and macroeconomic developments affecting Ethereum ($ETH). He highlighted Ethereum’s recent strong rebound, sharing his insights on potential market bottoms and the critical risks facing the crypto asset in the coming period.

    Cowen, analyzing Ethereum’s price structure through regression channels and fair value models, stated that the asset reacted from its lows around the $1,500 level. Recalling that similar instances of touching the lower boundary of the regression band have occurred in past cycles, the analyst indicated that the current fair value zone for Ethereum lies between $2,300 and $2,400. However, he added that for the price to sustain its upward momentum, it needs to decisively break above critical technical resistance levels such as the 200-day moving average.

    Beyond Ethereum’s individual performance, the analysis specifically highlighted the $ETH/BTC pair, demonstrating its strength against Bitcoin. Cowen stated that the pair breaking above its 20-month moving average is a crucial technical signal, and that this level needs to be sustained. Referring to past false breakouts, the expert said that for the rally to be confirmed, Ethereum must maintain its gains against Bitcoin for the next 1-2 months.

    Cowen also touched upon the impact of macroeconomic risks on the crypto market, stating that a potential correction in the S&P 500 index would directly affect the price of Ethereum. While a 10% pullback in the stock market index might be limited to a higher bottom formation in Ethereum, the analyst warned investors that a deeper 20% decline could trigger sharp pullbacks exceeding 50% in $ETH. Highlighting the second half of the year, particularly the end of the third quarter and the fourth quarter, Cowen indicated that a negative signal from the macroeconomic front could lead to one final wave of decline in the crypto market.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Analytics Firm Claims Bitcoin Bull Run Has Begun: “There’s Just One Level Left; If It Breaks Through This One…”

    Analytics Firm Claims Bitcoin Bull Run Has Begun: “There’s Just One Level Left; If It Breaks Through This One…”

    The recent strong surge in Bitcoin’s price signals the beginning of a new bull run in the market, according to the on-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant. The company noted that its Bitcoin Bull Score indicator rose from 30 to 80 in just one week, marking the fastest market regime change in the past year. According to CryptoQuant, the final significant hurdle to officially confirm this new bull market is around $83,000.

    Bitcoin has surged approximately 24% since Monday, August 17th, reaching as high as $80,000. This marks BTC’s highest level since May 15th. CryptoQuant attributes the rise to two key macro catalysts that have been strongly priced positively by the market.

    The first of these was the US Treasury’s announcement that it would increase the size of its long-term government bond buybacks to at least $4 billion per transaction starting September 9th. The second significant development was US President Donald Trump’s statements suggesting that the US government might consider purchasing Bitcoin.

    According to CryptoQuant data, Bitcoin’s valuation indicators have seen a significant improvement. The platform’s Bull Score Indicator jumped from 30 to 80 in a week, reaching its highest level since October 6, 2025. At that time, Bitcoin was trading at approximately $124,000. Eight out of the ten indicators tracked are currently signaling a bullish trend.

    Demand-side data also supports the market shift. CryptoQuant reported that apparent spot Bitcoin demand recorded its fastest monthly growth since late December. Furthermore, demand in both the spot and futures markets began growing simultaneously for the first time since early October 2025.

    According to the platform, the simultaneous upward turn in valuation, demand, and liquidity indicators suggests that Bitcoin has entered the initial phase of a new bull market. However, CryptoQuant stated that for the change in market regime to be definitively confirmed, Bitcoin needs to close above its 365-day moving average, which is currently around $83,000.

    CryptoQuant warned that while the medium- to long-term outlook has improved, the Bitcoin market may be overheated in the short term.

    Traders’ unrealized profit margin rose to 20.5%, reaching its highest level since June 2025. Meanwhile, whales achieved a record realized profit of $614 million on August 20th.

    Simultaneously, the increase in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP inflows to cryptocurrency exchanges suggests that investors may be moving their assets to exchanges for sale. Therefore, CryptoQuant stated that it would not be surprising if Bitcoin struggled in the resistance zone around $83,000 or experienced a correction typical of the early bull market period.

    According to the platform, such a pullback might be a healthy move to digest the recent 24% rally, rather than signaling the end of an uptrend.

    CryptoQuant stated in its assessment that the market regime has now turned bullish, but investors should closely monitor the 365-day moving average at the $83,000 level for confirmation of the new bull market.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • South Korea trade giant POSCO brings trade receivables to Avalanche in latest tokenization move

    South Korea trade giant POSCO brings trade receivables to Avalanche in latest tokenization move

    POSCO International, South Korea’s largest trading company, is pushing deeper into tokenized trade finance, completing a transaction that turned real-world receivables into digital assets on an Avalanche-based ($AVAX) blockchain network just one month after a similar pilot on Injective.

    The firm’s U.S. arm worked with trade finance platform Olea and asset-backed finance technology firm Intain on the transaction, the companies said Tuesday. Intain used artificial intelligence to reconcile invoices, purchase orders, credit notes and shipping documents before verifying and recording the receivables on its Layer-1 network built on Avalanche ($AVAX).

    Trade receivables are money owed to a company after it delivers goods but before the customer pays. Companies can borrow against those invoices, but financing often involves reconciling records held separately by buyers, sellers and banks.

    Putting the receivable on a shared blockchain ledger creates a common record of ownership and the asset’s status, potentially cutting that paperwork and giving companies quicker access to financing.

    The move followed POSCO International’s pilot with LG CNS announced last month to issue, transfer and settle tokenized receivables on Injective. That project also used receivables generated from live trade between POSCO’s overseas subsidiaries and their counterparties.

  • More than 1,300 people arrested by ICE in Virginia and Maryland

    More than 1,300 people arrested by ICE in Virginia and Maryland

    More than 1,300 people were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Virginia and Maryland over the past two weeks. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security described the operation as “one of the most successful in the history of security agencies.”

    Published On 25 Aug 2026

  • Enjoy the Silence and This Deal: These Super Affordable Sony Headphones Are Now 52% Off

    Enjoy the Silence and This Deal: These Super Affordable Sony Headphones Are Now 52% Off

    Noise-cancelling earbuds are subtle, but folks who don’t see them still might try to strike up a conversation, not knowing you’re in focus mode. On the other hand, a big pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones keeps sound out and lets everyone around you know it. While top-notch ANC can run up the bank, there are plenty of more affordable picks out there that hide some spectacularly solid ANC in their earcups. 

    Take the Sony WH-CH720Ns, for example—they’re among Sony’s more affordable over-ear headphone options, and they deliver surprisingly good audio performance and noise cancellation in an affordable package. But right now, they’re even more affordable: Amazon has them on sale for over half off, bringing the $179.99 list price down to $85.95! 


    Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones

    Sony WH-CH720N Wireless Headphones

    V1 processor, 35-hour battery, 192g, multipoint connection, DSEE audio

    $85.95
    at Amazon

    $179.99
    Save $94.04


    Get Deal

    There are two color options on sale right now: a sleek black pair for $85.95 (52% off), and a more colorful pink pair for $98 (only 46% off) if you want to spruce up your listening wardrobe. According to Sony, the WH-CH720Ns are their lightest over-ear headphones with noise cancellation ever at only 192g—which is just a hair heavier than your average smartphone. And between their slim headband and cushy earpads, they aren’t going to give you a headache after a long day of listening. 

    And listen all day if you want! Just three minutes on the USB-C charger can give you an hour of listening, and a full charge can deliver up to 35 hours of power depending on your volume and audio modes. Besides sounding solid with deep bass and crisp highs, the WH-CH720Ns offer above-average noise cancellation for their price. In our detailed review, PCMag expert Tim Gideon said that unless you want to shell out more money for a top model, the WH-CH720Ns’ ANC is “about as good as it gets.”

    But, of course, you don’t have to spend all your time drowning out the rest of the world. You can switch between ANC, ambient, and no listening modes by tapping through the dedicated button on the side. Or, if you want to enjoy lossless audio, you can connect your device with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. Sometimes, wires do fit the aesthetic!

    Recommended by Our Editors

    For more than half off, these Sony headphones are a steal with ANC. But if you’re looking for other options, check out our experts’ list of the best noise-cancelling headphones for 2026!

    More Headphones Deals

    *Deals are selected by our commerce team

    About Our Expert