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Anaheim, Calif. — Disney Branded Television has announced an exciting slate of new preschool programming, including Cars: Lightning Racers and Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, set to debut in 2027. The reveal was made by Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, during the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan celebration at Disney California Adventure Park, with additional festivities in Downtown Disney District.

Cars: Lightning Racers — A New Chapter in Radiator Springs

Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers will bring Lightning McQueen back for high-speed adventures alongside Mater, Luigi, Ramone, Chick Hicks, and Mack. Original cast members Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Bob Peterson, and John Ratzenberger will reprise their roles. New voices include Leah Lewis as thrill-seeking drag car Pipes, Yuri Lowenthal as mud-loving monster truck Miles, and Sheryl Lee Ralph as newcomer Ms. Blinker.

Produced by Disney Television Animation with Pixar,...

Lightning McQueen and friends are returning to Radiator Springs in the next entry in the Carsfranchise, but it won't be in theaters.

Cars has become one of Disney and Pixar's biggest brands, with the franchise making $10 billion in merchandise sales within its first five years. It's already spawned multiple films, spinoffs, and an entire themed area in California Adventure with Piston Peak National Park coming to Walt Disney World in the future, and its next venture will reintroduce the soon-to-be 20-year-old franchise to a new generation.

Variety reports that Disney Junior and Disney Television Animation are developing Cars: Lightning Racers in association with Pixar for a 2027 premiere date. The series will find Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) gearing up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his best buddy Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and new friends, including thrill-seeking drag car Pipes (Elemental's Leah Lewis) and a mud-loving monster truck...

Disney Jr., which currently dominates preschool television with the top three shows on streaming for Kids 2-5 — Bluey, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse — unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news, and premiere dates today.

The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, at the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan celebration at Disney California Adventure Park, which will also be taking place at Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California, throughout the weekend.

Highlights included new series Cars: Lightning Racers, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Academy Award-winning Cars films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles; Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, which debuted July 22 on Disney+.

Said Davis: “Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins — and no one does it bigger or better.

Start your engines — Lightning McQueen is back. Kachow! Disney and Pixar are revving up a brand-new series in the Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers, which is set to debut in 2027 on Disney Jr. before changing tires and revving on over to Disney+. Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar, the new show will bring back a whole host of our most beloved characters, introduce some exciting new racers, and keep the high-octane heart of Radiator Springs alive for a new generation.

The series will follow Lightning McQueen as he takes on fresh challenges and races around Radiator Springs alongside his old pal Mater and two new characters: thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and a mud-loving monster truck named Miles. The show promises the same playful energy and friendship-first storytelling that’s made the franchise a hit with kids and parents alike. Owen Wilson is officially back as the voice of Lightning McQueen,...

Disney Jr. today unveiled its upcoming slate, which includes the greenlight of two new series, Cars: Lightning Racers, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Oscar-winning Cars films, with the films’ original cast returning to reprise their roles, and Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series.

Additionally, the network handed an early two-season renewal to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (seasons 2 and 3). The series — a revival of the 2000s animated staple — debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.

The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television, at the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan event at Disney California Adventure Park, which will also be taking place at Downtown Disney District in Anaheim, California, throughout the weekend.

Alyssa Sapire, Head Of...

Disney Jr. will take inspiration from the world of “Cars” and “The Avengers” for two new series: “Cars: Lightning Racers” and “Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends.”

“Cars: Lightning Racers,” which sees Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprise their roles from the beloved movie alongside Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Bob Peterson, John Ratzenberger, Leah Lewis, Yuri Lowenthal and Sheryl Lee Ralph, and “Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends,” which evolved from “Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends,” will both debut in 2027 on Disney Jr. and Disney+.

The new series were unveiled Friday as part of the Disney Jr. “Let’s Play” event, alongside a two-season renewal for “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+” following a successful first season, with Season 2 and 3 slated for a 2027 and 2028 release, respectively. “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+” joins returning series “SuperKitties,” which will debut its third season on Sept. 22 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 1 on Disney+.

Disney Jr.

For a business that’s all about putting people in seats, new Just For Laughs owner Sylvain Parent-Bedard has made a ballsy money-back offer as a once-dominant stand-up comedy showcase for Hollywood returns from the dead.

If Montrealers aren’t bursting with laughter watching Jfl galas this weekend at the Place des Arts hosted by Roy Wood Jr., Fortune Feimster, Michelle Buteau and Saturday Night Live castmember Mikey Day, they’ll get their hard-earned dollars back.

“If they’re not happy, we’re going to reimburse them without argument,” Parent-Bedard, a Quebec comedy veteran who has done a pivot to English-language comedy by buying Jfl out of bankruptcy in 2024, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

He has big shoes to fill, after Jfl over the decades left belly-laughing Montrealers entertained by big names like Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Lewis Black, Chris Rock, Robin Williams, Steve Martin, Larry the Cable Guy and others.

The Kelce brothers – Travis and Jason – were among the many celebrities playing in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship on Friday (July 11) at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nevada.

The 35-year-old Kansas City Chiefs star actually had quite the laugh at his 37-year-old retired NFL star sibling’s introduction that day.

According to People, Jason was introduced as a “zero-star walk-on running back,” which caused Travis to burst into laughter. After Jason caught his brother’s reaction, Travis just shrugged.

At the event, Jason also gushed about his and Travis‘ relationship.

Keep reading to find out more…

“Travis and I have been close for a long time,” Jason said, via Starcade Media. “Now with the podcast, we talk to each other more than we ever have. We loved each other growing up. We still love each other. Now it’s more like peer to peer, whereas growing up, being the older brother,...

Editor’s Note: this list was originally published in June 2023. It has since been updated to include Pixar’s latest output.

When you ask someone about their favorite Pixar film, the answer usually says less about the movie than it does about the person. The legendary animation studio has remained at the top of its game for years because of how its films use their big high-concept ideas to explore fundamental truths. A comedy about talking toys becomes a story about friendship and growing up; a kid’s movie about fish becomes an emotional tale of fatherhood; a film about a rat that likes to cook becomes a sneakily profound story about the nature of art and inspiration. The movies become very personal to each viewer, especially for those who’ve grown up with Pixar’s work and have seen its releases serve as milestones in their lives.

That said,...

If you feel it, chase it — no wait, wrong movie. But after nearly 20 years, Disney may still be looking to chase the magic of one iconic character. The Pixar movie Cars was released in 2006, and it's gone on to spawn sequels, as well as theme park rides, and more. According to the voice of Lightning McQueen himself, Owen Wilson, Disney is still looking for that perfect "Ka-Chow." Talking with Collider's Christina Radish for his Apple TV+ series Stick, Wilson explains that he didn't expect the longevity of the character at all and says:

"Of course, I could never have imagined that it would continue on the way it has. Just a week ago, I was recording something. They’re doing something with Lightning McQueen that I went in for and found myself saying, 'Ka-Chow.' I asked them, 'There must be a bank of Ka-Chows that you have at this point.

The mediums of animation and live-action have been swapping stories for decades, from live-action serials for comic strips like "Buck Rogers" and "Dick Tracy" to animated versions of beloved series like "Star Trek" and "Ghostbusters." However, amidst Hollywood's obsession with established intellectual property, we have seen them interact more than ever. Animated anthologies milking the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the dark superhero satire of "The Boys" feel like natural extensions of their brand, while live-action remakes of beloved animated films like "Lilo & Stitch" and "How To Train Your Dragon" have become par for the course, whether people want them or not.

However, not all projects are created equal, and it can often feel like these adaptations are more about keeping copyright alive and less about inspiring quality storytelling. In respect to animation specifically, live-action versions often devalue the essence of what made these stories powerful in the first place,...

The first wave of sports luminaries and A-list celebrities playing in this year’s American Century Championship includes NFL MVPs, Pro Football Hall of Famers, Baseball Hall of Famers, legendary comedians and TV personalities, and many others. The most fun and entertaining golf event of the year is back at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on the shores of Lake Tahoe July 11-13. Fan favorites who’ve made early commitments to the event include Charles Barkley, three-time champion Tony Romo, Travis and Jason Kelce, NFL star Aaron Rodgers (pictured above at last year’s tournament), SNL‘s Colin Jost, actor Miles Teller, actor/comedian Ray Romano, comedian Nate Bargatze and Larry the Cable Guy. Actor-singer Jack Wagner and NFL great Jim McMahon, the only two celebs to have played in the tournament every year since its inception, will be back to extend their streak. Playing for the first time this year...

For once in the life of Charlie Cale she is no longer on the run since Beatrix Hasp gave her freedom papers in the previous episode of Poker Face. She could go home, or she could seek new adventures and continue her crime-solving spree. There will come a time where she will have to ask herself if she’s in it for the glory of being right or the benevolence of it all.

If Dog the Bounty Hunter and Tiger Joe had a baby, it would be Gator Joe (Kumail Nanjiani). What else would you expect from an episode of Florida’s finest but a hot mess of insane and unnatural behavior? Here's a recap of what happened. Spoilers for season 2 episode 4 of Poker Face, “The Taste of Human Blood,” below.

Peacock Gator Joe vs. Fran Lamont

This episode is a great idea by Rian Johnson, but they could have...

It's been almost 20 years since Cars raced into theaters everywhere, and while there have been two sequels in the years since, none have reached the same heights as the original. One of the universal bright spots in the Cars franchise has been Mater, voiced by famous comedian Larry the Cable Guy. Mater features in all three Cars movies, and even stars in the two spin-off TV shows Cars Toons and Cars on the Road. Iron Studios has honored Larry the Cable Guy's performance as the iconic tow truck of Radiator Springs by releasing a new 1/10 size figure of him which is now available for pre-order and retails for $449.99. It features his iconic towing hook, and is expected to fully launch between July and September later this year.

An absurdist glimpse at workaday life within one of the very real, very strange U.S. military training grounds where role-players simulate foreign battlegrounds in order to prepare our troops for their time in the field, Hailey Gates’ “Atropia” is hardly the first American comedy set during the Iraq War, which was something of a terrible farce unto itself. Well-trodden territory as this might be, however, it’s been a long time since beloved masterpieces like “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” and Larry the Cable Guy’s “Delta Farce” first put their stamp on the sub-genre, and the years gone by have made it possible for Gates’ feature debut — expanded from her 2020 Miu Miu short, “Shako Mako” — to go further through the looking glass than even Oliver Stone’s “W.” ever could.

Case in point: One early sequence in “Atropia” is built around a cameo by an extremely famous movie star who...

Mel Gibson’s Flight Risk takes off under promising conditions for fans of no-frills action flicks. After tracking down sardonic mob accountant Winston (Topher Grace) in Alaska, dogged U.S. Marshal Madolyn (Michelle Dockery) must accompany him back to New York to testify against his high-profile gangster boss. Enter a vigorously gum-chewing Mark Wahlberg as Daryl, the local pilot who will be transporting them to Seattle in his small plane. Except that Daryl, with his too-enthusiastic, down-home chattiness and increasingly uncomfortable personal overtures, clearly has dubious intentions, setting the stage for an explosive situation at 30,000 feet above the Alaskan wilderness.

Unfortunately, when that situation does pop off around the 20-minute mark, Flight Risk makes no real attempt to significantly up the ante for the remaining 70. At this point, it’s revealed that Daryl is really an enforcer for the crime boss who employed Winston, leading to a brawl in which...

Although he has now retired from acting, Michael Caine's impact on the movie industry cannot be overstated. As a working actor for the better part of eight decades, Caine became one of the most well-established actors in British history, with roles spanning from early British cinema to modern American blockbusters. Even the most casual film viewers could easily identify the actor's signature voice or might even recognize him from a leading role or one of his many supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's filmography.

With such a jam-packed career, it can be hard to gauge what films Michael Caine truly allowed to soar, and any list is bound to leave out a few of his most impactful works. Of course, not everything Caine appeared in was a cinematic masterpiece — quite the contrary. But in his best roles, Caine added a cherry on top to a phenomenal film, and in the worst instances,...

Jimmy Fallon had some prime jokes following Matt Gaetz’s announcement he was withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general: “So far Trump hasn’t named a replacement, but Rudy Giuliani is outside throwing pebbles at his bedroom window,” Fallon said.

That bit was a bit out of date by the time the episode aired on Thursday evening. On Wednesday, Gaetz announced he would no longer seek to be attorney general, stating that his possible nomination “was unfairly becoming a distraction.” Since Gaetz’s name has been proposed, there have been days of debate about whether a congressional report on sexual misconduct allegations the politician should be released.

Instead, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, a veteran prosecutor, as his new attorney general pick. The decision was announced mere hours after Gaetz withdrew his name. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals,...

This year's D23 should have seen the return of the multiple-time Piston Cup winner, Lightning McQueen, as Disney accidentally revealed Cars 4 was once part of the event's line-up. It's been seven years since the word "Kachow!" was blasted from theater speakers in Cars 3, and like all great Disney Pixar movies, fans want more.

Thanks to an official survey on the D23 website (via @HollywoodHandle on X), fans now know that Cars 4 could be in development. The survey asked fans which project they're most looking forward to at the Disney-centric convention. Surprisingly, Cars 4 was listed among the movies. Cars 4 hasn't officially been announced by Disney or Pixar, and some audiences believed Cars 3 was the definitive end to the franchise. It is now expected that Disney will announce the fourth installment very soon to get ahead of the leak.

Cars 3, directed by Brian Fee, saw Lightning McQueen seemingly retire...

With the Holidays fast approaching, Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic 1996 Christmas comedy has found a new streaming home.

Jingle All the Way is now available to stream on Prime Video. Released on November 22nd, 1996, Schwarzenegger's Christmas classic made its way onto Prime just before its 28th anniversary. Schwarzenegger plays Howard Langston, a father trying to get his son a sold-out toy in time for Christmas. Despite being met with mixed reviews, the film had box office success and grossed $129 million worldwide.

Related Jingle All the Way's Toxic Character Wasn't Sinbad's Myron Larabee

Jingle All the Way's Myron Larabee was an unhinged character in the 1996 Christmas movie but there was an even more twisted villain out in the open.

Directed by Brian Levant, the film followed the rivalry between three cutthroat fathers: Schwarzeneggers Howard Langston; Myron Larabee, played by comedian Sinbad; and Ted Maltin, played by Phil Hartman. Additionally, it...

Hollywood icon Bruce Campbell discusses the one Disney movie he wishes he hadn't been killed off in - and why.

Per ScreenRant, Campbell sat down for an interview game with Variety which involved pinpointing various quotes from his films. When stumped by a quote from Cars 2, in which Campbell briefly appeared as Rod "Torque" Redline, the star said, "Now you're starting to- You'e going beyond the golden mouldies. 'I was just wearing a disguise. You guys are stuck looking like this.' That's a typical line I would say, you gotta help me on this one... That was a small little cameo, I didn't even change history with that one."

Related The 40 Best Robot Movies Of All Time, Ranked

As technology continues to advance, robots feature prominently into a growing number of film-plots of the science fiction and horror variety.

"It was a bummer that I died because those are great for residuals,...

While he may have survived decades of undead hordes in the Evil Dead franchise, horror legend Bruce Campbell reveals which Disney franchise he wishes he could have spent more time in before his character met its end. The actor is well-known for his role as the unlikely hero Ash Williams in frequent collaborator Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise. Despite his horror career, however, Campbell has made several appearances in more family-friendly affairs, from voicing characters in animated features to brief but memorable cameos in some of the most well-known superhero movies of the 2000s.

As Campbell is known for his many one-liners, Variety sat down with the actor to question whether he could pinpoint which lines came from each specific entry in his filmography in their latest YouTube video. With his third quote, Campbell was initially confused by which of his many quip-heavy characters uttered the line, only to...

In the real world, Phil Hartman could never have nearly cuckolded Arnold Schwarzenegger — the late, great star was too good of a guy to ever embarrass that beta.

When comparing Chris Columbus’ filmography of family-focused Christmas comedies, the critically panned but mildly commercially successful 1996 movie Jingle All the Way doesn’t quite command the nostalgic adoration of, say, a Home Alone or a Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. But while Columbus only served as the producer and rewrote the script of Jingle All the Way, the film about competing fathers, Arnold Schwarzenegger and stand-up legend Sinbad, desperately (and violently) trying to secure the hottest toy on the market in time to appease their young sons before Christmas certainly has Columbus’ comedy DNA embedded within it.

Case in point: Columbus’ decision to cast Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons star Hartman to play the nosy, divorced and charismatic neighbor...

Bill Engvall is a well-known American comedian and actor, most recognized for his work in stand-up comedy and his role in the Blue Collar Comedy Tour alongside Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy but what is his net worth? Engvalls successful career is built on his relatable humor about everyday life, extending his popularity throughout television, in shows like Last Man Standing, film, and music. He's come a long way since his Blue Collar Comedy Tour days, hosting game shows like Lingo and even writing a book, Just a Guy: Notes from a Blue Collar Life.

Born William Ray Engvall Jr. in Galveston, Texas, the comedian attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, though he dropped out before graduating. He worked a series of odd jobs, including being a tour guide and DJ, before deciding to test out his comedy material, hitting up open mic nights in Dallas...

Exclusive: Comedy Dynamics, the world’s largest independent stand-up comedy production and distribution company, has launched a 24/7 free ad-supported TV channel dedicated to stand-up on Amazon Freevee.

The Stand Up Channel will be carefully curated by the Comedy Dynamics team, and feature new and classic stand-up comedy specials, Amazon original specials, and new acquisitions as they become available. Among the comics you can expect to see highlighted are Jim Gaffigan, Tiffany Haddish, Tom Segura, Jeff Dunham, Eddie Griffin, Iliza Shlesinger, Jimmy O. Yang, Bill Hicks, Maria Bamford, Larry the Cable Guy, Anjelah Johnson, Lavell Crawford, Russell Peters, Kathleen Madigan, Gary Owen, Whitney Cummings and more.

Comedy Dynamics launches its new Fast channel following success with the Comedy Dynamics channel, the company’s first Fast channel, which similarly showcases their vast stand-up comedy library to Amazon customers. All Fast channels available on Freevee can be accessed through the Freevee app, as...

Lost in a world of plastic bricks, fan-favorite Pixar characters embark on new animated adventures in Lego form. Lego Pixar BrickToons invites viewers into a playful universe where iconic stories and settings have been lovingly rebuilt with the tiny toy blocks we all know and love. Across five animated shorts, this series treats us to a fresh glimpse at beloved tales like Cars, Finding Nemo, and Coco.

Transported to the magical lands of Radiator Springs, the open ocean depths, and Day of the Dead celebrations, our Pixar pals find themselves experiencing familiar events in unfamiliar Legoized ways. Lightning McQueen faces mechanical malfunctions that transform him into an improbable monster truck. Marlin and Dory’s attempts to protect Nemo’s field trip group have unexpectedly chaotic results. Miguel competes in a lively land of the dead talent show.

Whether racing through new hijinks with Mater, venturing through a sunken pirate ship in fish form,...

So you got that master’s degree in English literature and you’re ready to embark on your career as a children’s author?

Forget it, Shakespeare. No matter how entertaining your prose, publishers have no interest in anyone authoring children’s books other than comedians. Are the books any good? “Hey, they’re kids books — how bad can they be?” seems to be the prevailing industry wisdom.

Here are seven dumbass examples of comedians moonlighting as children’s authors in search of a quick buck…

1 Jay Leno

Whether it’s shilling for LifeLock or Cool Ranch Doritos, Leno never turns away an opportunity to make a buck. When he’s not turning old Tonight Show bits like Headlines into books, he’s telling tales of L’il Jay trying to figure out how to get a bite of roast beef. Amazon says: “The story sometimes seems to sputter — albeit...

Rodney Dangerfield was the king of telling dumb jokes about his wife, a practice he got away with because his own ineptitude as a romantic partner usually made him the butt of the joke. But in the name of spreading the wealth, here are plenty of classic and contemporary comics joining Dangerfield in delivering spousal punchlines. Before you head to marriage counseling, take these dumb wife jokes — please…

1 Hasan Minhaj

“I recently got married. It was like a reverse Lord of the Rings situation where I got a ring and then I lost half of my power.”

2 Rodney Dangerfield

“My wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.”

3 Nate Bargatze

“She put Life360 on my phone. That’s so they can track you even when they’re not near you. You might not even know you have it on your phone. It’s worse than what the government’s doing.

When we talk about great movie comedies, seldom does the name “Larry the Cable Guy” come up. Apart from the Cars franchise, Larry the Cable Guy’s filmography is mainly limited to forgettable turds, such as Delta Farce, as well as straight-to-video sequels to movies that starred less affordable action stars.

After all, who better to replace Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Arnold Schwarzenegger than Larry the Cable Guy, star of Tooth Fairy 2 and Jingle All the Way 2.

Weirdly, one of Larry the Cable Guy’s contributions to the world of cinema straight-up used a character from an earlier, highly-acclaimed film that in no way involved Larry the Cable Guy.

In 2008, Mr. the Cable Guy made a movie called Witless Protection, about a small-town deputy who takes off with an FBI witness, believing that the agents involved in the case are actually baddies. Amazingly, it managed to earn a 4 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Since its inception, Pixar has received praise for its unique storytelling in its feature films. Critical to these stories are the characters that drive the movies. Pixar crafted a specific formula for how each plot should unfold, which typically revolves around a flawed protagonist whose everyday routine is changed in a dramatic way, leading to them changing for the better.

In spite of this formulaic strategy, the differences between Pixar protagonists result in some being better than others. The contrast between the characters at the beginning and end of their respective films, their motivations, and their consistency affect their strength as main characters. Some benefit from entire trilogies to explore them, while others only need one movie to display their qualities.

Lightning McQueen Evolves Into a Proper Mentor Cars

The road was certainly bumpy for the Cars franchise, but Lightning McQueen was able to emerge as a strong protagonist at the end of the trilogy.

Sports luminaries from past and present join A-list celebrities for the most fun and entertaining golf event of the year: the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on the shores of Lake Tahoe July 12-14. Celebrating its 35th edition, the tournament boasts one of the most star-studded fields in history. Headliners include Travis Kelce (pictured above), Tony Romo, Charles Barkley, Aaron Rodgers, Annika Sorenstam, Seth and Dell Curry, Miles Teller, Colin Jost, Ray Romano and Larry the Cable Guy. The tournament also has 15 first-time participants, including Alex Rodriguez, Jason Kelce, Austin Reaves and Carson Daly. The complete list of participants is here. Last year’s winner, NBA star Steph Curry, won’t be in Tahoe this year to defend his title due to his Olympic basketball duties. (Curry had a hole-in-one last year!) A walk-off eagle For The Win. Steph Curry was Insane at last year’s @ACChampionship.

When my younger brother was growing up, he went through an extreme car phase. We're talking collecting Micro Machines of every variety and cruising around in an electric kids Ride-On Jeep. What I'm saying is, when Pixar's "Cars" films proved hugely popular with younger Millennials and the first wave of Gen Z-ers starting in the '00s, I understood why. I was there, Gandalf.

Out of all of the animation powerhouse's franchises, "Cars" has always been the most contentious. The "Cars" universe itself makes no sense, which has spawned all manner of dark fan theories, including that these movies take place in a post-apocalyptic future where cars gained sentience Skynet-style and murdered all the humans. Also, the personalities of the vehicles tend to be based on broad cultural or ethnic stereotypes associated with their models. Meanwhile, their personal interests are primarily limited to racing because, again, they're all cars,...

Clockwise from left: Inside Out 2, Monsters, Inc., Toy Story, Wall-EImage: Disney/Pixar

Although Pixar has had its fair share of disappointments and missteps, at its height, there was no one doing it better. For nearly three decades the studio has been creating crowd-pleasing features and taking audiences into imaginative new worlds.

Exclusive: Brian Volk-Weiss’ Nacelle Company on Wednesday announced Billy Corgan’s Adventures in Carnyland, an eight-episode unscripted series that’s set to premiere on The CW app and cwtv.com on May 14th.

Directed by Volk-Weis and Ian Roumain, the series pulls back the curtain on how the legendary frontman of alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins takes on the world. When he isn’t churning out albums and touring the world with his band, Corgan works as a wrestling promoter through his storied National Wrestling Alliance, which he intends to restore to its former glory. As if being a rock star navigating the demanding politics of running both a band (Pumpkinworld) and a group of eccentric wrestlers (Carnyland) isn’t tricky enough, he’s also a father of two — and he’s planning a wedding to his longtime partner, Chloe Mendel. Can he possibly keep all these balls in the air?...

Pixar's film legacy is truly astounding, and Disney is looking to highlight the studio more as it continues to create a strategy for the future. Over the years, the animation house has told some truly touching stories, and fans have connected to some of the memorable moments from this incredible run.

Whether those beats are attached to the finale of a character arc, are notable because of a specific line or joke, or are integral to the very premise of the film, these iconic Pixar moments continue to stand the test of time and are always fantastic upon a rewatch. Without these specific scenes and sequences, Pixar's greatest hits might not have been as emotionally compelling to audiences as intended.

Lightning McQueen Goes Back to the Races The Cars' Star Finishes His Arc

Cars GAdventureComedySports

On the way to the biggest race of his life, a hotshot rookie race...

The 1996 movie Jingle All the Way starring Arnold Schwarzenegger wouldn't work in today's world. @thisjenlewis created funny art that shows how the movie's premise is outdated. The art highlights how Schwarzenegger's character could easily order the toy online, eliminating the need for a mad Christmas Eve scramble.

Jingle All the Way art shows why the Arnold Schwarzenegger Christmas movie wouldn't work if set in today's world. Released in 1996, Schwarzenegger’s attempt at a wholesome holiday comedy starred the famed action hero as a regular dad trying to get his son his dream present: a Turbo-Man action figure. Unfortunately, everyone else’s kid also wants a Turbo-Man, turning Schwarzenegger’s efforts into a madcap Christmas Eve quest to land one of the coveted toys.

Jingle All the Way is not considered a Christmas movie classic, as shown by its 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and in fact its premise wouldn’t...

This material is based on data powered by IMDb, not The A.V. Club grades.Loki (2021)The mercurial villain Loki resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”Rating: 8.2/10Stars: Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Owen Wilson (Mobius), Sophia Di Martino,...

Graphic: IMDb

This material is based on data powered by IMDb, not The A.V. Club grades.

Loki (2021)

The mercurial villain Loki resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”

Rating: 8.2/10

Stars: Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Owen Wilson (Mobius), Sophia Di Martino,...

Exclusive: Nacelle, the Burbank-based production and distribution company behind The Toys and Movies That Made Us, Behind the Attraction and Biker Mice From Mars, has brought on Hud Woodle to run the company’s International Sales Division.

Woodle moves to Nacelle from Grb Studios where he served as Head of Global Sales & Acquisitions.

Woodle has held a variety of international roles over the last decade, including VP of International Program Sales at Scripps Networks International, and as Vice President of International Program Sales and Distribution and General Manager at Food Networks Asia, working in New York and Singapore. Woodle also worked at NBC Universal International Television as a sales executive for E! Entertainment, and at Tech TV in global program sales.

The move to hire Woodle comes as Nacelle is expanding its production, distribution, and toy manufacturing divisions, on the heels of major developments in the growing NacelleVerse, a shared...

Tyler Perry‘s most famous character, Madea, has appeared in nearly half the director’s films: a gun-toting, “Hallelu-yer”-shouting force of nature, and an outrageous drag tribute to his mother and aunt. But some films in the Madea Cinematic Universe are gleefully manic, while others arrive in what appears to be a half-finished state of sad melodrama and mediocrity. Not counting her cameo appearance in the otherwise Madea-free “Meet the Browns,” or the animated kids offering “Madea’s Tough Love,” here’s where to find maximum Madea mayhem:

10. “Madea’s Witness Protection”

To look at box office receipts, this one would appear to have been a fan favorite, the second-highest-grossing Madea movie to date. But it came along at a time when Perry was making minor noise about retiring the character, and it really shows. The film looks cheap even by Perry’s budget-minded standards, the jokes are flat, and...

Warning: The following contains spoilers about Season 3, Episode 7 of Ted Lasso.

Sam’s dad is a sight for sore eyes when he finally arrives in Wednesday’s Ted Lasso — an episode that sees Sam’s sunny disposition challenged like never before.

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The midfielder barely bats an eye when Simi fills him in on Brinda Barot’s anti-refugee rhetoric. He suggests that “someone could try and speak to the the better angels...

Licensing groups representing comedians, including the estates of Robin Williams and George Carlin, will not have to face a suit in sprawling litigation accusing them of monopolizing the market for the rights to the recordings of “superstar” comics.

A federal judge on April 5 dismissed Pandora’s countersuit against Word Collection and Spoken Giants, rejecting antitrust arguments from the audio company faulting the group for its alleged failure to assemble a viable comedy streaming service. U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi found that the comedians reasonably bargained collectively in the pursuit of higher royalties on top of getting paid for a copyright license that has historically been overlooked.

The dispute revolves around a feud between streamers and comedians pushing to change the landscape of compensation. The comics raise novel licensing theories claiming that they should be paid for writing their jokes, much in the same way that musicians are paid royalties for composing song lyrics.

The animation studio Pixar never fails to release some of the most emotionally mature animated films, from the recently released Turning Red to the classic adventure film A Bug's Life. The acclaimed animation studio finds the most outlandish and outrageous concepts and turns them into an adventure film that can teach children (and adults) a ton of valuable life lessons.

That being said, some Pixar titles are too hyped for their own good. From the superhero film Incredibles 2 to the inspirational film Ratatouille, Reddit users dish out the top Pixar films that they think are overrated.

Update: 2023/01/14 12:00 Est By Shawn S. Lealos

2022 was a bad year for Pixar. The studio has regularly put out some of the best animated movies in the world year after year, but that stalled out in this year. First off, Lightyear was the first Pixar movie released in theaters since before Covid-19 shut things down,...

News of the death of Kirstie Alley, the star of “Cheers,” “Veronica’s Closet,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” and, never forget, Carl Reiner’s “Summer School,” shocked the internet on Monday when it was announced by her children True Parker and Lily Parker in a joint statement. “As iconic as she was on screen,” they wrote, “she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”

pic.twitter.com/g4nAItrR5x

— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) December 6, 2022

With 40 years in the business, even if the last few were a bit controversial with her vocal advocacy of the Trump administration, many colleagues wrote fond memories of working with her.

John Travolta, who starred with her in the wildly successful “Look Who’s Talking” trilogy, posted a glamor pic of Alley in her prime, along with a shot of the two of them. In a caption, Travolta wrote, “I know we’ll see each other again.

Kirstie Alley is being remembered by Hollywood. On Monday, the actress’ children announced that she’d died after a short battle with cancer. She was 71.

“Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren, and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did,” True and Lillie Parker, Alley’s two children, who are 30 and 28 respectively, wrote in their tribute.

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A post shared by Lillie Parker (@lillieparker)

Almost immediately after the news broke, John Travolta, took to Instagram to remember his late pal and “Look Who’s Talking” co-star.

“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he wrote alongside a solo shot of Alley and a throwback pic of the two of them. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.

John Travolta, Jamie Lee Curtis and more are sharing their memories of Kirstie Alley after the “Cheers” and “Look Who’s Talking” star died on Monday at the age of 71.

Alley’s death was announced on her official social media accounts by her children, True and Lillie Parker, who wrote: “We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead.”

John Travolta, who starred alongside Alley in the 1989 rom-com “Look Who’s Talking,” posted a throwback photo of Alley on Instagram, writing: “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had. I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”

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Pixar’s “Cars” have circled back around.

“Cars on the Road,” a connection of interlocking shorts that just premiered on Disney+ as part of the Disney+ Day festivities, follows Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) as they embark on a cross-country road trip for Mater’s sister’s wedding. Along the way they check into a haunted house, join the circus and cross paths with bigfoot. The shorts are incredibly charming and fit perfectly within the already-established “Cars” universe.

TheWrap spoke with Steve Purcell, who wrote every episode and directed three of the nine shorts and Brian Fee, who directed three of the shorts (and directed the very underrated “Cars 3”). Purcell and Fee told us about reusing characters from the “Cars” movies, creating stop-motion animation in CGI and how a surf guitar helped soften a ghostly visitation.

Where did the idea for “Cars on the Road” come from?...

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In Pixar’s new animated short-form series, “Cars on the Road” (currently streaming on Disney+), creator/director and animator Steve Purcell puts Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) on a cross-country trek full of cinematic nostalgia. The stops include homages to the stop-motion dinosaurs of Ray Harryhausen, the Overlook Hotel from “The Shining,” and retro sci-fi movies.

“We wanted to send them on a road trip [to the wedding of Mater’s sister], and make it so that each place they stop was its own mini-adventure,” Purcell told IndieWire. “And that afforded us a lot of opportunity to create all these different, interesting locations, each with its own sensibility, style of music.”

Producer Marc Sondheimer added that in spite of the series’ short-form nature, it still contains 65 minutes of content. And it’s tied together in episodic form. “The launch of Disney+ afforded us a different form factor to tell these stories in...

Plot: Follows Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater as they head east from Radiator Springs on a cross-country road trip to meet up with Mater’s sister. Along the way, every stop is its own adventure, with outrageous roadside attractions and colorful new characters.

Review: Cars in the ultimate black sheep in the Pixar catalog. A passion project for writer/director John Lasseter, the Cars trilogy of films are the lowest-rated Pixar films according to Rotten Tomatoes. They also happen to be mediocre performers at the box office compared to the rest of Pixar’s output, but the franchise is easily one of the top grossing properties thanks to the instantly marketable toys and merchandising associated with it. After three films, two spin-off movies, and a series of short films, Cars makes its Disney+ debut with Cars on the Road. While Cars on the Road consists of episodes that run ten minutes or less,...

"Cars on the Road" is Pixar's new CG animated TV series starring Owen Wilson as 'Lightning McQueen', Larry the Cable Guy as 'Mater' and Cheech Marin as 'Ramone', premiering September 8, 2022 on Disney+:

"...' Lightning McQueen' and his best friend 'Mater' on a cross-country road trip across the United States, journey eastward to attend a wedding for Mater’s sister.

"The series is set in a world filled with anthropomorphic talking cars and other vehicles, set in new locations with new characters, additionally featuring returns of the already established characters from the 'Cars' movie franchise..."

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