Latest news with #TheCW
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Highlights: Xfinity Series at Indy on The CW
Watch the HyVee Perks 250 on Saturday, August 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET on The CW. Find your channel now: Stream free next day on The CW App.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
CW Sports Goes Bananas With NASCAR And Baseball Crossover
KANSAS CITY, KS - MAY 06: Split, the mascot of the Savannah Bananas dances before the start of a ... More banana ball game against the the Kansas City Monarchs at Legends Field on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Kansas City, KS. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) While most of the attention in NASCAR broadcasting this season has gone to the Cup Series—with all eyes on Amazon Prime's flashy debut—a different kind of network has quietly been using the NASCAR Xfinity Series to rewrite the rules of sports television. And frankly, it's doing it with a lot more guts, and just the right amount of bananas. Enter The CW. Yes, that CW—the one that grew out of the smoldering remains of the WB and UPN in 2006. For years, it was a haven for capes, teenage angst, and endless spin-offs from the DC Comics multiverse. The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow—they all had a home there. It wasn't exactly a profitable few years for the network, so The CW's new owners at Nexstar decided it was time to chart a new course. Gone were superheroes and teenage dramas. They were replaced by unscripted programs, game shows, and—perhaps most surprisingly—a full-on charge into the world of live sports. But not just any sports. The CW Sports didn't pick up NFL rights or chase March Madness. No, they went rogue, became a disruptor of sorts. They signed deals with LIV Golf. Then WWE's NXT. Then the AVP (beach volleyball), the PBA (bowling), and most recently, professional bull riding. If there's a sport too wild, weird, or off-brand for the legacy networks, chances are The CW is giving it a primetime slot. Signing NASCAR's Xfinity series last year made perfect sense for the network. It was a smart move. The Xfinity Series audience is loyal and deeply engaged—just the kind of fanbase a network with big sports ambitions could rally around. A Savannah Bananas and CW-themed No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will be on-track ... More during the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 26. But then came a twist a few months after the deal was announced. Originally set to begin broadcasting NASCAR Xfinity Series races starting in 2025, The CW didn't wait. They jumped the green flag, taking over race coverage in September 2024. Next up on The CW? Baseball. But not the kind of baseball that gently hums Take Me Out to the Ballgame. This is Banana Ball—the high-octane, choreographed, TikTok-dominating, foul-ball-caught-by-a-fan-is-an-out baseball circus that's selling out stadiums and redefining what a 'game' actually is. Think Harlem Globetrotters meet Jackass, played in cleats. And NASCAR fans will be getting a glimpse of it Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The CW and the Savannah Bananas have partnered with Viking Motorsports to bring the spirit of Banana Ball to the track. The No. 99 Chevrolet, driven by Matt DiBenedetto, will carry a full Savannah Bananas and CW-themed livery in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway—a high-speed billboard for the team's live broadcast debut the very next day. Since their inception in 2016 the Savannah Bananas have turned baseball on its head. With choreographed dances, celebratory antics, flaming bats (yes, literal flaming bats), and a firm commitment to entertaining the crowd first and worrying about the score later, the Bananas have become a cultural phenomenon. With over 9.8 million followers on TikTok, they've surpassed every team in MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL, and yes even NASCAR, in social reach. And every game at their home field, Savannah's historic Grayson Stadium, has sold out since day one. Just the kind of chaos The CW seems built for. "These guys are fun, and we consider ourselves that way," said Mike Perman, Senior Vice President of CW Sports. 'We're trying to grow the network from a sports perspective and reach younger demos. We just felt like this would align—it would be something fun.' Perman said the Bananas were a perfect match for a network with a strategy built around bold, unconventional moves. 'We had heard ESPN was about to do a deal, and we figured if they're looking, we should move fast. Our president Brad Schwartz has always leaned into creative risks, and Banana Ball just fits that mold.' WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 13, 2024: The Savannah Bananas perform after a game against the Firefighters ... More at Nationals Park on July 13, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) And it's more than just a gimmick. Perman emphasized that, while the Bananas bring energy and antics, it's still competitive sport. 'The players are really good athletes. The games still matter. The rules may be different, but they still have to perform. It's not just a show—it's competition with a twist.' Perman also confirmed that this isn't just a one-off. 'We've done cross-promotions before with WWE talent at NASCAR races, and we're doing the same here. Matt DiBenedetto will throw out the ceremonial first banana at the game in Philly on Sunday. We even turned our logo yellow this week—we're calling it Banana Palooza.' Sunday, the Bananas make their broadcast television debut live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. A sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 will be on hand as the Bananas take on the Texas Tailgaters. DiBenedetto, fresh off Saturday's race, will trade his firesuit for a jersey and throw out the ceremonial first pitch—connecting the dots between motorsport mayhem and baseball bedlam. What began as a midseason NASCAR promotion might just be the blueprint for how The CW plans to tie its sports properties together and continue being the disruptor. One flaming bat, one painted racecar, and one national broadcast at a time.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Save the Dates: Beavis and Butt-Head Season 3, Stiller & Meara Documentary and More
MTV legends Beavis and Butt-Head are returning to basic cable. Season 3 of the revival will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 3, on Comedy Central, following two seasons on Paramount+. More from TVLine What to Watch in July: Your Guide to 170+ Premieres Across Broadcast, Cable and Streaming Every New Scripted Show Confirmed to Premiere in 2025 — Save the Dates! First Ahsoka Season 2 Photo Reveals [Spoiler]'s Extreme Makeover It joins an animated slate at Comedy Central that includes South Park (recently renewed for five more seasons) and Digman! (currently in Season 2). Watch a trailer below: In other scheduling news… * Disney+'s animated Marvel series Eyes of Wakanda will now debut Friday, Aug. 1, with all four episodes available on premiere day. (An Aug. 27 release date had been previously announced.) * The CW Network has entered a multi-year agreement with PBR (Professional Bull Riders) to be the exclusive broadcast home of Saturday and Sunday PBR Camping World Team Series events. PBR on The CW kicks off Saturday, Aug. 9 at 6:30/5:30c, and continues for 10 additional weekends. * The Last Frontier, an Apple TV+ action drama starring and executive-produced by Jason Clarke (Winning Time), will premiere with two episodes on Oct. 10, followed by one new episode every Friday through Dec. 5. Dominic Cooper (Preacher), Haley Bennett (The Magnificent Seven), Simone Kessell (Yellowjackets), Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs), Tait Blum (For All Mankind) and Alfre Woodard (See) co-star. Watch a teaser: * Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost — a new documentary from Ben Stiller about his comedy icon parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara — will begin streaming Friday, Oct. 24 on Apple TV+, following a week-long theatrical run (starting Oct. 17). An A-to-Z List of 300+ Scripted Series View List Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
UPI
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
'Ick' brought back Mena Suvari, Brandon Routh's early roles
1 of 7 | Mena Suvari, seen at the 2018 premiere of "Book Club" in Los Angeles, stars in "Ick." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo LOS ANGELES, July 24 (UPI) -- Mena Suvari and Brandon Routh say their new movie Ick, in New York and Los Angeles theaters Thursday, brought them back to their earliest film roles. The pair play Staci and Hank, who were high school sweethearts in the early 2000s but have gone their separate ways. Suvari portrays both her adult and high school self, recalling her early roles as a high school choir girl in American Pie and high school cheerleader in American Beauty. In a recent Zoom interview with UPI, Suvari, 46, said paying homage to her early roles was surreal. De-aging effects, like those used in Marvel movies and Gemini Man, made Suvari and Routh appear as they did in their past films for the high school scenes in Ick. "Wearing a cheerleading uniform again as a mom in my 40s was just all too surreal, something I never thought would happen," Suvari said. Ick director Joseph Kahn said he cast Suvari as Staci because of American Beauty. Hank pines for her even after Staci marries classmate Ted (Peter Wong). "Who is worthy of pining for for 20 years?" Kahn said. "Well, they made a movie about that girl in the 2000s. It was called American Beauty and she's on the poster." The American Beauty poster is intended to represent Suvari's character holding a rose. The midriff on the poster is a body double, however, and the hand belongs to a different model. Christina Hendricks shared on Instagram in 2019 that she posed as the hand model in 1999, something Suvari still wasn't aware of until this interview "What a small world," Suvari said. "That's the perfect example of this business in some way." Routh, 45, said young Hank is closer to his 2006 appearance in Superman Returns. Though the actor appeared on One Life to Live in 2001, Superman Returns was the earliest reference material for his looks in film grade quality. "I was sending them as many photos from college and stuff that I could find, but there wasn't any good quality stuff," Routh said. "The soap opera I was on was recorded on tape. So it was not good for making a [digital] model, I guess." Kahn said Superman Returns gave subtext to the character of Hank. Though Routh has continued to act, including in The CW's DC Arrowverse superhero shows, Kahn thinks the actor deserved more success. "Brandon when you meet him, he's a superhero," Kahn said. "He can make you laugh, can make you cry. He's really that charming. So we as an audience on a certain level have failed him I believe. Someone like this should have a much bigger career." At the film's Screamfest premiere in October, Routh discussed relating to Hank, who had a promising football career until an injury on the field took it all away. As an adult, Hank remains in his hometown of Seabrook as a high school science teacher. Routh previously said the film helped him make peace with unexpected career paths and realize he still had some maturing to do. Now, Routh says he approaches acting with more confidence and collaborative spirit. "I feel much more worthy of being here," Routh said. "I feel like I've earned my stripes to a degree. This is my chosen profession. Instead of just thinking about me, I guess, I'm often thinking about the whole product and everybody involved because that's the fun of it too." On Ick that collaboration extended to editor Chancler Haynes, who helped both actors with some of Kahn's more complicated techniques. The opening montage of Hank and Staci's high school relationship was shot at various points over the course of filming. Often, when at one location, they would film both modern-day scenes and flashbacks to over 20 years ago. Haynes would edit scenes so quickly he could show them what came before and after each scene they were about to film. "I don't think that that would've been as easy or possible if we didn't have such a great resource like someone like Chancler on set," Suvari said. "It was so fast paced." Kahn admitted even he wasn't sure it would work until it was all complete. "That opening sequence was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to do," Kahn said. "I didn't know what it looked like until the final shot. Then you press play and oh, it worked." Ick is not just a high school love story, however. The title refers to a mysterious substance that grows in Seabrook and has overrun the town after 20 years. The film never explains what Ick is or where it comes from, though many characters offer their own conspiracy theories. Kahn said this was intentional, because in real-life crises like 9/11 or COVID-19, people debate different theories even when an explanation is given. "We don't agree about anything," Kahn said. "So what the Ick actually is is never defined because we don't even define our monsters in real life." Kahn includes a clip of the 1958 film The Blob on a television, and wanted to bring back that sort of classic monster movie. Kahn laments that scary movies have gotten too intense for kids and families, like the graphic Final Destination franchise. "I wanted to make a monster movie, a true monster movie again. and also make one that didn't scar you," Kahn said. "Not too much sex, not too much drugs, not too much alcohol, still relevant and fun that you could safely watch with a 9-year-old to your grandmother. That's the idea." Hank and his student Grace (Malina Weissman), Staci's daughter, believe the Ick is dangerous. They struggle to convince others to do something about Ick before it is too late. Staci is one of the adults who chooses to ignore the Ick; she is more concerned with sending Grace to prom. "I just loved this character," Suvari said. "She was so checked out in so many ways." Hank believes Grace might be his daughter from the time he dated Staci, so he sends away for a DNA test. Whether it is confirmed or not, Routh believes that the Ick crisis has connected Hank and Grace in a positive relationship. "They've already bonded and created a friendship that definitely is different if they're not blood related, but also equally interesting," Routh said. "They have patterns that are similar in how they are dealing with the reality of what's happening, even if they're not related." Ick plays theaters everywhere beginning July 27.
NBC Sports
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Highlights: Xfinity Series at Dover on The CW
Watch the Pennzoil 250 on Saturday, July 26 at 4:30 p.m. ET on The CW. Find your channel now: Stream free next day on The CW App.
