Shohei Ohtani to Take Over MLB Network with All-Day Programming

MLB Network is celebrating “Shohei Day” on Wednesday with a full day of programming honoring Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, starting at 9 a.m. ET. The event honors his No. 17 jersey and features replays of his most memorable performances, special studio segments, guest appearances, and highlights across TV and social media. The day concludes with a two-hour original special, Best of Shohei, airing at 7 p.m. ET, with all programming available on MLB Network, MLB.TV, and the MLB App.

Less than a year after Congress and the Trump administration defunded it, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has voted to shut down after 58 years. Founded in 1967 to support public television and radio, the CPB cited the loss of federal funding and ongoing political attacks as reasons for closing, rather than operating under the threat of future interference. The decision leaves hundreds of local public TV and radio stations facing an uncertain future.

Netflix will premiere One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 on Jan. 12, a documentary directed by Martina Radwan that goes behind the scenes of the final season. The trailer shows moments from the last table read and concludes with co-creator Ross Duffer declaring, “And that is a wrap on Stranger Things,” amid falling confetti, offering fans an inside look at the effort behind the series’ finale.

Mad Men alum Jon Hamm will host the 15th annual NFL Honors on Feb. 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The event recognizes exceptional performances from the 2025 season, including handing out AP awards, naming the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and revealing the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame class. This year, a new Protector of the Year Award will honor the league’s top offensive lineman, selected by a panel of former linemen. The ceremony will air live at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming on Peacock and NFL+.

Amazon has launched a browser-based Alexa+ website that allows some users to chat with its AI assistant online, putting it in closer competition with services like ChatGPT. The site is available to Alexa+ users in early access and lets people ask questions, create content, plan trips, get homework help, and control smart home devices. By expanding Alexa+ beyond apps and Echo devices, Amazon says this makes its assistant more accessible as it ramps up efforts to compete in the generative AI space.

Megan Thee Stallion has opened her first-ever Popeyes franchise in Miami’s South Beach, celebrating the grand opening on New Year’s Eve. The restaurant marks the evolution of her partnership with Popeyes, which began in 2021 with her viral Hottie Sauce collaboration. Unlike many celebrity ventures, Megan was hands-on at the opening, greeting fans, meeting employees, and even helping serve customers, signaling her active role in the business.

Novak Djokovic confirmed he is leaving the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA), the group he co-founded in 2019, saying he no longer shares common ground with the organization. The split comes after the PTPA filed an antitrust lawsuit against major tennis governing bodies, including the ATP and WTA Tours. Djokovic, a former ATP Player Council president, is coming off a strong season and is set to begin his 2026 campaign at the Australian Open.

J.Crew has launched its first collaboration with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a 26-piece après ski–inspired collection. Timed ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics beginning Feb. 6, the line includes knitwear, loungewear, accessories, and two performance jackets made with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s on-mountain partner Kappa, which features vintage-inspired designs. The collection spans styles for women, men, and kids and debuts online and in select J.Crew stores on Thursday.

During CES 2026, LEGO unveiled its new “SMART Play” platform, introducing a screen-free system that brings brick-built creations to life using a new chip-powered SMART Brick compatible with existing LEGO sets. The technology uses sensors, sound, and movement to trigger real-time responses, marking LEGO’s biggest play innovation since the Minifigure in 1978. The platform launches with three LEGO Star Wars SMART Play sets arriving on March 1, with pre-orders beginning Friday.

Tennis Channel is starting 2026 with the launch of The Big T Podcast and a return to on-site coverage of the Australian Open for the first time since 2019. Airing weekly on Wednesdays, the podcast features top tennis insiders and former pros, with its debut episode including an interview with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. Promising unfiltered conversations and behind-the-scenes access, The Big T will be available across the Tennis Channel app, website, YouTube, and major podcast platforms.

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