New Apple TV+ Series Spotlights New England Patriots Dynasty
These are dark days for fans of the New England Patriots. The squad’s season of struggles is unfamiliar to its legions of fans, many of whom grew up amidst the dominant run of Brady and Belichick. Well, Apple TV+ has a temporary reprieve. The streaming service announced The Dynasty: New England Patriots. The 10-part series documents the extended run in which the Patriots won six Super Bowls. The series is based on Jeff Benedict’s best-selling book The Dynasty and will debut on Apple TV just days after Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 16.
Sam Altman Suddenly Ousted as CEO of OpenAI
On Friday, OpenAI’s board of directors announced in a blog post that its CEO Sam Altman is exiting the company. In the interim, Mira Murati, who previously served as chief technology officer, will assume the position. “Mr. Altman’s departure follows a deliberative review process by the board, which concluded that he was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities,” the company said in the post. “The board no longer has confidence in his ability to continue leading OpenAI.” Altman has become a high-profile tech executive in the last year following OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT. The company is currently exploring a new round of funding that would value the company at more than $80 billion.
Jay-Z Revisits Roc-A-Fella Reign with Mitchell & Ness Drop
Twenty years ago, Jay-Z was leaving the game behind. Making the move from MC to CEO, his title would change. So, too, would his clothes. As Hov sold out Madison Square Garden, premium sportswear company Mitchell & Ness made Jay his own Roc-A-Fella Records jersey, sending it to the ceiling across the likes of Clyde Frazier and Earl Monroe. This weekend, the two-decades-old story sees its next chapter realized at retail: the Roc-A-Fella Records jersey from 2003 will launch at ComplexCon in Long Beach, followed by an online drop at Mitchell & Ness at a later date.
Boardroom’s Ian Stonebrook has all the details on the Roc A Fella retro release.
Apple to Bridge iPhone-Android Gap
Tim Cook made an announcement this week that will bring harmony to group texts everywhere. The Apple boss revealed that the company will reverse its stand-off against RCS. The technology limits connectivity between the iPhone and its Android foes. Apple revealed that it will bridge MMS and SMS to help improve the user experience for the iPhone community. While the company confirmed that the green divide will still exist, the changes will enable read receipts, typing bubbles, location sharing, and messaging over WiFi regardless of the device type.
Beyoncé Among Talent in Talks for Next Sphere Residency
Beyoncé has had a huge year. As the calendar comes to a close and her Renaissance Tour film readies for its in-theater release, she’s plotting her next move. Page Six reports that Queen Bey is among the big-name talent in talks with MSG Entertainment to take over for U2 at The Sphere when its run wraps in February 2024. According to the report, the Parkwood team seeks a $10 million budget for the performance, mirroring the payout that the Irish band received to jumpstart the venue. MSG Entertainment is allegedly also in talks with Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, and Bon Jovi to take over.
Trevor Noah Unveils Upcoming Stand-up Special with Netflix
Trevor Noah continues to thrive following his Daily Show departure. The South African entertainer announced that he will bring his fourth stand-up project to Netflix. The show, Where Was I, will hit the streaming platform on Dec. 19. The news comes just days after Noah launched a new podcast project. What Now? With Trevor Noah kicked off with an in-depth interview with The Rock, where the multi-hyphenate revealed he was asked multiple times to run for president.
Michelob ULTRA & Williams Racing Bring 'Lap of Legends' to Las Vegas
Formula 1‘s first-ever race weekend in Las Vegas is officially underway. Amid the madness of the events, Michelob ULTRA and Williams Racing present a first-of-its-kind experience. The Lap of Legends will feature retired Williams talent for a 16-lap race. The show will use technology to bring back legendary champions, including Jenson Button, Jacques Villeneuve, Mario Andretti, and more, to race a current member of the Williams Racing team. Lap of Legends will premiere on BBC America and AMC.