Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald Among Semifinalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026

A total of 26 modern-era players have been named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Five of them – Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Philip Rivers, and Jason Witten – made the cut in their first year of eligibility. Nineteen others returned from last year’s semifinalist group, with Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri automatically advancing due to a new rule for top finishers. Two additional players – Lomas Brown and Kevin Williams – reached this stage for the first time despite not being first-year eligible.

U.S. retail sales in September rose just 0.2%, indicating shoppers cooled off after strong spending in prior months. Excluding auto and gas, sales barely increased by just 0.1%. Gains were concentrated in gas stations, personal care stores, and miscellaneous retailers, while categories like cars, electronics, clothing, and sporting goods declined. The data suggests consumer momentum slowed at the end of an otherwise solid quarter, with wealthier shoppers propping up overall spending as lower-income households face pressure from rising prices and a weakening job market.

Scarlett Johansson will lead the forthcoming Exorcist film from Universal and Blumhouse–Atomic Monster, written and directed by Mike Flanagan. Described as a “radical new take,” the movie will exist in the same universe as the 1973 original but won’t be a sequel to Believer. Plot details and additional casting have yet to be revealed, while filming is set to take place in New York City.

In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup draw next week, FIFA introduced a new seeded bracket that keeps the four top-ranked teams – Spain, Argentina, France, and England – apart until the semifinals, provided they win their groups. That means defending champion Argentina and Spain could only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium. The final draw ceremony for the first-ever 48-team World Cup will take place on Dec. 5.

Netflix’s reboot of Star Search has named Anthony Anderson as its host. The live talent competition will debut on Jan. 13 with episodes airing Tuesdays and Wednesdays, featuring real-time viewer voting. Anderson, who has extensive hosting experience – from award shows to guest-hosting major talk shows – adds the reboot to a long list of on-air gigs.

Adidas Originals and Grambling State University are teaming up for a special halftime show at the 2025 Bayou Classic on Nov. 29 at the Caesars Superdome. The performance will feature GloRilla, the “World-Famed” Tiger Marching Band, and the Orchesis Dance Company, celebrating HBCU culture, music, and dance. Custom costumes co-created by Adidas’ LA WRKSHP will spotlight women in creativity and culture.

Prime Video’s Barbershop series has finalized its main cast, featuring Jermaine Fowler alongside Roy Wood Jr. (The Daily Show), Punkie Johnson (Saturday Night Live), Brett Gray (On My Block), and E.J. Bonilla (The Old Man). The comedy follows Travis “Trav” Porter (Fowler) as he returns to Chicago to carry on his grandfather’s legacy at Calvin’s barbershop. Wood Jr. plays Robert, an ex-con-turned-barber; Johnson is Stella, a skeptical, no-nonsense barber; Gray portrays the flamboyant Kofi; and Bonilla plays Fernan, a Bronx-born barber who becomes Travis’s ally.

A24 and Barnes & Noble have launched the A24 Shop Experience, a dedicated in-store space that brings the indie studio’s films and merchandise to nine bookstores, with more locations planned in 2026. This is A24’s first physical retail presence, complementing its online store and book publishing arm. The spaces feature top-selling books, Blu-rays, vinyl, collectibles, and exclusive merchandise, including items tied to upcoming releases such as Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, opening on Christmas Day.

The Toronto Maple Leafs remain atop CNBC’s NHL most valuable teams list at $4.3 billion, followed by the New York Rangers at $3.8 billion, who led the league in gate receipts despite a drop in TV rights. The Montreal Canadiens are third at $3.4 billion, boosted by a new media deal with Bell Media, followed by the Los Angeles Kings at $3.15 billion in fourth. The Edmonton Oilers rose to fifth at $3.1 billion thanks to Connor McDavid, recent Finals appearances, and a lucrative TV deal with Rogers.

Klarna has launched KlarnaUSD, its first stablecoin, marking a major shift for the digital bank whose CEO was once a crypto skeptic. Built on Tempo, a blockchain designed for payments by Stripe and Paradigm, KlarnaUSD aims to reduce cross-border payment costs, which currently generate around $120 billion in fees annually. The stablecoin, developed with Open Issuance by Bridge, is live on Tempo’s testnet and set to launch on the mainnet in 2026.

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