Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" Division

Welcome to day four of my preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 20 I have the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts came out on fire last season. They started the year like 7-1 or something. They finished the year 8-9. It was rough down the stretch for them. Daniel Jones got hurt, they tried out Phillip Rivers, but they just looked like a team not up to par talent wise as some other teams. Daniel Jones is back at QB1, but we all kind of know how that story ends. He just is not a franchise QB. He seems to get flustered and falters at inopportune times. The Colts also refuse to trade Anthony Richardson, and it never ends well when the backup QB is unhappy with their current team. Johnathan Taylor is awesome. He is a top three running back in the league. But he is being overused and underpaid. I know he just got a big raise, but it still feels like he is not making his worth. I also worry about his long term health. They just signed Keenan Allen, but when he is your best option at wideout, no disrespect to him, that is not the best feeling in the world. Alec Pierce has his moments, but they're too few to be a true threat. Tyler Warren has the goods to be a top tier tight end, but he was kind of underwhelming during his rookie season. The o line is big and nasty and pretty good. On the defensive side of the ball they took a big swing when they traded for Sauce Gardner last season, but he kind of struggled when he arrived. I do think Arden Key has the skills to be a mid tier pass rusher. I also think Deforest Buckner is fine, but not elite. Outside of those guys, it is pretty hit or miss. The Colts had such a good start to last season, but the way the season ended seems like the more likely outcome for this team this year. They will struggle and struggle mightily. I feel like it is only a matter of time before Daniel Jones tails off and Anthony Richardson is begging to be traded. Seven wins feels like the very best this team can muster this year. And it may be closer to a five win team if I'm being honest with myself.

At number 19 I have the Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels is getting dragged left and right for his decision to sue LSU for letting another player wear number 5. He is also coming off injury and a season that saw a slight regression from his rookie year. I do feel like he is better than that and will play much better this season. But he has to stay on the field and not worry so much about what players are wearing what numbers at his alma mater. Daniels is too skilled to have another setback. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was a big time fantasy sleeper last year, but he didn't live up to the hype. I think he is a serviceable running back, but he has got to produce a little more now that he is the starter. The Commanders just signed Stefon Diggs, and I do believe he will help out the receiving corps. He has the tools to put up solid numbers. Terry McLaurin is also a very good, very capable wideout on this team. I don't think they'll miss Deebo Samuel all that much. The o line isn't all that great. It feels like Jayden Daniels has to flush himself out of the pocket much more than he would like. The o line needs to improve. The defense picked Sonny Styles in the first round of the draft and he has the makings of being a superstar linebacker. He is really, really good. Of course I adore Mike Sainristil. He is a solid coverage guy, he likes to hit and he works his tail off. K'Lavon Chaisson has a cool name and he is a solid linebacker. Then it gets kind of hairy for this defense. They tend to give up too many big plays, and that always hurts them in the long run. The Commanders will go as Jayden Daniels goes. If he is hurt and misses time, or if he is too hung up on jersey numbers, it could be a long season. I think he will play more than last year, but not enough to get this team more than seven or eight wins. The Commanders may need to bring in better players to pair up with Daniels by next season, or he may ask out.

At number 18 I have the Dallas Cowboys. This team is as mediocre as the Chicago Bulls. They win just enough to stay in the conversation, but not enough to be a threat. And every season I have to hear about how different it is going to be that year, and yet they crap out seven or eight wins, try to make changes, and then fall on their faces yet again. I genuinely like Dan Prescott, but he is too inconsistent and too unreliable. He is a very skilled player, but he hasn't won anything of importance in the NFL. Javonte Williams does nothing for me as a starting halfback. He is just there so they can mime having a backfield threat. Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens make one of the best duos at wideout in all of the NFL. Pickens is big and strong and very fast. Ceedee Lamb may be one of the three best wideouts in all of football. The problem, they have Prescott throwing him the ball and a very mediocre offensive line trying to pass protect. The defense is very interesting to me. They went out and got Quininen Williams this offseason and paid him. He was one of the prized acquisitions this past year and the Cowboys nailed it here. They also just signed Von Miller, who is old but still has a little left in the tank, and traded for Rashan Gary who I am going to miss very much as a Packers fan. He is a good edge rusher, who has been able to stay relatively healthy the past few seasons. I also love that they took Caleb Downs in the draft. He was my top prospect in the last draft. He has all pro written all over him. But it is the dysfunction in the front office, and the lack of any real true playmaking running back that is going to hold this team back. And, as much as I enjoy him as a person, Dak Prescott is not as great as they hoped he would be. The Cowboys will be much better defensively, and having Pickens and Lamb will make the offense a threat, but they will find a way to falter and only win seven or eight games this year. That seems to be the type of team they are now.

The final team for the day, at number 17 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs seem to be in some kind of flux. They gave Baker Mayfield what looked like his last shot, he played pretty well, but now they are refusing to pay him and he seems a bit unhappy and annoyed by that. Bucky Irving is a good, strong back, but he also seems like his time as a starter may be running out. Emeka Egbuka had a wonderful rookie year and I see him taking a big leap, possibly to becoming the Bucs new number 1 wideout. Chris Godwin is solid, if not spectacular. The o line got better too as last season wore on. The defense is interesting. The gave Vita Vea a nice deal yesterday, and that was the right move. He is one of the better interior d lineman in the league and they need him to eat up blockers and clog run lanes. I fully think Ruben Bain Jr is going to an all pro and become one of the better edge rushers in the league. Antoine Winfield Jr is a very good secondary player. He is the true definition of a ball hawk. Alex Anzalone is a tackling machine. Then it kind of falls off a cliff. They have dudes, but no one that will strike fear in you. Retaining Vita Vea was a big deal. That was a must for this defense. The Bucs are also buoyed by the fact that they play in an easy division. They should win nine games at least, and the division. They're my first playoff team in this countdown in fact.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "I Wish You Wouldn't Say That" Division

Welcome to day three of my preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 24 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. I said all throughout the draft process that I hope for Fernando Mendoza's case he doesn't end up with the Raiders. Well, he ended up with the Raiders. I will say that he did look solid in his first preseason game playing against some backups. I believe he can, and most likely will, have a solid NFL career, but it is just a bummer he has to go to a franchise that is always in some kind of disarray. The Raiders also brought in Kirk Cousins. That's great for them if they like dudes that can throw for 300 yards, act like they are the best in the business and never win any games of importance. Ashton Jeanty should be a star, but he was doomed when the Raiders drafted him, just like Mendoza. He is going to get overused and burnt out way faster than he should. Brock Bowers is wildly overrated in my opinion. They really don't have much of a threat at wideout. And the o line is mediocre at best. The defense is not all that great either. Maxx Crosby wants out. They took a flyer on Kwity Paye, but he has never gotten above solid during his NFL career. Nakobe Dean cannot stay healthy. Quay Walker is becoming a journeyman. And Jeremy Chinn used to be a solid secondary player, but he has fallen off a bit in the past few seasons. The Raiders just can't seem to get things right as they continue to be mediocre to bad every year. I don't see that changing much this season as well. I do think Menodza will take over as the starter in about a month, and that Jeanty will get hurt or be way too tired to carry the load that will be asked of him. The Raiders are a six win team at the very best.

At number 23 I have the Carolina Panthers. I know they were in the playoffs last year, but they still went 8-9. Their division was that bad. I still have a little ounce of hope for Bryce Young. He looked like he figured a few things out last season. His reads got a bit better and he was less likely to get out of the pocket way too soon. I have all the faith in the world in Tet McMillan as the number 1 wideout. He had a solid season last year, and I see a leap coming this season. Chuba Hubbard has turned himself into a viable number 1 running back on this team. He is good at rushing the ball and has made himself into a decent pass catcher out of the backfield. Xavier Lagette needs to not be only talked about for how he speaks. He has got to do more on the field. The tight end and o line are very ho hum. I will say though, the o line did get a tiny bit better as the season went on last year. The defense is not great. I feel like they have traded away or let good players walk in free agency. They struggle to keep guys around. And because they do that they end up taking flyers on guys like Jaelan Phillips and Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn. I believe Horn was picked by them, but he already feels like an also ran to me. They have got to start drafting young talent to make this defense tough once again. Or try to get some free agents with more talent to sign up to play for them. Again, eight wins feels like the ceiling for this team. That may have worked last year to get them in the playoffs, but that won't cut it this year.

At number 22 I have the Minnesota Vikings. Boy oh boy did they mess up when they drafted JJ McCarthy ninth overall two years ago. I told RD, who is a Vikings fan, that I would not have drafted him that high. He is a legend at Michigan for being the QB of their 2023 title winning team, but he was not why they won it all. That team was built on defense and running the ball. He made plays when he was asked to, but that was not very often. The Vikings have now shifted the focus to Kyler Murray as QB1. Murray is a better QB, but not by as much as some think. He also may or may not be totally focused on football. Murray has a good arm and can run when needed, but he has gone backwards every year he has been in the NFL. Aaron Jones will always be one of my favorite players, but he is well past his prime. He did have moments last season, but you could see the regression already beginning. I wish Justin Jefferson could play with a legit QB for once in his career. He is one of the best wideouts in the game, but when you have Kirk Cousins, JJ McCarthy and now Kyler Murray throwing to you, it is all up to Jefferson to make them look better than they are. He is so fast and skilled and has incredible hands. I just want him to have a legit QB for once. TJ Hockenson is a fine tight end, but he is not an upper echelon player at his position. Jordan Addison is an okay number 2 wideout, but he has off field stuff he should be dealing with. The o line is nothing to write home about either. The defense took a blow when Jamal Adams got hurt the other night. I know he is older, but a solid vet like that always helps a younger team. And looking up and down that defense shouldn't strike much fear in any opponent. Josh Metellus and Byron Murphy Jr are okay secondary players, but they won't blow you away. Blake Cashman is a mid tier linebacker. The d line is full of unproven players. The Vikings haven't been able to get much right outside of drafting Justin Jefferson. And if they falter like I think they will this season, maybe seven wins is being generous, Jefferson may finally ask out of there.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 21 is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here's a little recap of what they did this offseason. They let Mike Tomlin go, one of the best and most consistent coaches the NFL has ever seen, and replaced him with Mike McCarthy. They also sat around all offseason and waited to see if 41 year old Aaron Rodgers was going to come back to be their starting QB. Oof. That would hurt my soul if I were a Steelers fan. Rodgers is washed. It is so easy to see that now. He has got next to nothing left in the tank. And he is a massive head case and a total asshole. I loathe him. I don't think Jaylen Warren is the best back in the league. I think he is fine, but he is not that scary coming out of the backfield. DK Metcalf is still here, and while he is a freak of nature, I'm sure he hates Aaron Rodgers, and I know he will grow to loath Mike McCarthy. Roman Wilson is coming off an injury and Pat Freirmuth feels like a flash in the pan. The Steeler o line has always been a strength, but they are only getting older and creakier. The defense is not that wonderful either. I think TJ Watt is massively overrated. Sure he is good for one or two highlight sacks a year, but the rest of the season he is either hurt or not causing much havoc. Patrick Queen is good, but he was better in Baltimore. They signed Jalen Ramsey, but don't you think it is a little odd that he cannot stay on one team for more than a season or two at this point? I do think Joey Porter Jr is a legit lockdown corner and the best player on that defense. The d line is not near what this team used to be too. It feels odd for a team like the Steelers to be in a position like this. And to let Mike Tomlin walk just so you could go out and hire Mike McCarthy is truly assinie to me. I fully believe that this will be the first season in a long, long time that the Steelers will finish under .500. I don't see them winning more than seven games.

That does it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "Burning Down the House" Division

Welcome to day two of my preseason NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 28 I have the New York Giants. I know this may seem way too low for them, but I am not a believer at all in this roster. I love that they went out and hired John Harbaugh. I feel like they got the best available coach on the market, and in time he will turn this team around, just like he did in Baltimore. But for right now, this roster, especially on offense, is filled with flash in the pan players, outside of their number one receiver. I have absolutely zero faith in Jaxson Dart as a viable franchise QB, and it has way more to do with than just his horrible politics. He doesn't have the arm strength, he takes way too many hits, he seems stupid on the surface and he will be injured within a few weeks of the season. I despise Dart as a player and a person. Cam Skattebo is no better. He is like a TEMU Peyton Hillis. He doesn't believe in CTE, he tries stupid stuff like backflips in the offseason and doesn't land them, he is more worried about being famous, I just don't see it with him either. Malik Nabers is the lone bright spot on offense, but he is coming off a torn ACL. If he can get back to any of the form he showed before, he is going to make it look really good for whatever team he plays for after the Giants. I do like that Harbaugh brought Isaiah Likely over from Baltimore, but he hasn't shown out like many expected him to a few years ago. The O line has already shown in the preseason that they're going to struggle to protect anyone on this team. The defense could be the bright spot for this team. The D line is filled with high first round picks. Kayvon Thibodeaux hasn't exploded yet, but he is still pretty productive. Brian Burns and Arvell Reese can be menaces coming after the QB. Greg Newsome II is a very good cover corner. Abdul Carter should show some good growth this year. DJ Reader can clog up running lanes. The Giants have a solid defense in place, but the offense, led by some knuckleheads, is what will keep this team back from winning anymore than five games this season. But Harbaugh will have this team in the playoff competition in the next few years.

At number 27 I have the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are here because they still don't know if they're going to start Michael Penix or Tua at QB. And to be honest, neither choice seems that enticing. I think Penix is better, but he is coming off an injury, and he never looked all that comfortable last season. Tua is a walking concussion. He should retire. There's no other reason he is still playing football other than the love of the game. And while I respect that, he has never been able to match what he did at Alabama. I do think Bijan Robinson is awesome. I would go as far to say that his talent is being wasted right now. He is such a good back, and he can catch the call like a receiver. He is a legit number one offensive option in the NFL. Drake London is a legit number 1 wideout as well. He has great hands, runs really good routes and has some solid separation speed. The Kyle Pitts hype has to stop. I hear it every year and every year he never meets the lofty expectations. I'm over Kyle Pitts. This O line is serviceable. While not great, they get the job done to an extent. The Falcons have never been a defensive monster, but they have some decent players. Da'Shawn Hand is a fine d lineman. Azeez Ojulari is a solid rusher off the edge. Jessie Bates is one of the best safeties in all of football. AJ Terrell is a very good cover corner. The Falcons have the bones of being a better team than where I have them ranked. But it is the issue at QB that will hold this team back for another season. They may win six games, but anymore than that would surprise me.

At number 26 I have the Tennessee Titans. They're building something over there. I still have all the faith in the world in Cam Ward. The kid works way too hard and cares so much about being good that I think it is just a matter of time before he is an all pro and one of the better QBs in the league. He has all the tools you want in a franchise QB. Tony Pollard has carved out a nice role as the lead back and he is one of the more consistent running backs in the league. Carnell Tate is legit. He should be the number 1 wideout in short order in Tennessee. Calvin Ridley is a very good option on the outside as well. The front office went out and shored up the o line as best they could this offseason, and that will only help Ward find more open receivers, and give Pollard more lanes to run through. The defense is still a work in progress. They have used the past couple of drafts to try and find offensive weapons, now they need to do that for the defense. They can't simply outscore teams. That won't work. But, the Titans are trying to build through the draft and develop players. I appreciate when teams do that. They still need a season, maybe one more, until they're more of a threat. But they're coming. As for this season, five wins seems like the ceiling.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 25, I have the New Orleans Saints. I was very wrong about them last season. They were much better than any of us thought they would be, and they look to be building on that. I am still on the fence about Tyler Shough. Yes, he had some really good moments last season, but was it his play or the fact that so many people counted him out when he played? That will be decided on the field this year. They brought Alvin Kamara back, but he seems unhappy and that never ends well for an aging running back and the team he is on at that time. They did sign Travis Etienne Jr, and that was a homerun. He is so good and so fast and will bring a nice dimension to this offense. Chris Olave is a legit number 1 wideout. I feel like he made Shough look better than he might actually be last season. I love the Jordyn Tyson pick, but he is already hurt and that is never a good sign. Juwan Johnson is a very good tight end. He is big and fast and has very good hands. The o line won't blow anyone out of the water, but they do a soldi job with protection. The defense is kind of a mishmash of players. Cameron Jordan is back again, and it is always nice to have a steady hand on the d line. Kool Aid McKinstry is a decent enough corner. Justin Reid is a fine safety as well. The linebacking corps is pretty meh, and outside Jordan, the d line is not great. The Saints are a true mystery to me. I love that they got Etienne to come and play for them, but I really feel like this season hinges on the development of Tyler Shough, and that is a scary proposition. If he is good the Saints could be a playoff team. But i'm going to hedge and say he is average which means no more than seven wins are on the docket in my opinion.

That does it for day two. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty's 2026 NFL Preview: "Road to Nowhere" Division

Hello all. As promised last week, the next two weeks will be dedicated to football. For the next eight days I'm going to rank the NFL teams from 32-1. These are my own personal rankings and how I see the teams before they play a real game. I'll do four teams a day, giving you a little brief on why I have them ranked where I do. On day nine I will do a NFL postseason preview and prediction, as well as award predictions. On the tenth day I'll do my college football preview and prediction. Buckle up football fans, the season is upon us. Starting out today, I'll do teams 32, 31, 30 and 29.

Coming in dead last I have the Arizona Cardinals. This seems to always happen to the Cardinals. They have a few seasons where they're in the playoffs, or at least in the hunt, and then they fall flat on their faces. They're flat on their faces right now. Kyler Murray is gone, and now they have Jacoby Brissett. Brissett is a solid QB, but he also wants a new contract and the Cardinals are hesitant to give him one. He may play great to get a contract elsewhere, but he could struggle as well with little to no weapons to throw and hand off too. I do think Jeremiyah Love has all the tools to be awesome. But, he is already hurt and it looks like the Cardinals may overuse him way too early in his career. I'm also not a fan of drafting a running back so high in the draft. I fully believed Marvin Harrison Jr was a can't miss prospect. He has had a rough go to start his career, but he did look a little better in the Cardinals first preseason game this year. Outside MHJ, they have also rans and guys I've never heard of at wideout. Trey McBride is a very, very good option at tight end. The offensive line is horrendous. They are going to struggle mightily trying to protect Brissett and open up running holes for the running backs. The defense is full of young or unproven talent. Will Johnson is a lockdown corner and Budda Baker is a hard hitting safety. But the d line is not great and the linebackers have a ton to prove. The Cardinals are going to have a rough go of it this season. It wouldn't shock me if they only win three or four games, at most. Hell, they could be a two win team when you really boil it all down.

At 31 I have the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins finally got off of Tua's contract and concussion issues and added the best QB in free agency in Malik Willis. As a Packers fan I'm going to miss him a ton. He looks like he has figured it out. But Willis, much like Brissett, doesn't have a ton of exciting options. De'Von Achane has all the skill to be a dominant back, but he is looking like he will almost always get hurt. Caleb Douglas seems like their best option as the number 1 wideout, but I know little to nothing about him. And they don't have many better options at receiver. The O line is on the same level with the Cardinals. Every highlight video I see of Willis, he is always on the move due to poor protection. The defense is not great either. They have gotten rid of anyone that was any good for them in the recent past. I adore Josh Uche and Kenneth Grant, but Uche is a traveled vet at this point, and Grant didn't jump off the screen last year. I have never heard of one player in their secondary. I could say the same for their linebacking unit. Mike McDaniel was let go, and this team looks like they're going into full rebuild mode right now. I like the Willis transaction, but he needs a ton of help. The Dolphins will be right there with the Cardinals, seeing who will get the first pick in next year's draft. They will be lucky to win four games all year.

At 30 I have the Cleveland Browns. It must be so harrowing to be the QB for this team. It's a two man race between Deshaun Watson and Shadeur Sanders right now. They both looked off in their last preseason game. I don't know who they will go with, but it is not going to be great. I believe Sanders is more talented, but Watson has had some success in the NFL. Either way, it will be a struggle. Quinshon Judkins is the starter at running back now, but this is a rotating thing for this team. Judkins is fast, but gets hurt too often. Dylan Sampson has a ton to prove. So does Rahiem Sanders. Jerry Jeudy is a legit number 1 wideout, but I bet he wishes he was still in Denver. Denzel Boston is a solid slot receiver, but he doesn't have the luxury of having stars all around him anymore to take the pressure off. They let David Njoku walk for some reason. And the O line has not been addressed and is still a massive problem. The defense has a few dudes, but not enough to be truly competitive. Mason Graham is solid, but he has to make a leap. Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit are legit solid secondary players. Jared Verse is a very good edge rusher. But then it is a bunch of dudes I've never heard of again. The Browns are stuck in the mud. I don't know what they have to do to get out of it, but they are going to be pretty bad once again, and that is going to frustrate that fanbase. Maybe they just need to hand the keys to Shaduer Sanders and see what they have in him, but they seem so reluctant to do that for whatever reason.

My final team for the day, at number 29 I have the New York Jets. The Jets are a very, very bad football team. I loved the coach they brought in last season, but man did they still look like an awful football team. Geno Smith is the new starter at QB. I like Geno Smith. He has had a fine career. But when you have to reach for him as your starter you must have much bigger issues. Breece Hall is a legit number 1 running back. He is a solid runner and can catch the ball out of the backfield with the best of them. Garrett Wilson is a legit number 1 receiver in the NFL. But the O line is dreadful, the other options on the outside are not great and they need much better talent. I think they did the right thing when they drafted tight end Kenyon Saadiq. He looks to be very good and big and fast. But this team has a ton of improvement they need to show to be considered, at the very least, an annoying team to play. The defense is very bad. They have let anyone they have had of any talent walk out of the door. Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams are gone. They brought in Minkah Fitzpatrick, who may have a little left in the tank. But he is also often traveled at this point.  The rest of the defense has a ton to prove, and they're going to have massive growing pains. The Jets are as down as the Browns. They seem to have no idea what they're trying to build and they are going to go out and win four games and probably trade any good player they have for future draft picks.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Ty Watches "Life, Larry and the Pusuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America"

Last night my wife and I finished the first season, I don't think he will do anymore but time will tell, of "Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: an Almost History of America".

I was inclined to like this show no matter what. I'm a humongous Larry David fan. I fully believe that he is the best comedy writer of all time. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was a justified massive hit. I quite enjoy the movie "Clear History". I think the man is a straight up genius. So when it was announced a while back that he was going to do a show about the history of America, but in his style of humor, you better believe that I was on board. This season only had seven episodes, but it felt kind of perfect in the amount of episodes and length of each episode, right around 30 minutes.

I thought this show was great. It is not on the level of "Curb", but I don't think most shows dream of being anywhere near as wonderful as "Curb" was in its time. "Curb" may be the best sitcom that has ever been put on television. But "LLPUAAHA" is definitely one of the funnier shows to come out since "Curb", and for someone who is not necessarily a history buff, this show not only made me laugh, but may have even taught me a few things. And what better teacher could I have for american history than LD?

Each episode takes a few stories from history and they go over them, but in LD's biting humor sort of way. They cover a bunch of stuff, and the guestlist for this show is second to none. I knew LD could get some heavy hitters in there for this, but he went above and beyond. We have so many people to mention, and I'm sure I'll miss someone here and there. But we have names like Jerry Seinfeld, JB Smoove, Susie Essman, Jeff Garlin, Vince Vaughn, June Diane-Rahael, Fred Melamed, Rob Huelbel, Jon Hamm, Bill Hader, Kaley Cuoco, Kathyrn Hahn, Neil Casey, Michale Chiklis, Beck Bennett, Samuel L Jackson and Barack Obama. Samuel L Jackson is on every episode, but he never shows his face. That's because he narrates each intro to each story. Samuel L Jackson lent his fame and voice to this show simply because, I'm going to assume, LD asked, maybe begged, and he was more than game for it. The other people I mentioned, amongst others, show up for one segment. I don't think any of the super famous people are in there for anymore than that. He got Jerry Seinfeld to do a scene where he and LD play Lewis and Clark, and they have to convince their wives to go on their exploration. And it is hilarious. Oh, and Rita Wilson plays LD's wife in the sketch too. Kaley Cuoco has one of the most memorable scenes, playing the widow in a soup kitchen line who argues with LD. Colton Dunn is the guy handing out soup. Barack Obama opens and closes the show. The fact that the greatest president who ever lived shows up, to poke fun at his tan suit, which was such a big deal I'll never know, makes me love him even more. Obama is more than down to make jokes and have fun at his and Larry David's expense. I was grinning from ear to ear during that sketch, and to have the two of them walking off and chatting to close out the show was so perfect. The episode that featured Hahn and Hader was great because they were playing Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. Bill Hader seemed to be having a grand old time doing Lincoln, and Hahn was remarkable as Mary Todd. She and LD argued and argued and it was some of the best writing of this whole season.

LD got to poke fun at RFK. RFK is a monster and a moron, and for LD to take him to task, considering who played his ex wife on "Curb", it made me so very happy to see him take his shots. The sketch focused on Jonas Salk and his creation of a successful polio vaccine. So, with vaccines being they crutch here, they took RFK's crazy ass to town and ripped him a new one. Larry David was on his game for that one for sure.

The episode that I loved most was the one with JB Smoove. Smoove and Larry David are comedy gold. They may be the best duo in the game. They work so well off one another and it shows with every project they do together. In this sketch LD plays a sympathizer to the slaves and Smoove plays a slave who takes him up on his offer for a bed and a meal. And it only grows from there and gets funnier and funnier by the second. Watching those two act off one another might be my favorite thing in all of comedy.

I recommend this show to anyone that is a fan of Larry David's and wants to see his take on American history. It's hilarious and revealtory and I had such a good time watching it. I believe you will too. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Russell Westbrook Calls it a Career

Russell Westbrook shockingly retired from the NBA today. Let’s discuss.

To be honest, I thought he still had some seasons left in him. It always felt like his engine was never going to run out, and if a team was willing to take a chance on him, he'd give it his all. Hell, Sacramento is back to being a dumpster fire, but Westbrook still showed up every single game ready to go and played his ass off every night when he was put in the game. But it was also very aware that his skill set had been diminishing for the past couple of seasons.

I was one of the people who thought he would really help out the Nuggets last season. It seemed like he could bring a good change of pace off the bench and make the Nuggets second unit fast and fun. And while he had his moments, he was basically played out of the rotation in the playoffs. He just couldn't keep up with the youth of the Timberwolves.

His two previous seasons, with the Clippers, was a nice homecoming, but it didn't change much for that franchise. They still found ways to blow it in the playoffs, or every important player was injured when it came down to the important games. He also missed 2/3 of his first season with the Clippers. That was when the injuries really started to rear their head.

But it was the three seasons before that, all with the Lakers, that really showed me, a big fan of his, that he might have been washed up. LeBron wanted him in LA, on his team, and it was a total mess. Those Lakers teams never meshed, and Westbrook seemed like the common scapegoat for all of their issues. He did last three seasons with the team, but he only held them back. He never averaged more than 18 points, and his explosive athleticism was diminishing rapidly.

Before his time with the Lakers, Westbrook was one of my favorite players to watch. During his time with the Thunder he was easily one of my favorite players and, I don't think I'm speaking out of line here, was one of the 15 best players in the whole league. We are talking about a player who averaged a triple double over multiple seasons. I know some of the stat-obsessed nerds, the analytic guys, the Zach Lowe's of the world, all tried to downplay what he did, but what he did was incredible. I was all about him winning his MVP. He kept the Thunder as a playoff caliber team after Kevin Durant left them for the Warriors. That was when Westbrook was at his best. He wouldn't let that team crumble and become a joke. He played super hard every night, did whatever it took for that team to win enough games to be in the playoffs and more than earned his MVP. He kept me being a Thunder fan for a few years after KD left. It wasn't because they had Serge Ibaka or Andre Roberson. It was all about Westbrook. He took the necessary leap and proved that he was the type of player that could lead the team. But that didn't translate to much playoff success, unfortunately. Westbrook did all that he could and then some, but when you are surrounded by mid level exception players, first and second round exits are the norm. And even when Westbrook left and went to the Rockets, I held no ill will towards him. He had won an MVP, been an all NBA player, did something no player had done since Oscar Robertson, but he didn't have the championship that most pros crave. He probably also wanted to team up with James Harden again. That didn't work out, and that was when the journeyman part of his career began. I mentioned the Kings, Nuggets, Clipper and Lakers. He also had a top in Houston, as mentioned before, and he even spent a season with the Wizards, teaming up with Bradley Beal and making the Wizards a playoff caliber team. But it was those Thunder years that I will remember most. The way he would fly up and down the floor. His vicious attacks at the rim on a drive. The way he would snag rebounds and get a fastbreak started. His elbow jumper that felt like it was almost always going in. His deep breath before shooting a free throw. That is the Russell Westbrook I will think about when I look back on his career.

My biggest question though, the one I just debated with my son about, as much as I adore Westbrook, I do not think he will be a Hall of Fame player in the end. He has all the big awards, but he is incredibly polarizing, and he doesn't have that ring. I think that maybe, with some time away, more and more people will grow to respect what he did, and realize he had a great career, but I just don't think he is Hall of Fame caliber. I also wouldn't rule out a return. If some team needs a last season addition at point guard, or wants a veteran to help out a rookie, I'd call Westbrook before anyone else. Time will tell. But for now, enjoy retirement Russ. You have earned a much deserved rest from basketball. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Better Late Than Never on "Seven Samurai"

I sat down over the past three days and watched the entirety of "Seven Samurai". This movie has been on my list for sometime now. I have always heard about it. I have heard everyone say what an epic and triumphant movie it was when it came out. I have heard everyone sing the praises of director Akira Kirosawa. I know the lore but have never put away time to sit and watch. I knew with my son starting football practice that I would have some free time in the mornings to watch what I want to see, and "Seven Samurai" was my choice. It must be said, this is my first Kirosawa movie that I have watched. I figured I'd start with what most consider to be his best. I will definitely be watching more of his work after seeing this movie.

"Seven Samurai" is a classic, and it is a classic for a myriad of reasons. This is one of the best movies I have ever watched. Never for one moment did I feel bored or annoyed watching an almost three and a half hour long samurai epic from 1954. The movie's pacing might be one of its best attributes. This is probably the first movie that followed the whole "getting the band together" cliche. That is the crux of this movie.

For those that haven't seen it, "Seven Samurai" tells the story of a village of people afraid of being pillaged by bandits, asking one samurai to help, and he then recruits six more to fight the fight. From the first moment we saw our main samurai, I was hooked. I loved seeing him pretend to be a monk and help out the other village. I didn't mind seeing the villagers become scared by the bandits, then try to recruit other samurai before getting their first commitment. I thought the full storyline for one of the villagers, Rikichi I believe was his name, was incredible. We got to see him go from meek and weak willed, to fighting off bandits himself, to leading the whole village in song after they win. I thought the movie had great comedic moments. My favorite samurai, Kichuychi, was hilarious. He had jokes galore, but when it was time to fight, he was serious. He also had the most hero worthy death of all of the samurai. And I don't even care that he wasn't technically a "samurai". He wanted to fight, he gave his life, and he saved the three samurai that made it out of there with their lives. He ruled. I also liked the second samurai they got to join the crew. He was always smiling, always ready to laugh at a joke. But he also knew that he had a job to do, and death was one of the setbacks. He was willing to give his life to fight. The young kid who comes aboard as a student or sorts fascinated me. He wanted so hard to be a samurai, but he also had some fear and he was clearly in love with one of the villagers' daughters. The love story between the two of them fit perfectly within the story this movie tells.

What got me the most, what made me truly love this movie, was the battle scenes. I wrote yesterday about how wonderful all the fight scenes were in the most recent season of "House of the Dragon". None of that is possible without "Seven Samurai" doing it first. From what I read after I finished the movie yesterday, most call this movie the first action movie. I totally see that. This movie has fights and deaths everywhere. The sword work is masterful. The way they shoot bows and arrows is like nothing I have seen before. The hand to hand stuff is rad. There's an early scene where another villager challenges the best swordsman within the seven samurai, and while the fight is short, it is precise and perfect. We get a small glimpse of this samurai's talent and when he cuts down the villager who challenged him, he doesn't gloat or yell at anyone. He simply puts his sword back in its sheath and continues his mission. Growing up I used to watch a ton of Bruce Lee movies. I was obsessed with how they shot those movies and the fact that Lee did his own stunts. Those movies were made in the 70's, with nice cameras and more knowledge. The stuff that Kirosawa did in this movie, the edits, the choreography, the fight scenes, the tension, he did all of that in the early 50's. He was clearly a visionary and way, way ahead of his time. We don't get movies like this anymore. "Seven Samurai" builds and builds until that final scene, where it is an explosion of a battle scene. But I wanted to know everything about everyone in the movie. I appreciated the backstory and how they all ended up joining the fight. I like that each moment was given its space to breathe and to let the audience fully understand what was at stake.

I am ashamed that it took me so long to see this movie, but glad that I remedied that over the past three days. "Seven Samurai" is a masterpiece. I now see what other movies I love have taken from this as an ode when making newer movies. I loved this movie and I cannot wait to dig into more and more of Kirosawa's catalog. "Seven Samurai" rules. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "House of the Dragon" Season 3

Hello all. I'm back from my final vacation. Next week, and for the rest of the month for that matter, will be focused solely on football. But this week I have some pop culture stuff I wanted to catch up on before transitioning to football. Don't worry, football is fast approaching and I have some takes, and that will all begin next week.

To start my week back, I want to talk about the third season of "House of the Dragon". I will try my best to not spoil anything, but sorry if something slips. I was frustrated with season 2 of the show. It felt like a tease all season long. They kept talking about an incoming battle, they kept marching towards it, they would give us a little taste here and there, but the season ended with no real fighting or massive war scenes like "Game of Thrones" used to have. So, coming into season 3, I was kind of pessimistic that they would right the ship in my opinion. I should have been optimistic.

Season 3 of "House of the Dragon" was pretty damn great. It was epic and filled with battle scenes. I was actually talking to my dad about the season earlier today, and he was telling me he thought that two of the episodes dragged for him and he loved the rest. I disagreed with him. I thought all eight episodes had important and cool stuff that happened throughout the hour-long show.

The season started off with a total bang. They have battle scene after battle scene. The hour was unrelenting and kind of awesome. Everytime they would take a minor break in the premiere, they would button those scenes with some kind of kickass fight or epic battle. Daemon was all over the place. Alicient's people were trying to push forward. Rhaeneyra was preparing to take over, and it was all there and all on screen.

One of the two episodes my father said felt dragging was the second one of this season, but I don't know how they could have topped that premiere. And the second episode got us back to the mainland and kind of set everything that we would come to see throughout this season. From then on out we saw so much stuff happen. I felt like the people who created the show, the writers, directors and actors all heard the complaints, and they decided that they would put it all out there this season. And we, the viewers, were greatly rewarded. We see all the stuff Rhaeneyra and Daemon are planning. We get some closure on Aemond and Aegon's relationship after the harrowing end to their story last season. We get more from the creepy castle with the lady who resides there that may or may not be an undead maester or witch. We see some tremendous fallout from the biggest battle during the premiere. Dragons are abundant and everywhere during this season. We get to see the new dragon riders and how they are faring with some newfound wealth and fame. There is a rad battle involving Lord Corlys and his bastard kids that he just accepted into his family. This season was really, really good and gave us so much that the previous season promised but never really paid off.

This season started with a bang, ended with one of the wildest war scenes I've watched and I am so ready for the fourth season to come around in two years. And while the wait seems long now, we had to wait just as long, if not longer, for this season, and this season had it all. That is the one bummer about this show though. They have to do so much work to get these seasons out, and it takes a long, long time. I guess that is why waiting for shows like "Severance" and "Pluribus" doesn't really bother me. "House of the Dragon" has prepared me for long waits in between seasons. And if we get anything that is half as good as this recent season, the wait won't feel long at all.

"House of the Dragon" showed up and showed out this year. The show should, and most likely will, dominate the Emmy Awards. I haven't seen much on its level as of yet this year and don't imagine I will anytime soon. Obviously I love this show, mainly this season, and I highly recommend checking it out. I know there's a ton of content out right now, but "House of the Dragon" stands out as one of the best in the game. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Hadrian's Wall: The Oldest and Most Humbling Thing I Have Ever Touched

Picture by RDK

This summer, my family and I took a trip that had been a goal of ours the last few years: Britain.

We started in Edinburgh, Scotland, and made our way south by car toward London, taking our time to experience as much of the countryside and history as we could along the way. There were castles, ancient villages, winding roads through the hills, and more history than I could absorb in a single trip.

But there was one stop that affected me more than any other. Hadrian's Wall.

I've visited plenty of historic sites before. In fact, earlier in the trip, while touring the Scottish Highlands, our bus passed an old Roman gate. It was incredible to see, but we never got off the bus. I admired it through the window, snapped a picture, and we continued on our journey. Hadrian's Wall was different. I was able to stand beside it. I was able to place my hand on stones that Roman soldiers had once walked past nearly two thousand years ago. It remains the oldest thing I have ever touched.

That simple act was far more emotional than I expected.

The wall was ordered by the Roman Emperor Hadrian around A.D. 122. Stretching roughly 73 miles across northern England from coast to coast, it wasn't built simply to keep invaders out. It marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, controlled trade and travel, and demonstrated Rome's unmatched engineering and military power.

Imagine what it must have looked like nearly two thousand years ago. Thousands of soldiers stationed in forts along the wall. Watchtowers stretching across the hills. Roads connecting military outposts. Supply wagons moving back and forth. It wasn't just a wall. It was a declaration. Rome is here.

The section of Hadrian's Wall we visited also included the remains of a Roman temple. Today, only the stone foundations and portions of the walls remain. You have to use your imagination to picture the columns, roof, decorations, and people who once gathered there. It must have been magnificent in its day, a place where soldiers and travelers sought favor from the gods before continuing along the empire's frontier. Now it sits quietly beneath the English sky. No ceremonies. No armies. No emperors. Only ruins.

One of my favorite moments wasn't actually part of the history lesson. It was looking across the rolling green hills and realizing who truly owns Hadrian's Wall today.The sheep. They wander across the same landscape where Roman legions once marched. They graze beside stones that once represented one of the most powerful civilizations in human history. Visitors come and go. The sheep stay. There was something strangely peaceful about that. Nature doesn't care about empires. Eventually, it reclaims everything.

Picture by RDK

Standing there, I couldn't help but think of Percy Bysshe Shelley's famous poem Ozymandias.

"Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

The poem tells the story of a once-powerful king whose monuments have crumbled into the desert, leaving behind only fragments and the arrogance carved into stone. Hadrian's Wall isn't identical to Ozymandias, but it evokes many of the same feelings. Rome believed it was building something permanent. Its engineers probably assumed this wall would stand forever as proof of Roman greatness. Today, much of it has disappeared. Stones have been taken over the centuries to build homes, churches, and farms. Great forts have become archaeological sites. Magnificent buildings have been reduced to outlines in the grass.

Time has a way of humbling us all.

Touching Hadrian's Wall made me think about legacy. We often measure success by what we build—our careers, businesses, homes, achievements, or even monuments. History reminds us that none of those things are guaranteed to last forever. Even the Roman Empire eventually faded. Its greatest engineering projects fell into ruin. Its armies disappeared. Its emperors became names in history books.

Yet something did survive.

The ideas. The influence. The roads that shaped Europe. The legal systems. The engineering knowledge. The language. The stories.The people who made life better for those around them.

Maybe that's the real lesson.

Our buildings may crumble. Our names may eventually be forgotten. But the kindness we show, the people we help, the communities we strengthen, and the lives we change can echo far longer than stone walls ever could.

Of all the places we visited on our journey from Edinburgh to London, Hadrian's Wall left the deepest impression on me. Not because it was the grandest attraction. Not because it was the most beautiful. But because it reminded me just how small we are in the grand timeline of history—and how meaningful our actions can still be. For a brief moment, I rested my hand on stones laid by people who lived nearly twenty centuries before me. The wall may no longer mark the edge of an empire. The temple may stand in ruins. The sheep may now rule the hills. But the lessons of that place remain as solid as the stones themselves. History lives on. And while our greatest structures may one day fade into the landscape, the good we do for others has a chance to become something far more enduring.

That's a legacy worth building.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

A Cincinnatian in a Primanti Bros Bar

Food has always been one of my favorite ways to get to know a city. I grew up in St. Louis and have spent my married life in Cincinnati, so I've developed some pretty strong opinions about regional favorites. Every city has that one iconic dish locals insist every visitor has to try. Sometimes the hype is deserved. Sometimes... well, that's part of the adventure.

Recently, my family was in Pittsburgh while touring colleges for my son. As we spend the next year visiting campuses around the country, I've decided to make it a mission to sample each city's signature food along the way. It seems like the perfect excuse to combine college visits with culinary exploration. Naturally, our Pittsburgh stop meant one thing: Primanti Bros. I ordered the pastrami sandwich, figuring you can't go wrong with a classic.

The first thing that stood out wasn't even the pastrami—it was the bread. The sliced Italian bread at Primanti Bros. is some of the best sandwich bread I've ever eaten. It was soft yet sturdy enough to hold everything together, with just the right amount of chew. Great bread can elevate an entire sandwich, and this bread absolutely did.

The pastrami was excellent—tender, flavorful, and generously stacked. The vinegar-based slaw was another highlight. Its bright, tangy bite cut through the richness of the meat and kept every bite balanced without weighing the sandwich down.

Then there were the fries.

On their own, they're really good. They reminded me of Five Guys fries—fresh-cut, hearty, and satisfying. That's definitely a compliment. But here's where I may lose my Pittsburgh credentials before I ever earn them. I don't think the fries belong on the sandwich.

With the pastrami, fresh bread, slaw, and tomatoes already working together so well, the large potato flavor overwhelmed everything else. Instead of complementing the sandwich, the fries became the dominant taste. I found myself missing the flavors of the meat and slaw that had impressed me so much in the first few bites. Maybe that's just the Cincinnati in me talking.

Every city has its traditions, and I respect that the fries-on-the-sandwich concept is part of Pittsburgh's identity. It simply isn't my preference. The good news? That's an easy fix.

Next time I'm ordering the exact same pastrami sandwich—just without the fries. I'll happily enjoy those on the side instead. After all, I'm from Cincinnati, not Pittsburgh.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

Serpentor vs. Cobra Commander: Who Was the Better Leader?

Using only the Sunbow G.I.Joe: A Real American Hero cartoons from the 1980s, I decided to conduct a scientific study on who is the better leader, Serpentor or Cobra Commander.

At first glance, Cobra Commander seems like the obvious choice. After all, he founded Cobra, built it into a worldwide criminal empire, recruited some of the greatest villains in the world, and somehow managed to finance everything from hidden island fortresses to fleets of H.I.S.S. Tanks. Without Cobra Commander, there is no Cobra. But founding an organization and leading it are two very different things.

Cobra Commander deserves credit for creating one of the most recognizable villain organizations in television history. He had vision. Every week he was unveiling another elaborate plan to conquer the world, whether it involved weather control devices, mind-altering technology, or ancient artifacts with incredible power.

The problem was execution.

Time and time again, Cobra Commander let his emotions get the better of him. When things started falling apart, he panicked. He blamed Destro. He blamed the Baroness. He blamed his troops. Basically, everyone but himself. His leadership style often created chaos inside Cobra. Instead of working together, Cobra's top officers spent as much time arguing with each other as they did fighting G.I. Joe.

Of course, that's also what made him such a memorable character. His dramatic speeches, over-the-top reactions, and constant frustration gave the cartoon much of its personality. Cobra Commander wasn't just the villain—he was the entertainment.

Everything changed when Dr. Mindbender created Serpentor from the DNA of history's greatest military conquerors.

From the moment he appeared, Serpentor carried himself like a ruler who believed victory was inevitable.

Unlike Cobra Commander, Serpentor wasn't content to bark orders from headquarters. He led attacks personally. He charged into battle alongside his troops and expected everyone to follow him. Whether his plans succeeded or failed, no one could accuse him of lacking courage. That confidence inspired Cobra's soldiers in a way Cobra Commander rarely did.

So Serpentor is the better leader? Not entirely.

For all of Serpentor's confidence, he suffered from many of the same flaws as the leaders whose DNA created him—especially arrogance. He believed he couldn't lose. That overconfidence often pushed Cobra into unnecessary battles and reckless decisions. Worse, he immediately alienated many of Cobra's experienced leaders. Destro openly questioned him. Cobra Commander plotted against him almost immediately. Even loyal officers like Tomax, Xamont, and even Dr. Mindbender struggled with his authoritarian style. Serpentor may have been a stronger battlefield commander, but he wasn't particularly skilled at keeping Cobra united.

Cobra Commander was the visionary entrepreneur. He built Cobra from nothing, recruited followers, found funding, and kept the organization alive despite countless setbacks. Serpentor was the military general. His strength wasn't creating an organization—it was leading one into battle. If Cobra had been a real corporation, Cobra Commander would have been the founder and CEO, while Serpentor would have been the aggressive new executive hired to improve performance. Unfortunately, instead of working together, they spent most of their time trying to undermine each other.

Sound familiar?

So Who Wins?

If we're talking about combat leadership, Serpentor gets the edge. He was fearless, decisive, and willing to fight alongside his troops. His soldiers had every reason to believe he would lead from the front.

If we're talking about building Cobra into a global threat, Cobra Commander wins without question. You can't ignore the fact that he created the organization everyone else inherited.

Ironically, the cartoon itself may have stumbled onto the perfect answer without ever intending to. The strongest version of Cobra would have combined Cobra Commander's vision with Serpentor's battlefield leadership. Instead, their rivalry became Cobra's greatest weakness, allowing G.I. Joe to exploit the constant infighting.

In the end, that's probably why G.I. Joe kept winning.

Yo Joe.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

2026 Has Alredy Been an Amazing Year for Movies

Maybe it's just the movie fan in me, but I can't remember the last time I looked at a theater schedule and thought, "I want to see almost everything." For the first time since the pandemic turned Hollywood upside down, it feels like movies are back in a big way.

For years we've heard the same conversation. "Movie theaters are dying." "Streaming is the future." "Hollywood has run out of ideas." And while there have certainly been some great films over the past few years, 2026 feels different. It feels like there's real momentum again.

What's been most exciting isn't just that we've gotten a handful of good movies—it's that we've gotten great movies across almost every genre.

Early in the year, science fiction fans were treated to the incredible Project Hail Mary, a film that reminded audiences why big, intelligent sci-fi adventures belong on the biggest screen possible. It wasn't just another effects showcase. It had heart, humor, and one of the year's most satisfying stories.

Animation has been on a roll, too. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie continued Nintendo's winning streak, proving once again that video game movies can actually be...well...good. Better than good, actually. It captured the fun and imagination that fans hoped for while introducing a whole new generation to Mario's universe.

Then came Toy Story 5.

I'll admit it—I wasn't sure we needed another Toy Story. After Toy Story 3, I thought Pixar had wrapped things up pretty well, yet they still made Toy Story 4. But somehow they found another story worth telling. It reminded us why Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang have meant so much to audiences for nearly three decades.

And then there's The Odyssey.

Big, ambitious, epic filmmaking has felt increasingly rare over the last several years. Seeing a classic story brought to life on such a massive scale reminded me why theaters exist in the first place. Some movies just aren't meant to be watched while folding laundry at home. Chistopher Nolan swung for the fences with The Odyssey, and he hot the ball out of the stadium. Go see this movie on the big screen.

Over the weekend the biggest movie opening ever happened. Spider-Man: Brand New Day delivered exactly what fans wanted: heart, humor, exciting action, and a reminder that superhero movies still work when the focus stays on great characters instead of simply setting up the next dozen sequels. Great actors playing characters we love doing cool stuff will always bring box office gold.

But here's what I think has made 2026 really special. It hasn't just been about the giant franchises. Some of the year's biggest surprises have come from smaller films, especially in horror. Obsession and Backrooms became breakout successes not because they had enormous budgets, but because they had fresh ideas, memorable scares, and audiences eager to discover something new. People, twenty somethings in particular, wanted to have a shared moviegoing experience with these films made by people who are their age. The success of these films proves that you don't need a $250 million budget to make an impact—you just need a great concept and strong execution, and an audience that wants to be scared. That's encouraging not only for horror fans but for anyone who wants Hollywood to keep taking creative risks.

Honestly, the best part is that we're not even finished with 2026. The second half of the year still has plenty to look forward to. I'm already counting down the days until Digger, one of the more intriguing original films on the horizon with a must see performance from Tom Cruise. Then there's Avengers: Doomsday, which has the chance to be the biggest superhero event in years if it sticks the landing. And for science fiction fans, Dune 3 promises to continue one of the most visually stunning and ambitious franchises of the modern era. For the first time in a long time, it feels like every few weeks there's another movie worth getting excited about.

The pandemic didn't kill moviegoing, but it definitely changed it. Studios became more cautious, release schedules were constantly shifting, and streaming often overshadowed theatrical releases. For a while, it seemed like every discussion about movies centered on declining ticket sales instead of the films themselves. This year, the conversation has finally changed. People are recommending movies to each other again. They're avoiding spoilers, buying advance tickets, debating favorites online, and making plans to see films together. Going to the movies has started feeling like an event again rather than just another entertainment option.

Will every movie be a classic? Of course not. But that's never been the point.

The point is that 2026 has reminded us what it's like to be genuinely excited about going to the theater. Between smart science fiction, emotional animated films, massive historical epics, crowd-pleasing superhero adventures, and inventive low-budget horror hits, there's been something for just about everyone. After several uneven years, Hollywood finally seems to have found its rhythm again. And if the rest of the release calendar lives up to the promise of Digger, Avengers: Doomsday, and Dune 3, we may end up looking back on 2026 as not just the best movie year since the pandemic—but one of the best blockbuster years in a very long time.

I’m excited. As Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel used to say, “I’ll see you at the movies”.

RD

RD is the founder and Head Editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support us and the podcast on Patreon.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.  

As a Michigan Fan, I have No Problem with What Kyle Whittingham Said

I'm about to embark on my final summer vacation, but I want to leave you all with one more piece before I take a week off.

Big Ten media days are happening right now, and since I'm a Michigan fan, I get updates about it pretty frequently. With Kyle Whittingham being the new football head coach, of course I am interested in what he has to say about the upcoming season. Most of what he has said is pretty typical coach speak. That's usually the case at these events. But some fans are "upset" that he has extended an invitation to Urban Meyer to come to practice for any game except The Game, and that he isn't saying the typical Michigan football coach stuff, like "that school down south", or simply calling them "Ohio".

This doesn't bug me at all. To be quite honest, I was already over all the "do it, or die trying", "who's got it better than us" and "smash" talk that has permeated the football program for the past decade plus. What Jim Harbaugh did, returning the national title to the football program, will be forever remembered, and I will always be grateful for that. He restored this program and made them relevant again. His last three years as the head football coach were some of the best times I've had as a fan. But his schtick was wearing thin for me. I was kind of over it. I loved that he was outspoken for his players, he helped usher in NIL and he never stole focus from the team. But the way he spoke, the mantras he held onto and the whole vibe was kind of tiresome. I was fed up.

And then we had Sherrone Moore, who I highly advocated to get the job after Harbaugh left. Moore was all about the "smash" mentality. And when he would be asked what that meant, he would say some nonsense that always frustrated me. "Smash" meant running through walls, giving your all for the team, fighting until the last whistle, which is all well and good, but it just becomes kind of lame after a while. I get it, coaches at this level have to have this kind of mentality and fervor, but it can become gross and weird and, as my kids would say, cringe. The whole "smash" and "do it, or die trying" became similar to me when Dabo Swinney mentioned that Clemson already has NIL, in God's eyes. Or when the new Florida coach yelled at a reporter who's phone went off during a gathering. Or Curt Cignetti telling people to "google him". I'm over all of that shit.

We get it, you guys are highly successful at what you do and you have earned all the respect and accolades that have come your way. But the "coach speak" stuff has got to go. These are 18-22 year old kids you're dealing with now, and I bet they think that shit is wild too. So for Whittingham to invite his buddy and mentor, for him to not speak with some kind of fervor that makes it feel like he is foaming at the mouth, it is a nice and needed change of pace for me as a diehard Michigan fan.

I loathe the university of Ohio State and Michigan State as much as any fan, but I don't go to the lengths that others do. I don't sit and pine and gripe and moan after those games. I want Michigan to win every game every season, but that isn't always likely. And for the coach to not be so angry about his newly inherited rivals, to which he has zero feeling for, why should fans be up in arms at all? This is all new to Kyle Whittingham. Sure, Utah has BYU, and I'm sure he understood the stakes that rivalry held, but I never heard him say some foul shit about BYU. He coached his team for the week, had them prepared to play and, hopefully for him, he won more that game more often than not.

I was so happy that Michigan was able to get Whittingham after they had to let Moore go. This is a much needed change in direction from the past with this team. From Bo to Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr, we had the quintessential Michigan Men. Then it was kind of rough with Rich Rod and Brady Hoke. Then we, the fans, struck gold when they got Harbaugh to come back. He restored this team, but it took time. We all know the fallout from Moore, which was tough. But now Michigan has a coach that is respected for how cleanly he runs a program. He made Utah a perennial 9 to 10 win team. He recruited players that fit his system. He hired coaches he trusted and knew he could get the best out of. I want all of that for Michigan. I'm sick of hearing about sign stealing, damaging phones, buying burgers for recruits, satellite camps and who the former coach was contacting on Instagram. I want my coach to be seen, not heard. I want to see the product on the field before I judge what he says off the field. This is, to quote Jim Harbaugh, "a nothing burger" from some sadistic and stupid fans. Who cares what he has to say about a friend and a school he has, I think so at least, never coached against before in his career.

Time will tell if Whittingham was the right choice to return Michigan to its place in college football, but for fans to get mad over some stuff he said in an interview, before he has even coached a real game as the Michigan head football coach is asinine to me. Don't gate keep stuff that you have zero involvement in just because you're a fan. Whittingham doesn't have to bash anyone or any program if he doesn't want to. That's not his job. His job is to be the head football coach at Michigan, and so far, it has been a nice, quiet offseason. That's the way I prefer it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "Bronson"

While looking for a movie to watch yesterday I came across a Tom Hardy movie called "Bronson". I was searching on Amazon, it was free and I like Tom Hardy. I watched the trailer and it intrigued me enough to press play.

I don't know, nor did I recognize, any other actor in the movie, but that doesn't really matter. This was a full on Tom Hardy movie. He was in every single scene. He was the focal point and they did not try to hide that while making this movie. Nicolas Winding Refn is the director, and while "Drive" is one of the best and coolest movies ever made, he has about a 50 percent hit rate with me. But he makes interesting and unique movies, so the fact that he was directing and Hardy was starring, that was all I needed.

What I proceeded to watch for the next 90 minutes was unlike anything I have seen in quite some time. This movie came out in 2008, so it was before Hardy was playing Bane, but you can see his star potential here. "Bronson" tells a somewhat true story of Michael Peterson, aka Charles Bronson, London's most notorious criminal. He went to jail in the 70's for robbing a post office, but due to his constant conflict, he has spent right around 34 years in prison, 30 of which have been done in solitary confinement. This movie tells us his story of how he ended up in prison, what led him to make bad choices and the why and how of him constantly ending up in solitary.

Hardy is incredible in this role. He embodies this prisoner. From the way he talks to how buff he got for the role to his constant fights involving prison guards, Hardy nails it. He also narrates the story and does something akin to a one man show. There were quick cuts and jumps back and forth from prison to telling his story in front of an audience. I thought this was a cool and different way to tell a story like this. I have never seen a prison story told in this manner. Hardy chews up the scenery like no other here too. That made this movie decent to me. I really liked the fight scenes. I enjoyed seeing him tell his story. I thought the prison stuff felt real. I liked how bi polar he was as this character. He would fly off the rails at any given moment, but this was always after he was, seemingly, calm. But you knew that there was almost always a storm brewing. I will say, there's a ton of full frontal nudity in this movie too. Apparently this prisoner likes to grease himself up before he gets into fights, and Hardy was more than game to do this. He would grease himself up, strip down to nothing but his shoes and socks and get himself ready to fight. This would lead to fight scenes where Hardy's manhood was just flopping around. I give Hardy credit for going to these lengths, but man do I really know what his genitals look like now. Anyway, the movie was still keeping my interest throughout all of that.

Where the movie would miss for me was, they had these long scenes where almost nothing was being said, and they just sat on a still of Hardy. This added nothing to the story for me. This felt about mastubatory for Hardy and Refn. It was like they were saying, look at all these muscles I gained to play this role. Or look at how menacing I can be. Or this manchild really is a violent criminal. We got all of that from previous scenes in the movie. I didn't need to see him brooding for what seemed like an eternity at times. I also liked the scenes where he would get ready to fight the guards, but the buildup seemed way too long. The final battle sees Hardy as Bronson painting his art teacher to look like a classic work. You think something bad may happen to the teacher, but as soon as the teacher starts crying, Hardy proclaims that he has had enough and he is ready to fight. All of that felt like a big buildup to just another fight between Bronson and the guards, where they beat his ass. But, that just seems like Refn's way. He seems like he may be a bit full of himself. I wouldn't be shocked if he calls himself an auteur as opposed to a director.

I will say, even with my little quibbles, "Bronson" held my attention, and it was all due to Hardy. He is magnetic to watch on screen. There are few actors that I can watch a movie solely focused on one character, but Hardy fits the bill for me. Not only did I kind of like "Bronson", I truly love another movie that he is the lone star in, "Locke". He just has a way of owning the screen like few others can.

Would I recommend "Bronson"? to certain people, yes. This movie is violent. This movie is grim. But it also has one of the wildest scores for a movie like this and Hardy's performance is worth your time. Make no mistake, this is what many would consider an "art" film, but it also takes chances other movies may not. Check it out if you have the time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Glen Hansard

This morning I awoke to a notification on my phone from one of my brothers. I don't usually check my phone first thing in the morning, but something compelled me today. I do use my phone as my alarm, but I usually just turn that off, then start my day. Today was different. I think maybe it was due to the fact that he sent me a story on two different sites. I had to check. What I read really bummed me out today. My brother sent me a few stories to let me know that Glen Hansard had tragically died in a motorcycle accident.

For those that may not know, Hansard is a musician and actor of note. Growing up in my house we watched the movie "The Commitments" a ton. My parents have always liked old soul music and movies that are about bands making music. My brothers and I all have very eclectic taste in music. We cross paths a lot, but we also all have our own taste. And everyone in my family likes odd movies. Some of us, me specifically, like weirder movies than others, but we do enjoy independent movies. I have not gone back and watched "The Commitments" in years, I have heard it isn't as great as I thought. But I do remember Hansard very vividly in that movie. He was a guitar player in the band, he had long curly hair and it was bright red. He instantly grabbed my attention as a kid. I have never seen hair like that before. It didn't hurt that he was an outstanding guitar player as well. His character and performance always stuck with me, all the way to adulthood in fact.

Then, like most of the world, I fell in love with Hansard and Marketa Irglova all over again after seeing the movie "Once". "Once" is one of the best movies ever about forming a band and making music that means something to you. I saw the movie multiple times in theaters, bought it the moment it was released on DVD and still revisit it from time to time. I also wore that soundtrack out. I listened to it over and over again. I knew every nook and cranny of that soundtrack. Sure, "Falling Slowly" is an all time hit and Oscar winner, but I also loved tracks like "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy", "All The Way Down" and especially "Say It To Me Now". These songs became a part of my everyday life after watching the movie and buying the soundtrack. I was totally hooked. And his performance, along with Irglova as well, was beautiful. "Once" worked on every single level for me. I adore the movie to this day and I will be watching it again very soon in memory of Hansard.

After the movie became a hit, Irglova and Hansard went on a tour, and I was lucky enough to see them in Saint Louis. The show was spectacular. Those two really knew how to play together and they crushed it at The Pageant. I remember sitting in the venue with my dad and him telling me he could tell I was just in awe of their talent. That show has a special place in my heart because it was one of the best, yet most stripped down live concerts I've ever seen.

After watching that show I decided it was time to listen to Hansard's band, The Frames. I really dove deep into their stuff. They were like a rock band, but they had some heavy folk influences. It was wild to hear them play music with distortion, but whenever Hansard's powerful vocals would show up, I knew I was in very good hands. He had this amazing voice that would take over everything in the best way possible.

After Eddie Vedder made the soundtrack for "Into The Wild" I was fortunate enough, again, to see him play live at the Fox here in Saint Louis. I was already hyped for the show, and then I read that Glen Hansard was going to be the opener, and he was going to be playing solo, acoustic versions of his work. This made me even more hype. I made sure that the people I was going with knew that we had to see Hansard perform that night, and boy am I glad they obliged. He was magnetic. He was playing the guitar he used in "Once" and it was a glorious opening set. Hansard played for about 45 minutes and hit every song I wanted to hear him play with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. He even joined Vedder for some songs and they played very well together. I remember leaving that show and being in a wonderful mood. Vedder is a superstar, but getting to see Hansard in that way in such a prestigious venue, that is another show I will never forget.

I don't know all the details of what happened, or how the accident occured, but I do know that his passing has made me very sad this morning. He was so young, still in his 50's. I'm sure he was still making music. I am going to have to go out and find what he made before his untimely and tragic death. I am going to miss him very much, and I didn't know him at all. I was, and still am, just a big fan of his work.

Rest In Peace Glen Hansard. I know you are plucking your guitar wherever you may be right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never On "The Prestige"

I am still trying to find a time that works for my wife and I to go see “The Odyssey”. We have two kids, one wants to see it, the other has zero interest. We also don’t necessarily have a babysitter, so we rely on grandparents. The problem there, they want to see it too. So, in lieu of going to see “The Odyssey”, we still plan on it, we decided to go back and watch the Christopher Nolan movies we have yet to see.

This week we watched “The Prestige”. This one has been on my list for a long while now. My wife knew of it, but she has never really brought up rather she wanted to see it or not. I know that RD really likes this movie. He’s told me this before. So, we had our date night on Friday, it was my pick and I chose “The Prestige”.

Right off the bat, this movie rules. I was in from moment one. I was telling my wife after watching that I never thought I’d care about magicians as much as I did while watching this movie. I thought the story, the way it unfolded and the twist were all pretty damn perfect. Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale, spoiler alert for a 20 year old movie, do excellent work playing dual roles. Jackman gets to be serious and funny in this movie. As The Great Danton, he is as much a workhorse as there is in the magic industry. He’s an obsessive who wants nothing more than to be the best. But as Root, he gets to play a drunken buffoon who used to be a viable actor. He was great. Christian Bale plays twin brothers, but we don’t find that out until the end. He gets to be himself, but two versions. And the way this all unfolds at the end is so gratifying. I would have gone nuts if I didn’t know what was coming. Bale pulls off the twin brothers wonderfully. He’s such a good actor. Michael Caine plays an advisor of sorts to both of the magicians. I can see why Nolan puts Caine in a bunch of his movies. He’s so reliable and so good at his job. He was wonderful, as per usual, in this movie. David Bowie plays Tesla, and Andy Serkis plays his assistant. Bowie is great, and kind of perfectly cast. He got to play a weirdo, which is fitting. I always forget than Serkis can play real people, but when he does he usually puts out some solid work. Rebecca Hall plays one of Bale’s twin brothers wife, and she does a bang up job. She gets to do a lot of dramatic stuff and she really nails it. I forgot how good of an actor she can be. Piper Perabo is barely in the movie, as Danton’s wife, not she’s memorable. She gives him his magician name and dies a tragic death that kind of sets the whole movie in motion. Scarlett Johansson gets the bulk of screen time as the assistant and love interest of both magicians. Johansson is a real talent and it was so easy to see she was going to be a big time star, even back then. She rules. And for Nolan, to adapt this work to the screen, he is a wizard. Again, this movie made me care about magicians. I found myself rooting for each at different moments. I loved the “montage” type stuff he put in the movie. He knows how to make a damn watchable movie. And to give one of the twin brothers the final line of, “abracadabra” was genius.

I adored this movie. I wish I’d seen it sooner without knowing the main twist. I highly recommend checking it out if you’ve never seen it, or going back and rewatching if you haven’t seen it in awhile. “The Prestige” rules. I’m stoked I can mark this one as seen on my list now.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on LeBron Going to Philadelphia

LeBron James has made his decision on where he will play basketball this upcoming season. He chose, after some long deliberation, the Philadelphia 76ers. Let’s discuss.

The 76ers were always mentioned as a possible team, but it felt far fetched. It doesn't go along with his narrative, he has no ties to the city, he has never had to face them in any high pressure situations, it sounded like a pipe dream to me. I even wrote a few weeks back how I thought that Cleveland was the best option, and I would have put Miami next and then Golden State before I even ranked Philly. But here we are, and I have some thoughts.

First off, I love that he chose the 76ers. Of all the teams mentioned, this one seems like the easiest fit for him as a player. He can come in right away and be the point guard. Tyrese Maxey isn't a point guard, he's a legit 2 guard. VJ Edgecombe may eventually be the point guard, but he can now learn how to play it properly playing with James. Jaylen Brown is better off the ball, and Joel Embiid has never, ever wanted ball handling duties. This is a seamless fit for, what I believe to be, James' best option at this point in his career. Labaron Philon is a rookie, so we, much like Edgecombe, will get valuable time learning from one of the best to ever play. Anfernee Simons is a shooter. Dean Wade is too big to be a point guard, and they brought him in for defense anyway. Caleb Love is a 2, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who they are about to sign, is a veteran 3 and D guy. The 76ers needed someone they could trust to bring the ball up the floor and run the offense.

Another advantage Philly has over a team like Cleveland, LeBron won't have to be superhuman on defense. I know that Embiid's health is, and always will be, a major issue. But when he is on the floor he is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. I think Jaylen Brown is one of the better two way players in the league. He goes hard on both ends, and he has to guard the opponents best players a lot of nights. Edgecombe showed growth on that end last season, and Maxey is an ever improving defensive guy. Dean Wade, as mentioned before, is a solid defender. They brought in Andre Drummond for defense. Maybe they will turn Philon Jr into a defense first guard. The 76ers have way more, and way better, defensive options than the Cavs. If James' decision was solely based on defense, Miami may have been the better choice, but Philly is no slouch.

I also think he may have chosen the 76ers because it is all gravy for him at this point. He's done everything and then some than any NBA player could ever dream of doing. He has rings, MVP trophies, Finals MVP trophies, is a perenial all NBA guy and people seem to love him. If he can make Philly a legit title contender, or even win one with them in the next two seasons, his legend will only grow from there.

Now, as with everything, there look to be some downsides to this as well. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe like to fly up and down the floor. That was when the 76ers were at their best last season. When they gave the keys to those guys and just let them run, the 76ers looked like a fun team. I fear, with James being the guy with the ball in his hands most of the time, those two won't get as many opportunities to run, and that could stifle their growth as the focal points of the team. And don't get it twisted, this is Tyrese Maxey's team now. He is the one they are trying to keep and build around. Adding Jaylen Brown was a big deal, but Maxey is the number one guy. Getting James to sign was awesome, but he has to know this is Maxey's team. I assume Embiid figured that out last season when he played and his post touches went way down. Maxey is the dude here, and Edgecombe is the clear number two guy. I don't think James will stifle them much, but any hindrance would be worrisome for me.

Joel Embiid and LeBron staying on the floor for long periods of time will be a problem as well. LeBron will be 42 in December. I will be 44 in December and getting older is tough on the body. LeBron James is a medical marvel, but time catches up to all of us at some point. And we all know Embiid's story way too well. He is such a supernova talent, but he is barely ever healthy. And he gets weird injuries too. It's not always your typical stuff.

I also worry that James may want to bring in "his guys". They have already done that with Caldwell-Pope. But what if he wants some of his other buddies to come to Philly? Russell Westbrook needs a new team, but that would not be so good for Philly. I know DeMar DeRozan is a free agent, but he is far too old to team him up with Edgecombe and Maxey in the backcourt. I heard that James may have wanted to team up with Kyrie Irving again, but if Philly were to trade for him, they would have to trade some good, young talent.

LeBron James comes with a host of great things, but there's also some issues too. I think Philly is done adding players. I fully believe they're all set now. They have one of the best starting fives in the NBA, if they can all stay on the floor. They are going to be a blast to watch. Again, I love that James chose this squad over all the other options. But I will be watching to see if anything looks funky or weird as we get deeper into the season. As of right now though, LeBron going to the 76ers makes them a legit title contender, and one of the top four teams in the East in my opinion. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Grizzlies Need to Trade D'Angelo Russell Away

The Grizzlies finally got off of their former three top players, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane, all within the past year. While I am bummed to see them go, this had to be done.

I wrote about them blowing that team up. Morant had become an off-court issue, Bane was traded out of nowhere, as was Jackson, and the team seemed to be running nowhere fast. They weren't playing all that well, and a change felt necessary. When Morant was finally traded, this included the Grizzlies acquiring D'Angelo Russell. I was not a fan of this move, but to get Morant out of the building, they had to take on Russell's contract.

My issue with Russell, he is a hollow scorer. His points mean nothing in the long run. He can fill up the stat sheet, but if you look at his team's success, it is not really there. He has never been the focal point of a team that has made deep playoff runs. And he is horrendous on the defensive end of the floor. I just didn't like the fit with what it looks like the Grizzlies are trying to do.

This version of the Grizz is going young and looks like they want to fly down the court. Drafting Cam Boozer was such a big deal and it was that decision that made me happiest with what the Grizzlies are trying to build now. Boozer is as NBA ready as any prospect in this past draft. He does need to improve defensively, but he is already there as an offensive player. He will score in bunches, can find open teammates, and I'd love to see the offense run through him in the very near future. Cedric Coward had an excellent rookie season, looked very good in Summer League and will be taking on even more of a lead role with this team now. He is a silent assassin, and I love that about him. He also looks like he has the chops to be a very solid defender in the NBA. Zach Edey has all the tools to dominate and be a great rim protector. He just has to stay healthy. That has been his biggest issue since he entered the league. But when he is on the floor, he is a monster. I'm super high on Karim Lopez. I feel like they got him much later than he should have been drafted, and he can fill Brandon Clarke's, RIP, role on this team. I think Jermari Grant and Isaiah Stewart can slide right into their roles as veteran leaders on this team. I'm excited to see what a healthy Ty Jerome, and what more minutes GG Jackson can provide this team. I think Walter Clayton Jr can be a solid backup point guard. I really like Scotty Pippen Jr, and even think he can start for them at point guard this season. I still believe in Jaylen Wells. Cam Spencer showed me a few things last season that intrigued me. And I want to see what O-Max Prosper and Quentin Post can bring to this squad.

So, looking up and down this roster, as I just did, Russell doesn't feel like a very good fit. I think he would take much needed touches and shots away from guys like Jackson, Pippen Jr, Jerome and Clayton Jr. He would try to run the offense on his own instead of letting it go through Boozer. I don't think he would ever have any consistency finding Edey on pick and roll lobs at the rim. Russell has his place in the NBA, but that should be with a team that doesn't really have any shot at winning meaningful games. He is an empty stats guy. He has never shown that he can get off the ball and run around screens. His defense, as mentioned before, is terrible. He may be a locker room menace. Basically, if the Grizzlies can get anything of note for him, they need to do that ASAP. The longer he stays on this roster, the more of a headache he will cause. And I fear he would stunt the growth of the younger guys they should be building around already. By all accounts the Grizzlies are looking to move him. I just hope it gets done soon, as in, today.

We shall see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Better Never Than Late on "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot"

When I was younger I loved Kevin Smith's movies. That has never really changed for me. But as I have gotten older, his newer stuff has kind of fallen by the wayside. Growing up I adored "Clerks", "Dogma", "Chasing Amy" and "Mallrats". I would list those as some of my favorite movies. I never watched "Jersey Girl". I wanted to see "Cop Out", but it got awful reviews. I was always curious about his Superman movie that was possibly in the works in the late 90's/early 2000's. I even went to see "Clerks 2" when it came out in the theaters. But one movie that I unequivocally liked, and never deemed a "guilty pleasure", was "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back".

This movie was endlessly quotable for me. I used to watch it over and over again. I loved all the cameos and how funny I thought it  was at the time. Besides "Clerks" and "Dogma", "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" was third in line as my favorite Kevin Smith movie.

Kevin Smith grew up and started making different stuff. I get it, he wanted to try his hand at different things. I remember seeing "Tusk" and being grossed out, but interested. I never saw "Yoga Hosers", but some people I know who saw it said it was scary and funny. He had a role in the criminally underrated and bizarre "Southland Tales". He has tried to branch out, but it hasn't been the stuff I grew to like from him. And that is all well and good. People get older, have kids and want to try something else. I totally get it.

The other day I was searching for streaming movies and came upon the "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot". This definitely piqued my interest. As I said before, I adore the first movie about these two characters, I have always liked the Jay and Silent Bob dynamic, and I figured it would be a good nostalgia trip for me to watch this movie that came out in 2019.

Boy was I wrong.

This movie is bad. I hate to dump on stuff on the site here. I feel like that is all the internet is becoming now, but man oh man was this movie not good at all. It was retread joke after retread. It moved slowly and it was boring. Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith are much too old to be playing these characters anymore. I yell at my podcasts that I listen to when a 50 year old says stuff like, "LET'S GO", or they call someone "unc". That was all this movie was for me. It felt like two dudes just trying to capture what worked over 25 years ago, but they just got old and this makes them look silly.

I read that Smith wanted to make something with Jay and Silent Bob because the first movie was when Mewes was at his worst with his addictions. That is all well and good and makes sense, but this was the wrong movie to make together. They did the whole thing of, "we are going to get the band back together", but it just felt hollow and like the worst kind of nostalgia grab.

Jason Lee returned, but he was playing his character from "Mallrats". Lee is far too old and far too good of an actor to act like he still lives in his mom's basement and is pining to go to the mall. Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck return as Amy and Holden, which should have worked. But it was just a reason for Smith and Affleck to bury the hatchet, and talk on screen as their characters as to what makes being a parent so awesome, all the while adding dick and fart jokes. Shannon Elizabeth and Rosario Dawson return, but it is for one scene and it is all just to set up Smith's daughter, Harley Quinn, and her character. Fred Armisen and Molly Shannon are wasted in their one scene. Hell, this movie even has Johnny Bananas, who is most known for being on reality tv competition shows, just so he can say, I kid you not, "this is bananas".

I loathed this movie. It made me visibly upset. My son saw me watching the movie and he asked me why I was even watching it. I didn't have an answer for him. I understand that Smith has reached a level where he can make what he wants, and he wanted to do this movie after his heart attack. I understand that he wanted to make amends with some people close to him. This movie was well intentioned on paper, but man was it really, really bad on screen. They tried to tell a story of growing older and becoming a parent, but Jay and Silent Bob never actually grew up. They were still telling the same tired jokes and it frustrated me.

Smith's prime is past him and it bums me out to say that. I think maybe he should continue to make low budget horror movies. If this was his attempt to return to the top and make these characters important again, he badly missed the mark. I watched this movie so now you don't have to. Skip this one. Save yourself the time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Better Late Than Never on "Heathers"

As a kid I used to hear a ton about the movie "Heathers". I'm pretty sure it is/was one of my brothers favorite movies. But I used to hear all three of my older brothers talk about it incessantly. They would go on and on, quote it a ton and rewatch it constantly. But I never got around to it. I don't know if I was too young or deemed myself too cool at the time, but I never saw the movie until last night.

One of my brother's, the one who lives in town, kept telling me that I had to see it. He told me how much he thought I would like it. He gives me recommendations all the time, and for the most part, he is right on the money. But "Heathers" never found its way to my tv. But with my wife being out of town on a work trip, and my kids being too cool to hang out with me at night now, I decided that last night was a perfect time to watch.

From what I knew about the movie, as mentioned above, I figured I was in for your typical late 80's comedy. I thought it would be goofy and I would have some fun with the movie. But what I saw was the exact opposite, and I am here to say, "Heathers" is a classic for a reason. This movie more than lived up to the hype for me.

What blew me away the most was how absolutely dark the movie ended up being. I did not expect this to be a story of suicide and murder and friendship and cliques all wrapped up in a movie that clocks in under two hours. Sure, "Heathers" has some high school movie trademarks, but it goes so much further beyond all of that. For instance, the opening scene to the movie centers around the lunchroom. The popular girls are all ther, the "Heathers", and they decide to play a prank on another girl. They give her a fake love note to entice her to talk to the star QB. All the while, Veronica, played by Winona Ryder, keeps checking in on JD, played by Christian Slater. I don't think they know one another, but they keep making eyes at each other. When the other girl approaches the QB, he laughs in her face and she storms out of the lunchroom. But then the football players head over to JD's table to mess with him. Sure, this may all seem like typical high school movie drama, but here is where it veers into a whole different direction. When the football players begin to bully JD, he makes some quips back at them, and then pulls out a humongous gun. I was shocked when I saw it. He fires the gun, but we quickly learn it was filled with blanks and JD gets suspended. Everyone is okay on the surface. But the movie just ramps it up from there. This is the lightest take they have on suicide, murder and death in this whole movie.

One of the Heather's bullies Veronica to go to a party, where a college guy tries to prey on Veronica. When she deflects his advances, Heather makes fun of her and makes her leave the party. She confides this to JD, and they decide to prank Heather, only JD is not in the mood for pranks anymore. They accidentally kill Heather by making her drink poison. And instead of confessing, they make it look like suicide. They do a similar thing to the football players. But during all of this, Veronica thinks no one will actually get hurt. JD, on the other hand, wants to, as he puts it, "cleanse" the school of cliques and bullies. He clearly takes it way too far. And this is the theme of the entire movie. I couldn't believe a movie from the 80's went to these lengths. It shocked me that they did, but shocked me in a good way.

Winona Ryder and Christian Slater are at the absolute top of their game. I was telling my brother about the movie this morning, and how awesome I thought it was, and he asked me about the chemistry with Ryder and Slater. It was off the charts. You could tell they enjoyed acting with one another. I read afterward that they supposedly were dating while on set, and that makes total sense to me.

I also finally got some context for some of the stuff my brothers used to say. My oldest brother always used to say, "F>$k me gently with a chainsaw" when I was younger. That's from this movie. When one of the football players dies, his dad exclaims, "I love my dead gay son". I have heard that used over and over again in movies and tv shows. I finally got some of the quotes. I wish that Big Fun was a real band, because the song that plays throughout the movie is cool as hell. The adults in this movie were so aloof and disinterested in their kids' lives, as I'm sure they were directed to be, and it worked.

I really liked "Heathers" quite a bit. I get why my brothers have been on me for so long to watch it. It was so good and I am so happy that I finally watched it. I definitely recommend checking it out if you've never seen it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.