Andy Samberg Recalls 'Kismet' Feeling with Andre Braugher on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, Says He Misses Him 'a Lot'

Andy Samberg Recalls 'Kismet' Feeling with Andre Braugher on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", Says He Misses Him 'a Lot'

Amanda Edwards/WireImage Andy Samberg is speaking out about his lateBrooklyn Nine-Ninecostar Andre Braugher and how much he misses him a year and a half after the actor's death Braugher died at age 61 in December 2023 following an illness, his rep confirmed to PEOPLE at the time Three months later, theBrooklyn Nine-Ninecast gathered to honor and remember him Andy Sambergis remembering his lateBrooklyn Nine-NinecostarAndre Braugher. A year and a half afterBraugher died at age 61in December 2023 after an illness, Samberg, 46, reflected on the actor's prowess and their time together on the sitcom during the July 8 episode ofAmy Poehler's podcastGood Hang. Samberg played Detective Jake Peralta on the series, which was created byParks & Rec's Mike Schur, alongside Braugher's Capt. Raymond Holt for eight years on the beloved Fox police procedural. Poehler sensitively broached the topic of Samberg's late costar during his appearance on her podcast, as she praised Braugher as "so good in the show" and "so poised." "He seemed like he was just playful and fun," Poheler said of Braugher. Jordin Althaus/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty "He was," Samberg agreed. "And just a good person. Like, so deeply moral and kind and pleasant and smart." "We all absolutely loved him. I miss him a lot," he added. "Our dynamic worked immediately. It was like one of those things where you're just like, 'Okay, this is kismet.' I don't know how to explain it," Samberg recalled. At their first table read forBrooklyn Nine-Nine, which premiered in 2013, he said that things clicked for him and Braugher "as soon as we started reading" the pilot script. "From that moment forward, the only thing me and him had to even talk about creatively was in the beginning, he didn't trust himself to do comedy," Samberg continued. Braugher's self-doubt when it came to comedy was rooted in his acting background. "He came so strictly from drama and Juilliard," Samberg explained. NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty When the rare serious scene came up onBrooklyn Nine-Nine, "He would flip that switch and everyone would be like, 'Oh my God, what is Andre doing here? He's so good. Like he should be in, like, drama, he's the best.'" "Then he would do his Captain Holt stuff and it was the funniest thing in the show," Samberg added. In March 2024,Terry Crews,Melissa Fumero,Chelsea Peretti, Joe Lo Truglio,Stephanie Beatriz, Joel McKinnon Miller,Dirk Blockeand Samberg allgathered for a reunion in Braugher's memory. In a jointpostshared on Instagram by Crews and Fumero, they wrote of the special night together, "We laughed. We cried a little. We reminisced. We laughed some more. Nine Nine Forever." Beatriz, 44, later told PEOPLE that the cast dinner was "a chance for all of us to get together and make each other laugh." "And it was also a chance to talk about Andre. It came up immediately, and then we put it away for a while," she said. "But at the end of the dinner, by the end, we were all just sharing stories about him and our memories of him. And he lives in our hearts forever and ever." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Crews, 56, similarly told PEOPLE that the "beautiful" reunion gave the cast "time to reminisce and just think about how special our time together was." "We laughed, we cried, we missed Andre Braugher, who we lost a few months ago," he said. Read the original article onPeople

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

Andy Samberg Recalls 'Kismet' Feeling with Andre Braugher on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”, Says He Misses Him 'a Lot'

Andy Samberg Recalls 'Kismet' Feeling with Andre Braugher on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", Says He Misses Him 'a Lot' Aman...

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David Kaff, “This Is Spinal Tap” keyboardist, dies at 79

David Kaff, "This Is Spinal Tap" keyboardist, dies at 79

Embassy Pictures / Courtesy Everett David Kaff, the British musician and actor known for portraying keyboardist Viv Savage inThis Is Spinal Tap, died Friday at 79. Kaff's band Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdomannounced the news on Facebookover the weekend, writing, "Our brother David Kaffinetti passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. We are devastated by this event. David always had a kind word and a quick wit that would slay you where you stand. Then he'd make you smile doing it!" The statement concluded, "RIP dear brother." A cause of death was not disclosed. Born David Kaffinetti in 1946, Kaff first rose to notoriety with the prog-rock band Rare Bird in the late 1960s. The band released five albums between 1969 and 1974, becoming the very first band to have music released by Charisma Records when their self-titled debut LP was released in December 1969. Their 1970 single "Sympathy" was a hit in the U.K, making it to No. 27 on the U.K. music chart and No 1. in Italy and France, and selling more than 1 million copies worldwide. Kaff was perhaps best known for his role inThis Is Spinal Tap, the 1984 mockumentary film co-written and directed byRob Reinerin his feature directorial debut; it also starredChristopher Guest,Harry Shearer, andMichael McKean. Photo by Authorized Spinal Tap LLC/Shutterstock The comedy follows the members of the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap, characterized as "one of England's loudest bands." In addition to appearing in the movie, Kaff joined the fictional band when they played several real gigs to promote it, including aSaturday Night Liveperformance. Kaff's role in the film was small, but the keyboardist made his mark with his jokes about the "magic" of video games and said he was capable of playing Nigel's bassline in "Big Bottom" because "I have two hands." Perhaps his most famous line comes in the film's credits, when he's asked for his life motto and says, "Have a good time… all the time." Within theSpinal Tapmythos, Viv is supposed to have died when visiting the grave of drummer Mick Shrimpton, who previously exploded on stage, after a buildup of methane gas caused the grave to also explode. "I played him very close to my heart," Kaff toldBAMin 1991, "just a little bit dimmer. If people like that character, chances are they'll like me." A sequel to the film is slated for release Sept. 12, with Reiner, Guest, Shearer, and McKean all returning. Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. After his role inSpinal Tap, Kaff performed in a series of other bands, including the Oakland-based Model Citizenz as well as Mutual of Alameda's Wild Kingdom. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

David Kaff, “This Is Spinal Tap” keyboardist, dies at 79

David Kaff, "This Is Spinal Tap" keyboardist, dies at 79 Embassy Pictures / Courtesy Everett David Kaff, the British musician and ...

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Greg Sankey embellishes bold claims about SEC football schedule

Greg Sankey embellishes bold claims about SEC football schedule

True to his form, SEC commissionerGreg Sankeyboasted Monday that nobody outside of his conference would trade its own conference schedule in favor of an eight-gameSEC schedule. Sankey's biased, but is he wrong? Well, he's exaggerating – a bit, at least. "I don't believe there's anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC conference teams in our conference schedule," Sankey claimed in televised remarks on the first day of hisconference's media days. Wisconsin might like a word. So, too, might Rutgers. Each received a brutal nine-game Big Ten draw. Upon close examination of conference schedules, I don't buy that no one would trade its conference schedule in favor of an SEC schedule. NO CUPCAKES:SEC needs tougher schedule to get more playoff respect Sankey is entitled to tout the SEC's overall strength and that of its conference schedule. SEC teams consistently produce lofty strength-of-schedule metrics. The conference remains collectively stout, even as the Big Team's cream became as sweet or sweeter as any league's top end the past couple of seasons. Sankey neglected to mention, though, that the SEC's eight-game conference schedule – the Big Ten and Big 12 play nine conference games – allows its members to playmore cupcake opponentsthan any other conference. He also overstated the number of SEC teams playing 10 games against Power Four competition. And, he's exaggerating when he says nobody would trade its conference schedule in favor of an SEC schedule. Most teams wouldn't trade. A few likely would trade schedules this season. Let's review some of Sankey's claims Monday in his state of the conference address: Sankey:"In the SEC, we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games. Never been a secret." Fact-check:This is accurate. The SEC and ACC play eight conference games and require their members to play a power-conference opponent in the non-conference schedule. Notre Dame and the two remaining Pac-12 teams count toward that non-conference requirement. The Big Ten and Big 12 play nine conference games. Their members are not required to play a non-conference opponent from a power conference. Most, but not all, Big Ten and Big 12 teams play at least one non-conference game against a Power Four non-conference opponent. ----- Sankey:"We're going to continue to evaluate whether increasing the number of conference football games is appropriate for us. As I've said repeatedly, understanding how the (College Football Playoff) will evaluate strength of schedule and even strength of record is critically important in our decision-making." Fact-check:This is accurate. Sankey would prefer that the SEC add a ninth conference game, but his membership has resisted that so far. The SEC has not decided on its conference schedule for 2026 and beyond, so the possibility of increasing to nine games remains an option. It's fair to say the undecided nature of the playoff format for 2026 affects the SEC's schedule debate. ----- Sankey:"Last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label power opponents. We had several that played 10 of their 12 games against power opponents. Some conferences have that, some don't. The same will be true this year." Fact check:Let's unpack Sankey's claim that "several" SEC teams played 10 power opponents last season and will do so again this year. In fact, only three SEC teams played at least 10 Power Four opponents during the 2024 regular season. Florida played 11 Power Four opponents. Georgia and LSU played 10. This season, Alabama, Florida and South Carolina are the only SEC teams that will play 10 Power Four opponents. The rest will play nine Power Four opponents, except for Mississippi, which plays eight SEC opponents, plus Washington State from the Pac-12. Most teams from the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 will play at least 10 games against Power Four competition. A handful of ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 teams only play nine Power Four opponents. Baylor and TCU from the Big 12 will play 11 games against Power Four competition. ----- Sankey:"I don't believe there's anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC Conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine" conference games. Fact-check:This opinion seems exaggerated. Wisconsin will play seven of its nine Big Ten games against teams that finished 8-5 or better last season. In October, the Badgers will play Michigan (road), Iowa, Ohio State and Oregon (road) in successive weeks. Including a non-conference game at Alabama, Wisconsin will play at least five, and maybe six, teams expected to be ranked in the US LBM preseason Top 25 coaches poll. The Badgers will play three games against teams that made the playoff last season within a gantlet that ranks among the nation's toughest schedules. Comparatively, Missouri's eight-game SEC schedule includes only three teams that won at least eight games last season and no teams that made the playoff. Tennessee and Auburn also drew favorable conference schedules, as compared to Wisconsin's. Rutgers' Big Ten schedule includes a home game against Oregon and road games against Illinois, Ohio State and Penn State, all of which are expected to be preseason top-15 teams. The Scarlet Knights could be better off trading for an SEC schedule. A small queue of teams likely would trade their conference schedule in favor of an eight-game SEC draw, with Wisconsin standing at the head of the line. Blake Toppmeyeris the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him atBToppmeyer@gannett.comand follow him on X@btoppmeyer. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Greg Sankey embellishes SEC football schedule bold claims

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

Greg Sankey embellishes bold claims about SEC football schedule

Greg Sankey embellishes bold claims about SEC football schedule True to his form, SEC commissionerGreg Sankeyboasted Monday that nobody outs...

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Teddy Bridgewater suspended from Miami Northwestern for allegedly giving impermissible benefits to his players

Teddy Bridgewater suspended from Miami Northwestern for allegedly giving impermissible benefits to his players

Former NFL quarterback-turned-high school football coach Teddy Bridgewater was suspended from Miami Northwestern after providing impermissible benefits to his players, he revealed in a Facebook post Sunday. Bridgewaterconfirmed the suspension, and said he was committed to staying with Miami Northwestern even though the team suspended him. "The suspension came from MNW and it's impossible to suspend someone who doesn't work for you. So if im suspended from MNW im free to go to another school of my choice but IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE. "And if it comes down to it, I will volunteer from the bleachers like I used to in 2018 and 2019 when no one had a problem." The suspension may stemfrom a post Bridgewaterput on Facebook on July 7. In the post, Bridgewater revealed he covered Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season. He asked fans to donate and cover those expenses this year so they wouldn't have to come directly from his pocket. That apparently drew the attention of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). An official with the FHSAA, Kelvin Richardson, told Rivals those allegations were sent to Miami Northwestern and that the FHSAA areworking to gain more information. The FHSAA has come down on other schools for similar violations, per Rivals. There is recent precedent for the FHSAA punishing programs for players receiving free meals and Uber rides. Last fall, several players at The First Academy were found to have received impermissible benefits, including a free Uber ride. The FHSAA hit the Royals with a two-year postseason ban and a $36,000 fine as a result. It's unclear whether Miami Northwestern will receive additional punishments following Bridgewater's suspension. Prior to coaching at Miami Northwestern — his alma mater — Bridgewater spent 10 seasons in the NFL. He originally joined the league as a first-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings. After making the Pro Bowl in his second season, Bridgewater sustained a dislocated knee and tore multiple ligaments during training camp. He returned in 2017, though he mostly spent time as a backup the rest of his career. Following the 2023 NFL season, Bridgewater retired to coach Miami Northwestern. He led the team to astate championshipin his first year, and thenunretired from the NFLto join the Detroit Lions late last season. He served as Jared Goff's backup and did not appear in a regular-season game.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

Teddy Bridgewater suspended from Miami Northwestern for allegedly giving impermissible benefits to his players

Teddy Bridgewater suspended from Miami Northwestern for allegedly giving impermissible benefits to his players Former NFL quarterback-turned...

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Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82

Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82

NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with "Gorky Park" and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82. Smith died Friday at a senior living community in San Rafael, California, "surrounded by those he loved," according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Smith revealed a decade ago that he hadParkinson's disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th Renko book,"Hotel Ukraine,"was published this week and billed as his last. "My longevity is linked to Arkady's," he told Strand Magazine in 2023. "As long as he remains intelligent, humorous, and romantic, so shall I." Smith was often praised for his storytelling and for his insights into modern Russia; he would speak of being interrogated at length by customs officials during his many trips there. The Associated Press called "Hotel Ukraine" a "gem" that "upholds Smith's reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot." Smith's honors included being named a "grand master" by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for "Havana Bay" and a Gold Dagger award for "Gorky Park." Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pennsylvania, he studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at the AP and at the Philadelphia Daily News. Success as an author arrived slowly. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with "Gorky Park." His novel came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centered on Renko's investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park that Smith used for the book's title. "Gorky Park," cited by the New York Times as a reminder of "just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be," topped the Times' fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt. "Russia is a character in my Renko stories, always," Smith told Publishers Weekly in 2013. "'Gorky Park' may have been one of the first books to take a backdrop and make it into a character. It took me forever to write because of my need to get things right. You've got to knock down the issue of 'Does this guy know what he's talking about or not?'" Smith's other books include science fiction ("The Indians Won"), the Westerns "North to Dakota" and "Ride to Revenge," and the "Romano Grey" mystery series. Besides "Martin Cruz Smith" — Cruz was his maternal grandmother's name — he also wrote under the pen names "Nick Carter" and "Simon Quinn." Smith's Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels and he would trace the region's history over the past 40 years, whether the Soviet Union's collapse ("Red Square"), the rise of Russian oligarchs ("The Siberian Dilemma"), or, in the novel "Wolves Eats Dogs," the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. By the time he began working on his last novel, Russia had invaded Ukraine. The AP noted in its review of "Hotel Ukraine" that Smith had devised a backstory "pulled straight from recent headlines," referencing such world leaders asVolodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine,Vladimir Putin of Russiaand formerPresident Joe Bidenof the U.S. Smith is survived by his brother, Jack Smith; his wife, Emily Smith; three children and five grandchildren.

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82

Martin Cruz Smith, acclaimed author of 'Gorky Park,' dies at 82 NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist...

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Kelly Clarkson kicks off Las Vegas residency with apology to fans after postponing opening night: 'I'm so sorry'

Kelly Clarkson kicks off Las Vegas residency with apology to fans after postponing opening night: 'I'm so sorry'

Denise Truscello/Getty Kelly Clarksonis once again proving that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. After taking a little extra time to rest up, the three-time Grammy winner kicked off her Las Vegas residency with a bang on Friday night. Her performance at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace comes one week afterClarkson abruptly postponed her opening-weekend showjust 90 minutes before she was expected to take the stage. During the July 11 performance, Clarkson addressed the incident, apologizing to fans for the last-minute change of plans. "It took me a minute. I'm so sorry," she told the crowd in avideo shared on TikTok. "I know some of y'all had tickets for last weekend's shows. I'm so sorry. We can't help our bodies sometimes. You know, we get sick, and that happens." Denise Truscello/Getty She continued, "But thank y'all for showing up. We are so excited. This is my favorite residency — my favorite show I've ever put together, because I love being in the studio." Later in the night, Clarkson took a shot of tequila with an audience member and quipped, "I'm celebrating because I had to cancel last weekend. I cried. I was so sick. It sucked. I'm so happy to be here!" A week ago, Clarkson caught fans off guard when she announced she would be postponing her opening shows. "The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice," Clarkson said in a statement. "I want the shows to be perfect for y'all, and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage, so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve." Adding that she was "devastated" but wanted the residency "to start out strong," Clarkson said the following weekend would mark the premiere of it instead. Fittingly dubbed Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, the residency shows presents theAmerican Idolalum surrounded on stage by her band to mimic an actual day in a music studio while she performs songs old and new. On Friday, Clarkson belted out such hits as "Since U Been Gone" and "My Life Would Suck Without You," in addition to some deeper cuts like "Sober" and "Tight Rope." Denise Truscello/Getty Clarkson also performed "Piece by Piece,"offering a lengthy introduction to the 2015 singlethat gave fans insight intoher decision to alter the lyricsafterher divorcefrom Brandon Blackstock. "I wrote it [when] I was feeling a type of way, and hoping more than [anything]. And then, I changed it a couple summers ago," Clarkson told the crowd. "I was like, 'I gotta sing it 'cause people kept asking for it.' But it just didn't feel right." She continued, "I've never had a song that [was] rewritten three times. But sometimes you can't sing it how you wrote it because it's not honest. And you're sad. And then you start to wonder if that's how the song should've been written in the first place." Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Clarkson went on to sing the tweaked version of "Piece by Piece," which she has been performing for the past two years. While the original track details Clarkson's difficult relationship with her absent father and how her relationship with Blackstock helped her heal, the altered version sees the singer take ownership over her healing journey, crediting self-love instead. Sixteen performances of Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions are scheduled through Nov. 15. She has not announced new dates yet for the postponed July 4 and July 5 shows. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byLiam Oneel

in

July 14, 2025

Kelly Clarkson kicks off Las Vegas residency with apology to fans after postponing opening night: 'I'm so sorry'

Kelly Clarkson kicks off Las Vegas residency with apology to fans after postponing opening night: 'I'm so sorry' Denise Truscell...

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