Month: April 2026

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The Unscripted ‘Training Day’ Moment Director Antoine Fuqua Says Made the Film a Classic

Hollywood director Antoine Fuqua is known for his blockbuster films, including a major upcoming role helming the Michael Jackson biopic. While doing press for that film, he’s also peeling back the layers on some of his cinema classics. how he knew the 2001 Oscar-nominated film, Training Day, with iconic actor Denzel Washington would be a legendary film. And it came down to two key moments, including one that was unscripted.

Two Moments That Stuck Out for Antoine Fuqua

“Humbly, I had two moments in that movie that I felt this was going to be successful,” Fuqua said recently on The Rich Eisen Show. 

In the film’s opening car scene, director Fuqua highlighted the interaction between Washington’s character, Alonzo Harris, and Ethan Hawke’s character, Jake Hoyt. It was during this moment that Washington delivered one of the movie’s most memorable lines: “chess, not checkers.”

“He had just killed Roger, and I thought if Denzel (which I knew he could because he’s a great actor), could seduce us back into this car, this movie’s out of here,” Fuqua explained. “And he did. And then they put Ethan in the bathtub.”

The second moment for Fuqua came during the apex of the movie, where Washington was outnumbered and decided to lash out at Hoyt for turning his back on him. Washington went off script and called himself “King Kong,” which became the most recognizable scene in the film.

“When he did that, gang members came up to me telling me, ‘Aw dude, this is a hit,’” Fuqua recalled. “Those two moments for me stand out.”

Fuqua, who has collaborated with the two-time Oscar winner on numerous films, including The Equalizer movie franchise, said the “King Kong moment” was largely improvised.

“He was just in a zone,” he said. “People talk about AI (Artificial Intelligence). Those are the moments where you go, it’s a great tool. It’s going to be a great tool I think at some point. But the emotion and the moment that an actor can bring? You can’t predict that. That’s just something that’s inside of Denzel, and when that came out, I was just like, ‘I hope I got it!’”

HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 17: Director Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington attend the premiere of Columbia Pictures’ “Equalizer 2” at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 17, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo by Kevin Winter on Getty Images

Antoine Fuqua Is Directing the Upcoming Michael Jackson Biopic

Michael, the Michael Jackson biopic directed by Fuqua, is set to be released in theaters on April 24.

“The film tells the story of Michael Jackson’s life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world,” the film synopsis says. 

“Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.”

Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, has been cast to portray the King of Pop in the film. The cast also features Colman Domingo as Joseph Jackson and Nia Long as Katherine Jackson.

To celebrate the upcoming release, Netflix is now streaming Jackson’s first movie, The Wiz, starring Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. The Wiz is a remake of the 1939 classic musical The Wizard of Oz.

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Author: Andre J. Ellington

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Is Türkiye Now the Favorite to Win Group D Over USA?: ‘They’re a Proper Team’

As far as results are concerned, things could have gone much better for the United States men’s national team this past international window. Not only did the U.S. lose both of their friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, but its path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage got notably more difficult with the introduction of Türkiye in Group D. “I’ve been talking them up,” David Mosse said on the latest episode of “State of the Union.” “They’re a proper team. They got the quarterfinals of the Euros. The only reason they were in this playoff is because they were in the same group as Spain … I think that will be a tough, tough game for the U.S.” Türkiye punched its ticket to the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Kosovo in the final of the 2026 World Cup European playoffs. Its performance in the tournament saw it move from No. 25 to No. 22 in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking. Meanwhile, the U.S. moved down from 15 to 16. The United States won’t see Türkiye until the final match of the group stage, but that arguably complicates things further for a U.S. team that has lost its last eight consecutive matches against European competition. “That first game now for the U.S. is just absolutely paramount,” Stone said. “Not that it hasn’t been in the beginning, but if you stumble out of the gates in L.A. against Paraguay — uh oh. And like a real big uh oh, because you have to get your business taken care of before you see Türkiye in L.A. to close out the group stage. “I think Türkiye is the favorite. I think they’re going to win their first two games fairly comfortably. I think for the U.S., it’s going to be more of a struggle. Can they win those two games? Absolutely. Should the U.S. get through? Absolutely, but I think Türkiye is the favorite right now — right now. There’s a long time to go.” Lalas, meanwhile, is still bullish on the United States’ chances of advancing — and winning — Group D. “I would put this group against any other group in the past in terms of not just coming out, but winning the group,” Lalas said. “I do think this team, despite the problems we’re talking about right now, will rise to the occasion.” If the U.S. doesn’t win Group D, its hopes of advancing to its first World Cup quarterfinals become much slimmer, even with the benefit of a home crowd. “There is a massive advantage to winning your group,” Stone said. “The path has been laid out, in red carpet fashion, for the U.S. and it’s all going on the fact that they win the group. Things get significantly more challenging if they don’t.” The U.S. wil play Türkiye at Los Angeles Stadium in its group stage finale on June 25. “We welcome Türkiye to the World Cup, we welcome Türkiye, and we want to beat up on them,” Lalas said.

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DNA Evidence Confirms Another Victim Of Serial Killer Ted Bundy In 1974 Cold Case

Authorities in Spanish Fork, Utah, announced on Wednesday that they have definitively linked serial killer Ted Bundy to the murder of a teenager in 1974, closing the 52-year-old cold case.

Jan. 24 marked 37 years since Ted Bundy was executed in Florida after being convicted of over one-dozen murders. Though his exact number of victims is still up for speculation, authorities were able to close one cold case thanks to DNA evidence.

Per Sorina Trauntvein of WTNH, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office announced that DNA evidence linked Bundy to the 1974 murder of Laura Ann Aime, who was 17 at the time of her horrific murder.

Police collected DNA from Aime’s body and put it in the Combined NDA Index System, per Trauntvein. They got a positive match with Bundy’s DNA, providing closure for Aime’s family and friends more than 50 years later.

According to the Utah Department of Public Safety’s website, Aime was reported missing on Oct. 31, 1974. Hikers discovered her body off an embankment in American Fork Canyon Road, Utah.

If Bundy were alive, authorities would have sought the death penalty for the murder of Aime, said Sheriff Mike Smith.

Ted Bundy’s Confirmed Victims Count is 20

To date, authorities have linked 20 cold-blooded murders to Ted Bundy. He confessed to 30 murders, though officials haven’t been able to definitively link him to some of those crimes.

In 2015, DNA evidence helped police link Bundy to the 1974 murder of 17-year-old Debra Jean Kent in Utah. With the advancements in technology, authorities could still confirm more of Bundy’s victims in the coming years.

Bundy managed to escape from prison twice. He was finally captured for good after a police officer in Pensacola, Florida, pulled Bundy over for a stolen vehicle. After a brief struggle, the officer arrested Bundy, finally putting an end to his cold-blooded crimes.

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Author: Alex Hoegler

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Kansas Coach Bill Self Will Return For A 24th Season With the Jayhawks

Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is returning for a 24th season with the Jayhawks. The program released a statement from Self on Wednesday confirming his return for another year with the program he has led to 21 regular-season conference championships, four Final Fours and a pair of national championships. “With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas Basketball competing for a national championship,” Self said. “I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.” The 63-year-old Self has a record of 840-272, not including the 15 wins that were vacated by the NCAA, putting him 12th on the career list. He passed Phog Allen as the winningest coach at Kansas with a 77-69 win over Michigan State on November 12, 2024, and finished with a record of 633-167 while leading one of college basketball’s most storied programs. Kansas’ season ended March 22 against St. John’s and fellow Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks rallied from a 13-point deficit with 7 1/2 minutes left, tying it with 13.1 seconds to go, only for the Red Storm’s Dylan Darling to hit a layup as time expired to end their season. The Jayhawks have not survived the opening weekend of the tournament since 2022, when Self won his second national title. “I’ve gone through some stuff off the court, so I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on,” Self said following the loss in San Jose, California. “I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home and it will all be discussed.” Self’s health has been a factor to monitor. He was hospitalized just before the Big 12 Tournament in 2023 after feeling unwell, and had two stents inserted into his heart, which forced him to miss the NCAA tourney. Self had two more stents inserted last year, and this past January, he missed a game at Colorado after doctors advised him not to travel following a precautionary trip to the hospital. “When you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I looked at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak,” he said. “So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend — which we failed at — so I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.” Self won national titles at Kansas in 2008 and 2022. And he’s been especially good at Allen Fieldhouse, historically one of college basketball’s toughest venues. He is 27-6 against top-10 opponents at home, and his 131-81 record against Top 25 opposition is the third-best winning percentage among Division I coaches. He also has sent 43 players to the NBA, and more could be on the way. Darryn Peterson is expected to be among the first three players to hear his name called in June, while Flory Bidunga and others could also be selected in the upcoming NBA draft. Self was selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Reporting by the Associated Press.

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Target’s ‘Versatile’ High-Power Pressure Washer Is on Sale for $130

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In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

Experts recommend spring as the ideal pressure washing season due to a combination of weather and pollen conditions. So, while you’re shopping for chainsaws and weed whackers to groom your yard, try to leave some room in your budget for a pressure washer, too. Thankfully, they don’t cost all that much if you know where to look. For example, Target has a super high-powered pressure washer that’s being discounted by over $50.

The Sugift 3300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is now just $130. It’s labelled as a new addition to Target, but it’s already getting attention from shoppers. The unit ships fast and free, so if you’re looking to get one, get it while this discount is in effect and while peak pressure washing season is still on.

Sugift 3300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer, $130 (was $186) at Target

Courtesy of Target

What Shoppers Should Know

  • Size: 23.5 x 10 x 11 inches
  • Power: 1800W corded electric
  • Max Pressure: 3300 PSI
  • Spray Modes: 5
  • Includes: Washer, application wand, 4 nozzles, foam bottle, and water hose
  • Best Use Case: This can handle the toughest pressure washing jobs, including oily garage floors and stripping old paint.

This 1800W pressure washer is capable of creating a beam of up to 3300 PSI. Once you start to get over 3000 PSI, you hit the point where power meets responsibility. At max power, this can do far more than forcefully rinse, helping you strip off old paint without spreading harmful dust in the air, disperse oils through power alone, and perform other intensive tasks. Take on garage floors, balconies, and more to perfection, just make sure to choose the appropriate pressure level for the job.

If you don’t need maximum power, consider Costway’s $90 2030 PSI unit, which will still work well in fighting against outdoor moss and grime, but will struggle against the tougher jobs this unit can handle with ease.

If you do need more power, this unit from Sugift will work well. It comes with useful accessories, including four nozzles, a foam bottle, and a lengthy hose extension. Its application wand has room for adequate gripping and is quite lengthy, making it easy to get the ideal pressure washing distance from the surface to be cleaned.

Related: This Beautiful Cedar Storage Bench Is on Sale for Only $90 at Walmart

What Shoppers Are Saying

One shopper said, “This pressure washer is a versatile tool that we’ve used to clean patio furniture, wash our house and cars, and even clean windows and screens.” You can do a lot with it.

Another confirmed that it “effectively removed dirt and mold buildup.”

The Sugift 3300 PSI Electric Pressure Washer is now $130 and ships free. Grab one before the discount washes away.

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Author: John Alexander