Men's Journal's Blog, page 77

Amid 'MobLand' Season 2 Rumors, Local Pub Has a 522 Percent Business Increase

When the Harrigan family decamped to their estate in the Cotswolds, it was hard to get out of the house and get a pint. In MobLand Season 1, characters go to specific pubs to make very big decisions. And, although a decision about MobLand Season 2 has yet to be made, enthusiasm for the show is very high. The proof? The real-life Cotswold pub from MobLand, the Falkland Arms, is suddenly seeing a big uptick in customers. 

According to Holiday Lodges in the UK, business at the Falkland Arms is up 522 percent, all thanks to the fact that MobLand was filmed at the pub.

"There has definitely been a buzz amongst our customers. People want to know where each scene was shot and if they are sitting in Pierce's or Tom’s seat," Felicity, a manager at the Falkland Arms, told Holiday Lodges in a statement shared with Men's Journal. 

Related: 'MobLand' Star Anson Boon Answers the Biggest Question About the Finale

Apparently, MobLand star and former James Bond himself, Pierce Brosnan, stopped by the Falkland Arms outside of filming. "Pierce did indeed stop by for a pint of Guinness," the statement read.

As of this writing, there's no word on whether or not Paramount+ is gearing up to renew MobLand for a second season. All the stars of the show who have spoken to Men's Journal all want to do a second season. "I'm sure whatever happens with the storylines will be really cool." 

Mandeep Dhillon told Men's Journal before the finale. Meanwhile, Anson Boon is fully ready to explore the rest of Eddie's story in hypothetical Season 2, saying, "If we are lucky enough to do a Season 2 — which I'd love to do — I'm just really excited to see how this character can grow and what kind of man he could become."

MobLand Season 1 streams on Paramount+.

Related: 'MobLand' Star Reveals Her Ambitious Season 2 Hopes

Judge Makes Big Decision on Taylor Swift Text Messages in Justin Baldoni, Blake Lively Case

On Wednesday, June 18 Judge Lewis Liman approved Justin Baldoni’s legal team access to text messages between Taylor Swift and Blake Lively, his co-star in It Ends With Us. The judge ruled in favor of Baldoni after Lively had requested on Friday that Swift be left out of the battle.

Baldoni has been pursuing a subpoena of Swift’s texts concerning It Ends With Us for weeks, arguing the singer knew of intimate details of the film’s production. Her team says Swift is uninvolved, claiming that she is being subpoenaed for publicity and for name recognition, calling it an “unwarranted fishing expedition.”

This follows months of conflict between Baldoni and Lively, who accused her co-star of inappropriate conduct and a hostile work environment during filming of the movie. The allegations have led to a drawn-out legal clash.

Lively’s case has snowballed from a harassment claim to her team suing Baldoni on grounds of retaliation, alleging the Jane the Virgin star attempted to retaliate with a “social manipulation” online smear campaign.

“The Baldoni and Wayfarer team have tried to put Taylor Swift, a woman who has been an inspiration for tens of millions across the globe, at the center of this case since day one,” Lively’s spokesperson said. “At some point they will run out of distractions from the actual claims of sexual harassment and retaliation they are facing.”

Given that Lively admitted to discussing the work environment with Swift, Judge Liman wrote, “the requests for messages with Swift regarding the film and this action are reasonably tailored to discover information that would prove or disprove Lively’s harassment and retaliation claims.”

Along with a lawsuit against The New York Times for reporting on Lively’s case, Baldoni also tried to file against Lively herself on grounds of defamation, among other charges.

Famed Dance Choreographer Dave Scott Dead at 52

Dave Scott, an experienced choreographer who worked on the Step Up movies and So You Think You Can Dance, has died at 52. The tragic news was confirmed Tuesday in an Instagram post.

Scott was a dance teacher and choreographer who was best known for his work on Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3, and several seasons on So You Think You Can Dance. He also worked as a choreographer on the films Good Burger, Coach Carter, Accepted, Stomp the Yard, the Prom Night remake, and the popular TV show Bones. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Dave Scott, who touched so many lives with his warmth, kindness, and spirit,” the post read. “During this difficult time, we are doing our best to honor his memory in the way he deserves with love, dignity, and respect.”

Related: 'White Lotus' Star Has Candid Response to 'Very Low' Payday Reports

The post continued: “Today we have lost an icon, a legend, a father and a dear friend. The weight of this loss will send ripples through time. But his memory and legacy will continue to live on. We love you, Dave Scott, and everything you’ve accomplished and the joy and comfort you’ve brought to people will never be forgotten.”

Many of Scott’s former clients and coworkers paid their respects to the late choreographer in the comments. Producer Will Packer (Ride Along, Girls Trip) penned an emotional tribute to Scott. “Stomp the Yard was my first box office success, and that’s because Dave infused it with not just incredible performances but an energy and authenticity that was unmatched,” Packer wrote. “Beyond his incredible talent, he was a kind, gracious, top-notch human. Rest in power, Dave.”

'Top Gun 3' Director Makes Big Admission About Tom Cruise's 'Ambitious' Sequel

It’s become somewhat of a common practice for studios to try to keep new movie details a bit under wraps for as long as possible. The approach that Marvel remains deadset on is understandable, as it adds intrigue and attention to new releases.

While director Joseph Kosinski isn't taking it that far in being secretive about the encore to the incredibly popular Top Gun: Maverick, he is doing a decent job of hyping up Top Gun 3.

Kosinski specifically highlighted the "big idea" involving the Top Gun 3 storyline, which he said took almost a year to develop, while speaking with ScreenRant ahead of the upcoming F1: The Movie.

Miles Teller, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly and Glen Powell attend the screening of "Top Gun: Maverick" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals.

Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images

While giving tidbits on the plan for Top Gun 3, Kosinski's comments about the storyline unquestionably add even more hype to the sequel.

"Ehren Kruger is writing the script as we speak. It’s a big idea that I spent almost a year developing—working with some friends at the Navy and Lockheed," Kosinski said.

He explained the "ambitious" idea for the sequel that opens up the story in a way "you just can't let go."

"And yeah, Ehren’s into it now, so we’ll see how it comes along. It was about coming up with an idea that felt like a new challenge. Something that opens up the story in a way you just can’t let go. And I think the idea is so ambitious. That’s what’s exciting to me."

That's a strong assessment of Kosinski's big idea, which he sounds extremely optimistic about.

As great as the key update on the storyline for Top Gun 3 is, it's also noteworthy because it shows that things are continuing to move forward. Although we don't have any potential timeline for production to begin, it wouldn't be surprising if things start to come together even more soon.

Related: 'Pirates of the Caribbean 6' Boss Breaks Silence on Johnny Depp’s Potential Return

TikTok Will Not Be Banned This Week

The popular social media app TikTok has been facing the possibility of a ban in the United States for several months. But as the latest deadline approaches, it sounds like the app will survive again, at least for another 90 days.

TikTok originally faced the possibility of a ban on the day that United States President Donald Trump officially took office, thanks to a bipartisan law that would effectively outlaw the social media app in the United States.

In fact, the app briefly ceased operations in the United States before the Trump administration enacted a 90-day pause, allowing the app to move toward divesting from its China-based parent company, ByteDance

When no deal was reached in 90 days, Trump extended that pause in April. Now, as the new deadline approaches this week with no deal in place, the White House has announced that the pause has been extended again.

"As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark. This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure," Leavitt said in a statement via CBS News.

The White House orders have directed the Justice Department not to take action or enforce penalties against companies like Apple and Google for failure to remove the app from their platforms.

Trump spoke on the status of a deal back in May, admitting that "we'll probably have to get China's approval."

"China's never easy," he said at the time. "I'd like to save TikTok. I mean, TikTok was very good to me."

On Tuesday, however, Mr. Trump expressed confidence that Chinese President Xi Jinping would ultimately sign off on a deal when it is reached.

"I think President Xi will ultimately approve it," Trump said.

While there are still a lot of unknowns regarding the long-term future of TikTok, it will not face a ban this week.

TSA Discovers Ninth Loaded Gun at Boston Logan Airport This Year

The Transportation Security Administration's goal is to ensure safety for all travelers who pass through the airport. Unfortunately, it sounds like the TSA agents at Boston Logan International Airport have had their work cut out for them in that regard.

This week, the TSA revealed that agents stopped a passenger from carrying a loaded firearm onto an airplane at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) on Monday, June 16, after a gun was discovered in a carry-on bag.

During a security screening in Terminal A on Monday morning, a TSA officer detected a firearm in the 29-year-old male’s carry-on bag. After detecting the gun, TSA officers immediately alerted Massachusetts State Police (MSP), who confirmed there was a 9mm firearm in the bag.

After questioning the man, police took possession of the firearm and cited the man on state charges. According to a TSA news release, a typical first offense for carrying a loaded gun into a TSA checkpoint is $3,000 and can go as high as $17,062 depending on the circumstances of the incident.

Perhaps the most concerning part of this announcement, however, is just how many times an incident like this has occurred at Boston Logan International Airport so far this year, as this marks now the ninth time just this year that TSA officers have discovered a firearm at the security checkpoint.

The latest incident prompted a warning from a TSA security director reminding all gun owners to make sure they do not have guns on them when they travel.

"In addition to the serious safety risk these incidents pose, they slow down the screening process for all passengers when we temporarily close down a lane," said TSA’s Federal Security Director for Massachusetts, Bob Allison. "I strongly urge all gun owners to ensure they know where their firearms are before traveling."

It's worth noting that these rules apply to all travelers, even those who have concealed gun carry permits. Though an individual may have a concealed carry permit, that permit does not allow for a firearm to be carried onto an airplane.

Gun owners can, however, travel with firearms in checked baggage if they are unloaded, packed separately from ammunition in a locked hardback case, and declared at the airline check-in counter.

Caitlin Clark Getting Poked in the Eye and Shoved Triggers Brawl

Caitlin Clark has a target on her back, or so it seems.

The WNBA star took the brunt end of what turned out to be a very chippy game Tuesday night between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Things got tense in the second quarter when Sun guard Jacy Sheldon got into a verbal spat with Clark, prompting Clark to shove her. No harm, no foul. Literally.

Then things got tense.

Late in the third quarter, Clark and Sheldon got into it again as the former Iowa star dribbled up the court. Sheldon stayed close, prompting the guards to initiate contact. Sheldon appeared to reach for the ball, but instead poked Clark in the eye. Clark fumed and shoved Sheldon. Things went south from there, as Sun guard Marina Mabrey beelined it towards Clark and shoved her to the ground.

Whistles blew all over the place as refs tried to prevent a fracas. And even the announcers deduced Mabrey's shove would get get ejected from the game. 

Things are getting chippy in Fever-Sun 👀

Marina Mabrey shoved Caitlin Clark to the floor after Clark got poked in the eye by Jacy Sheldon.

It is currently under review.pic.twitter.com/LhWxGdP7Uh

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 18, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 17: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever reacts after being fouled in the third quarter against the Connecticut Sun at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 17: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever falls to the floor after being pushed by Marina Mabrey #3 of the Connecticut Sun during an altercation in the third quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 17, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Lacy: “you can’t do that”

Caitlin Clark: “I can do whatever the f*ck I wanna do” And then SHOVES her 💀💀💀pic.twitter.com/PWwXSwGZ7R

— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) June 18, 2025

The chippiness continues at the end of Fever-Sun 😳

Sophie Cunningham with a hard foul on Jacy Sheldon, who took exception to it.pic.twitter.com/EDdnYx8LLw

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) June 18, 2025

Sheldon ultimately got hit with a flagrant 1 foul for poking Clark in the eye, while Clark was issued a technical for the shove. Mabrey also got a technical foul for her actions.

But the full-on brawl didn't unfold until the waning minute of the game, after the Fever's Sophie Cunningham fouled Sheldon so hard during a breakaway layup a brawl ensued behind the backboard. The brawl, at one point, even spilled near fans sitting behind the basket, who had to get up to avoid it.

While that melee didn't directly involve Clark, the tension had been building from the start and throughout the game, prompting the announcers to blame officials for letting it get out of hand.

In the end, Cunningham was automatically ejected after getting hit with a flagrant 2 foul, while Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen were ejected for fighting.

The Fever went on to beat the Sun, 88-71, for a spot in the Commissioner's Cup championship game. Indiana will face the Minnesota Lynx in that game on July 1.

Apple Study Concludes ChatGPT Has a Long Way to Go

As the use of AI has grown in functionality and popularity, language models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek have been embraced by consumers all across the globe. While it might seem like these AI models are increasingly capable of nearly human-like logic and reason, a recent study from Apple reveals that might not be the case.

Last week, Apple published a paper on their recent study, which very much pumped the brakes on some optimism about the advancements in AI technology. The study found that large reasoning models (LRMs), which are an even more advanced form of AI compared to large language models (LLMs), faced a “complete accuracy collapse” when presented with highly complex problems.

Apple tested LLMs like ChatGPT GPT-4, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and DeepSeek V3. For LRMs, it tested ChatGPT o1, ChatGPT o3-mini, Gemini, Claude 3.7 Sonnet Thinking, and DeepSeek R1.

The study tested each model's ability to solve puzzles and found that LLMs performed better than reasoning models when the difficulty was easy, and that LRMs performed better at medium difficulty. However, the study found that once the tasks reached the hard level, all models failed.

The researchers found that as LRMs neared performance collapse, they began “reducing their reasoning effort.” In the paper, which was titled "The Illusion of Thinking," Apple researchers said they found this “particularly concerning.”

"Particularly concerning is the counterintuitive reduction in reasoning effort as problems approach critical complexity, suggesting an inherent compute scaling limit in LRMs," the paper stated. "Our detailed analysis of reasoning traces further exposed complexity-dependent reasoning patterns, from inefficient 'overthinking' on simpler problems to complete failure on complex ones. These insights challenge prevailing assumptions about LRM capabilities and suggest that current approaches may be encountering fundamental barriers to generalizable reasoning."

Based on these findings, the paper concluded that the current approach to AI may have reached its limits, stating that the models displayed "fundamental barriers to generalizable reasoning."

Obviously, this is telling about the future of AI as it suggests that AI might not be as far along as some people think.

Why Amazon’s CEO Thinks Corporate Jobs Are About to Disappear

Amazon’s future will be leaner, and it's not because of a downturn. 

CNBC reported that CEO Andy Jassy confirmed that the company’s corporate workforce is expected to shrink in the coming years, not from layoffs alone. His prediction is due to the rapid rollout of generative artificial intelligence.

In a memo to employees this week, Jassy outlined the inevitable shift. "We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today," he wrote, "and more people doing other types of jobs." 

He didn't offer a clear estimate, but the message was clear: AI is rewriting the script — and humans will need to adapt.

Amazon has already laid off more than 27,000 employees since 2022. But this time, the strategy isn't just cost-cutting. It's about efficiency. 

AI is being baked into nearly every part of the company’s operations, from demand forecasting to warehouse automation. Jassy said teams must learn to use AI tools to get more done "with scrappier teams."

Related: This New Amazon-Roku Deal Could Change How You Watch TV

This shift mirrors moves by other major tech players. Shopify now requires staff to prove why AI can't do a task before requesting more resources. Klarna's CEO recently shared that AI had helped shrink their headcount by 40%.

Jassy has repeatedly called AI a "once-in-a-lifetime reinvention" and emphasized how quickly it's moving. 

In his shareholder letter, he noted that AI is already saving companies massive amounts of money and that it's poised to transform everything from coding and shopping to financial services.

Related: Amazon’s Bold Prime Day Move Could Change How You Shop This Summer

Still, for Amazon's more than 1.5 million employees worldwide, many in corporate or logistics roles, the future is uncertain. 

The upside? New roles will emerge. The downside? They'll look very different from the ones disappearing.

With massive AI investment and a growing demand for efficiency, Amazon is making a bet on speed, automation, and leaner teams. 

The question for many: will they be part of that future—or a casualty of it?

Related: Amazon’s Latest Move to Reduce Waste Could Change Online Shopping

Mark Cuban Just Dropped a Wild Healthcare Plan That Might Actually Work

Mark Cuban isn’t running for office, but that didn’t stop the outspoken billionaire from offering a bold solution to the U.S. healthcare crisis. It's one that cuts insurance companies out of the equation entirely.

Responding to a question on X (formerly Twitter) about what he would do if he were in charge of the U.S. healthcare system, Cuban laid out a plan that’s simple, disruptive, and — in his words — "off the top of my head." 

But even without fine-tuning, the core message is clear: give power to the patient, kill the middlemen, and cap financial risk.

Under Cuban’s vision, patients would choose any provider that honors a publicly posted cash price. They’d commit to pay what they could afford, with documentation, and the rest would be taxpayer-financed. 

Repayment would happen through paycheck deductions, no more than 10 percent, and any remaining balance would be forgiven after 15 years.

Still have work to do on the numbers, and this is off the top of my head. But I would allow patients to pick whatever cash pay provider that honors their published price . Have the patient commit to what they can afford to pay , (with documentation ) , and have taxpayers finance… https://t.co/NOcX55J6pJ

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) June 17, 2025

Gone would be the premiums to insurance companies. Instead, families would pay $400–$500 a month for reinsurance, capped at $50,000 per year. That’s the most any family would owe in total medical expenses, regardless of what happened.

"There would be zero premiums to insurance companies," Cuban emphasized. "No PBMs. No health care from employers." 

Private insurance? Optional.

He’d also overhaul Medicare and Medicaid, mandating net pricing on prescriptions and a fee-for-service model for critical infrastructure like claims processing.

Cuban admits his numbers are rough estimates, based on his own company data. However, his plan taps into a growing frustration with America’s bloated, expensive, and opaque healthcare system. 

Related: Mark Cuban’s Bold 8-Word Pitch to Fix Pharma

Cuban's approach removes insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and employer gatekeeping. Instead, it centers the patient while capping risk and streamlining payments.

It's not a campaign promise, but it's the kind of moonshot thinking Cuban is known for. And it's already sparking serious conversation.