Michael Keaton drops by as Julian Assange to help SNL roast the latest celebrity jailbirds - The A.V. Club

Michael Keaton, Kyle Mooney, Kate McKinnon, Chris Redd, Kenan Thompson, Pete Davidson

Screenshot: Saturday Night Live

Last night’s Emma Stone-hosted Saturday Night Live saw Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump sabbatical continue, with a cold open instead focusing on some other high-profile miscreants played by visiting celebrity royalty. In a sketch parodying MSNBC’s roster of behind bars reality voyeurism, the kickoff sketch saw Kate McKinnon’s Lori Loughlin (mail fraud, money laundering, college admissions rich person chicanery), Pete Davidson’s satanically slimy Michael Avenatti (even more lawyerly shadiness than you suspected), and Melissa Villaseñor’s Tekashi 6ix9ine (“just robbery and gun stuff”) all sharing the same cell for their misdeeds. Each vied for the baddest new kid on the cell block by boasting of their well-documented crimes, with Loughlin coming out on top by not only bribing her way into the local Nation Of Islam gang but boasting to her cowed cellmates that’s she’s been through a TV wringer that would drive anyone beyond the brink. (“I’ve been in 68 Hallmark movies,” McKinnon’s Loughlin sneered to shaken prisoner Chris Redd, “I’ve seen hell!”) She also has a toothbrush shank for anyone who plays that Aunt Becky shit.

But the undisputed king of the crazies turned out to be the sketch’s biggest surprise, as a bearded, nigh-unrecognizable Michael Keaton emerged as newly incarcerated Wikileaks founder and “actual James Bond supervillain” Julian Assange. Cornering tough-talking con Kyle Mooney, Keaton’s crazy-eyed Assange threatened Mooney with the worst fate of all—his internet search history, dick pics, and that folder of Shark Tank pitches. “You wanna know how crazy I am?,” asked Keaton’s Assange gleefully, “I’m wanted in the U.S. and Sweden, I’m from Australia, I live in London, in Ecuador—you try figuring that one out.” And if Keaton’s Assange didn’t have the mellifluously accented evil purr of Bill Hader’s, he at least brought a Batman quote to the party. After all, Assange will, as the cleaning staff of the Ecuadorian embassy can attest, get nuts.

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2019-04-14 09:56:00Z
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Tame Impala's Coachella headline set could be a huge moment for the band but, instead, feels like a wasted opportunity - NME.com

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2019-04-14 09:49:00Z
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BTS performed on 'SNL' and fans went crazy - CNN

Sure, "Saturday Night Live" was hosted by Emma Stone and took jabs at Michael Avenatti, Lori Loughlin, Julian Assange and "The View" -- but the spotlight belonged to the seven members of the boy band sensation.

BTS became the first Korean pop, or K-pop, group to perform on SNL. Korean pop music has been steadily growing in popularity. But BTS has elevated the genre into an international movement.

The group's new album, "Map of the Soul: Persona," is expected to smash sales charts.

The group's high-energy dance moves and pitch-perfect vocals as they performed "Boy With Luv" and "Mic Drop," drew screams and applause from the "SNL" audience and lit up social media.

Their fans, collectively known as ARMY, were in full force on Twitter and Instagram during the band's two performances.

"My daughter is making really weird mouth noises watching #BTSxSNL and just had to take her hoodie off because she's sweating. It's a #BTSARMY thing for those not aware," said radio host JJ Ryan.

"Slay!!! Their voices were perfection... They adapted their dancing to that tiny stage. And they were backed by what looked like a Korean band. I feel like a proud auntie. I...even put my cake down for this performance," said Jae-Ha Kim, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times.

"Live band. Killer vocals. Moves for days. Crushed it! That's how you say 'what's up America? #BTSxSNL'" said writer Colleen Nika.

"I screamed in my living room. Not even gonna lie. #BTSxSNL" said actress Angie Grace.

The band's performance also sparked a conversation about the historic and cultural impact.

"I've been watching SNL since the late '70s til I stopped watching in the 90s. Never seeing an Asian face on their staff always stung. But tonight I just saw 7 Korean faces gracing that damn stage and it was the best part of that show so I AM OVER IT. #BTSxSNL," said actor Paul Bae.

CNN's Madeline Holcombe contributed to this report.

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2019-04-14 08:22:00Z
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BTS performed on 'SNL' and fans went crazy - CNN

Sure, "Saturday Night Live" was hosted by Emma Stone and took jabs at Michael Avenatti, Lori Loughlin, Julian Assange and "The View" -- but the spotlight belonged to the seven members of the boy band sensation.

BTS became the first Korean pop, or K-pop, group to perform on SNL. Korean pop music has been steadily growing in popularity. But BTS has elevated the genre into an international movement.

The group's new album, "Map of the Soul: Persona," is expected to smash sales charts.

The group's high-energy dance moves and pitch-perfect vocals as they performed "Boy With Luv" and "Mic Drop," drew screams and applause from the "SNL" audience and lit up social media.

Their fans, collectively known as ARMY, were in full force on Twitter and Instagram during the band's two performances.

"My daughter is making really weird mouth noises watching #BTSxSNL and just had to take her hoodie off because she's sweating. It's a #BTSARMY thing for those not aware," said radio host JJ Ryan.

"Slay!!! Their voices were perfection... They adapted their dancing to that tiny stage. And they were backed by what looked like a Korean band. I feel like a proud auntie. I...even put my cake down for this performance," said Jae-Ha Kim, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times.

"Live band. Killer vocals. Moves for days. Crushed it! That's how you say 'what's up America? #BTSxSNL'" said writer Colleen Nika.

"I screamed in my living room. Not even gonna lie. #BTSxSNL" said actress Angie Grace.

The band's performance also sparked a conversation about the historic and cultural impact.

"I've been watching SNL since the late '70s til I stopped watching in the 90s. Never seeing an Asian face on their staff always stung. But tonight I just saw 7 Korean faces gracing that damn stage and it was the best part of that show so I AM OVER IT. #BTSxSNL," said actor Paul Bae.

CNN's Madeline Holcombe contributed to this report.

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2019-04-14 06:51:00Z
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BTS performed on SNL and fans went crazy - CNN

Sure, "Saturday Night Live" was hosted by Emma Stone and took jabs at Michael Avenatti, Lori Loughlin, Julian Assange and "The View" -- but the spotlight belonged to the seven members of the boy band sensation.

BTS became the first Korean pop, or K-pop, group to perform on SNL. Korean pop music has been steadily growing in popularity. But BTS has elevated the genre into an international movement.

The group's new album, "Map of the Soul: Persona," is expected to smash sales charts.

The group's high-energy dance moves and pitch-perfect vocals as they performed "Boy With Luv" and "Mic Drop," drew screams and applause from the "SNL" audience and lit up social media.

Their fans, collectively known as ARMY, were in full force on Twitter and Instagram during the band's two performances.

"My daughter is making really weird mouth noises watching #BTSxSNL and just had to take her hoodie off because she's sweating. It's a #BTSARMY thing for those not aware," said radio host JJ Ryan.

"Slay!!! Their voices were perfection... They adapted their dancing to that tiny stage. And they were backed by what looked like a Korean band. I feel like a proud auntie. I...even put my cake down for this performance," said Jae-Ha Kim, a journalist for the Los Angeles Times.

"Live band. Killer vocals. Moves for days. Crushed it! That's how you say 'what's up America? #BTSxSNL'" said writer Colleen Nika.

"I screamed in my living room. Not even gonna lie. #BTSxSNL" said actress Angie Grace.

The band's performance also sparked a conversation about the historic and cultural impact.

"I've been watching SNL since the late '70s til I stopped watching in the 90s. Never seeing an Asian face on their staff always stung. But tonight I just saw 7 Korean faces gracing that damn stage and it was the best part of that show so I AM OVER IT. #BTSxSNL," said actor Paul Bae.

CNN's Madeline Holcombe contributed to this report.

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2019-04-14 06:32:00Z
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Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Release Date, Trailer, Gameplay Details Revealed - IGN

Apex Legends developer Respawn Entertainment unveiled its new Star Wars game.

By Jonathon Dornbush

After a couple of teases, EA and Respawn Entertainment have finally revealed the first details about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, including its release date and on what platforms players can expect it.

EA has given Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order a release date of November 15, 2019, and it will be released on Xbox One, PS4, and PC via EA Origin. As Respawn, the studio behind Titanfall and Apex Legends, and EA announced in the hours leading up to the panel, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a single-player game with no multiplayer elements or microtransactions.

Watch the full Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order story trailer below.

Exit Theatre Mode

Jedi: Fallen Order’s story falls on the timeline of Star Wars canon shortly after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. EA has previously revealed the story will focus on a young Padawan, but Respawn confirmed today that character is Cal Kestis, who will be played by Shameless and Gotham’s Cameron Monaghan. Here's everything we learned about the game from its Star Wars Celebration 2019 panel.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Story Details

Cal has survived Order 66, the Emperor’s decree to eliminate the Jedi. According to EA and Respawn, “Players must pick up the pieces of Cal’s shattered past to complete his training and master the art of the iconic lightsaber - all while staying one step ahead of the Empire and its deadly Inquisitors.”

Jedi: Fallen Order will feature new locations in the Star Wars universe, including Bracca, where Cal’s story begins. Respawn has confirmed that Jedi: Fallen Oder will also feature iconic Star Wars locations, in addition to familiar gear, weapons, and enemies.

Be sure to check out our immediate reaction to Jedi: Fallen Order from the Star Wars Celebration showfloor.

Exit Theatre Mode

He’s hiding out there, but forced to go on the run after his Force powers are exposed. A story trailer, viewable above, showed off a bit of Cal's journey, his efforts to keep a low profile, and what happens when his powers are discovered. The trailer also confirmed Cal will, at some point, have a blue lightsaber.

The rest of Jedi: Fallen Order’s official story description, per EA's official release, reads:

“Along the way, Cal will make new friends, like his mysterious companion Cere, as well as run into some familiar faces, all while being accompanied by his faithful droid BD-1. Cal’s flight from the Empire is made even more dangerous as he is being pursued by the Second Sister, one of the Empire’s elite Inquisitors, who seeks to hunt Cal down and extinguish this surviving Jedi. Assisting the Second Sister are the terrifying Purge Troopers, special Imperial forces trained to seek out Jedi and aid the Inquisitors in their dastardly work.”

Check out our full Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order character breakdown for more.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Gameplay Details

As the title suggests, Jedi:Fallen Order will put an emphasis on the Jedi, and particularly lightsaber combat. EA and Respawn say “Players will use their Jedi training to create different melee combinations with an innovative lightsaber combat system and Force abilities.”

Jedi: Fallen Order will also feature some platforming abilities for traversal, as players will need to “overcome opponents and solve puzzles in their path.”

Exit Theatre Mode

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Preorder and Release Date Details

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is set for a November 15, 2019 release date for PC, Xbox One, and PS4. It is currently available for preorder, and preordering will give players unique cosmetic content for the game.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available for preorder on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and its deluxe edition is also available for preorder for Xbox One and PS4. And check out our complete guide to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order preorder bonuses for more.

If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.

You can also of course read about the Jedi: Fallen order artwork that leaked ahead of this reveal, including all the clues we thought we caught about what the Jedi: Fallen Order art may reveal.

And of course, we have plenty more coverage from Star Wars Celebration, including our comprehensive coverage on everything we've learned so far about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Stay tuned to IGN for more details on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's News editor, talk to him about how hyped you are for Jedi: Fallen Order on Twitter @jmdornbush.

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2019-04-14 00:21:00Z
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‘Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order’ Is a Single-Player Jedi Fantasy Story Game - Collider.com

Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment showed off their brand new game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, at Star Wars Celebration today and it looks like it will deliver for anyone looking to take a step away from the multi-player format and dive into a single-player story. The game is set shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith and centers on a young Padawan who managed to survive Order 66, an order that branded all Jedi traitors to the Galactic Republic and targets for execution by the Grand Army of the Republic’s clone troopers. Electronic Arts has had a rough go with the Star Wars franchise as of late for a variety of reasons, but at this point, it does seem as though Fallen Order has a chance of getting the company back in the fandom’s good graces.

Jedi: Fallen Order is no Star Wars: Battlefront. There is no multiplayer and no micro-transactions; it’s a single-player Jedi fantasy story game, and it’s a labor of love for the folks at Respawn who took the stage to unveil the game. As they explained, the goal was to tell a Jedi story and put a lightsaber in the player’s hand. That simple yet powerful concept is what started it all, but developing a detailed canon story took a significant amount of time and collaboration.

Image via EA Star Wars

Meet the main character, Cal Kestis played by Shameless and Gotham star Cameron Monaghan. He’s the young Padawan who survived Order 66 and now he’s on the run during some very dark times when the Empire is at the height of its power. Cal must evade the Empire’s Inquisitors but he chooses to do so while secretly continuing his training with his lightsaber and Force powers. We begin our journey with Cal on the planet Bracca. After an incident that requires him to reveal his Force-wielding abilities, Cal is forced to pick up and make a run for it again.

Monaghan describes Cal as someone with grit to him. He’s street smart, wary, and has been through a lot. But despite the tragedy he’s experienced, Cal is still someone with a sense of optimism and a good heart. Even though Cal did feel a bit isolated during the Jedi: Fallen Order trailer, he’ll have some allies by his side throughout the story including Cere and also a droid named BD-1. 

Cere is played by Debra Wilson and was described as a mysterious companion and former Jedi Knight. They said she will act as a mentor to Cal, but don’t expect the traditional Padawan/Jedi Master relationship we’ve seen before. Apparently there’s a “strange family” that’s formed in the game, a team that bands together to explore the galaxy and Cere is part of it.

There’s also my personal favorite reveal of the panel, the new droid BD-1, which stands for Buddy Droid 1. And that’s essentially what he is to Cal, a buddy! They’re best friends. BD-1 isn’t a sidekick. They’re equals on their journey and they learn to lean on one another. BD-1 also provides a little light in a story that takes place during such dark times. The team even got legendary sound designer and voice actor Ben Burtt to do BD-1’s vocalizations.

Image via EA Star Wars

Another character to keep an eye out for is Second Sister, an elite Inquisitor trying to hunt Cal down. Second Sister is actually a nice nod to the collaboration happening between different Star Wars departments because that character has already been teed up in Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader #19.

She’s also got a new kind of Stormtrooper at her disposal, the Purge Trooper. With only so many Inquisitors to go around, these Purge Troopers are trained to deal with Jedi and are the ones who are dispatched first to investigate, and then the Inquisitors are called in. A significant group of traditional Stormtroopers can pose a threat, but when it came to the gameplay in Jedi: Fallen Order, the developers wanted foes who could offer up meaty one-on-one fights, and so the Purge Troopers were born.

And speaking of the game play, the key here for Respawn was the importance of touch and feel. They’re developing “thoughtful combat;” you have to size up your enemy and identify their weaknesses. They’re working to ensure that the combat is easy to pick up so that anyone can get right into the game, but, if you put the time in, you can master the techniques.

Image via EA Star Wars

Monaghan also stressed how the performance capture experience differed from his pre-conceived understanding of motion capture. He said that the technology used to create Cal is more in-depth with the capability of picking up subtle changes in emotion, body and movement to deliver a nuanced and detailed performance. While playing Cal in the performance capture suit, Monaghan said that his only limitation was his own imagination.

Shortly before the end of the panel, the host asked about Cal’s lightsaber and the response was a cryptic, “How do you know that’s Cal’s lightsaber?” The group wouldn’t go much further than that but they did tease that the lightsaber is tied to the story and that over the course of the game, it’ll grow and evolve. They dubbed it a reflection of Cal.

You can give the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order trailer a watch for yourself below. The game will be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on November 15, 2019.

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2019-04-13 22:01:02Z
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