Year: 2020

The “Ted Lasso” way is comforting – and a counter to the hollow nationalism Americans have embraced

The “Ted Lasso” way is comforting – and a counter to the hollow nationalism Americans have embraced

Published by Sam Flores

Citing a single favorite scene in “Ted Lasso” may not be impossible, but it is certainly difficult. That’s the burden of a comedy devoid of wasted dialogue or pretentious cleverness – and that merely refers to the joke setups and punchlines. Honestly, if memorable scenes were gems, “Ted Lasso” would be an encrusted splendor fit for the Queen. But there is a monologue nestled within the eighth episode that burrows straight to the core of why this little comedy has sparked something dormant in our hearts. It takes place in a pub where Ted, a character inventively reimagined by Jason Sudeikis, has repaired for a business meeting with his boss Rebecca (West End musical theater favorite Hannah Waddingham). This being a situational comedy, the pair happen to run into Rebecca’s repellent and excessively wealthy ex-husband Rupert (Anthony Head, at his most nefarious) who, in so many words, lets them know that this run-in is not random and proceeds to lord his presence over them. Understand, Rebecca and Ted are known to the tavern regulars but …

The Best Vet-Recommended Cat Foods of 2026

The Best Vet-Recommended Cat Foods of 2026

Published by Sam Flores

Once cats are a year old, it’s typically time to transition them from kitten food to adult food. Because there are dozens of options on the market, deciding what to feed your pet can be difficult. Should you feed your cat wet food, dry food or both? And how can you guarantee that the food you pick is packed with all the nutrients cats need? I talked to veterinarians about these questions, including how much — and how often — cats should eat every day. I also rounded up a handful of cat foods recommended by the experts and NBC Selected pet parents, including myself. Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. The best cat food of 2026 All of the cat food below is AAFCO-compliant, as well as complete and balanced for all life stages. Each option is formulated for cats who follow a standard diet, but if your cat has dietary restrictions or specific health concerns, consult your vet about what’s best for their needs.  …

The true story of the prince of Qatar and his time at USC

The true story of the prince of Qatar and his time at USC

Published by Sam Flores

Los Angeles has long enjoyed a reputation as a playground for the rich, but the handsome teenage prince who arrived nine years ago operated on a different level. He came from the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar on a private jet with a squad of servants, a bottomless natural gas fortune and the stated goal of a college education. He installed himself in the Beverly Wilshire, the hotel that “Pretty Woman” made famous, and embarked on a lifestyle that few undergraduates could imagine — luxury suites for Lakers games, lunch at the Ivy and regular excursions to gamble in Las Vegas. Classic stories from the Los Angeles Times’ 143-year archive He took the town with an entourage, a rotating collection of cousins and friends from back home, in a fleet of exotic sports cars, rubbing elbows with a flashy set that included Scott Disick of “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” and announcing his exuberance in custom trucker hats emblazoned with his initials: KHK. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the son and, later, …

New doc “John Lewis: Good Trouble” gives nuance to a relentless freedom fighter

New doc “John Lewis: Good Trouble” gives nuance to a relentless freedom fighter

Published by Sam Flores

John Lewis is a man of herculean determination. His leadership, faith, and sense of humor are all put on display in Dawn Porter’s powerful and timely documentary “John Lewis: Good Trouble.” The film documents the life of a politician and civil rights leader who has never lost sight of his purpose even when faced with insurmountable odds. The title of the film comes from some advice Lewis likes to give: “When you see something that’s not right, not fine, say something, do something. Get in trouble: good trouble, necessary trouble.” He certainly knows what this means. He has led and participated in thousands of protests, been arrested over 40 times, and spent 33 years in Congress. “Good Trouble” begins by tracing his footsteps growing up in Troy, Ala., where he was born on February 21, 1940, the third of 10 children to a sharecropping family. He grew up during a time when his place in life was defined by the margins of the color line and signs that read White and Colored that provoked him …

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” remains one of the purest portrayals of fighting fascism on modern TV

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” remains one of the purest portrayals of fighting fascism on modern TV

Published by Sam Flores

Among the rare series with an evergreen, timeless appeal, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is particularly special. Despite having originally aired on Nickelodeon, and despite being marketed as a children’s title, Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko created an epic with an appeal that spans generations. Fifteen years after its premiere, all 61 episodes of the animated series arrived on Netflix in May without much fanfare, save for the fandom sounding the call and announcing its availability. Since that day – May 15, to be precise  -– the adventures of Aang, Sokka, Toph, Katara, and their enemy Zuko (and his gentle uncle Iroh) have held on to a spot among the streaming service’s Top 10 most popular titles, holding the No. 1 slot in the earliest days of its tenure. Ordinarily a series’ or film’s ranking on Netfix isn’t worth noting unless its popularity adds context to the discussion, and I don’t have demographic data to break down the ages or backgrounds of who is watching. In this case, though, the sustained popularity of “Avatar” gives me …

“The Ringmaster”: When a documentary about the world’s best onion rings serves up a sobering twist

“The Ringmaster”: When a documentary about the world’s best onion rings serves up a sobering twist

Published by Sam Flores

“The Ringmaster,” screening at the DC Indie Film Festival (March 4-8), is a quirky documentary about onion rings. Not just any onion rings — Worthington, Minn., native Larry Lang’s homemade onion rings. Well, actually, the film isn’t entirely about onion rings; rather it is about Zachary Capp’s efforts to make a documentary about Larry Lang’s onion rings. Capp wants to propel this aging chef’s signature dish from a single restaurant to the world stage. Alas, things don’t quite go as planned. “The Ringmaster,” directed by Molly Dworsky and Dave Newberg, chronicles how Capp, who has an addictive personality — he is a reformed gambling addict — tries to better Lang’s life. However, he manipulates and arguably exploits the chef, for the sake of his self-funded film. (Capp spends boatloads of his inheritance making his documentary over three years until his colleagues tell him, “Enough!”) The humble Larry, who was making his rings in a local saloon, was reluctant to be part of the film. He is also blasé in participating in what might have been …

The internet is widely accessible in Cuba. Why is the U.S. insisting it isn’t?

The internet is widely accessible in Cuba. Why is the U.S. insisting it isn’t?

Published by Sam Flores

Trinidad, Cuba — Sitting at an outdoor café, Alian Rojas deftly thumbs the small keyboard on his iPhone as he calls up The New York Times website. Then he shows a reporter how easily he can use WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube. “I can access any website I want,” says the 30-something tour guide. Cubans can even download the Miami Herald’s Spanish-language El Nuevo Herald, infamous as a font of anti-Cuban government reporting. They can use Signal, an encrypted messaging app developed by Edward Snowden and others, which prevents even the U.S. government from eavesdropping. Over the past 10 years Cuba has made great progress in internet accessibility. Nevertheless, U.S. government officials, right-wing Cuban exiles in Miami, and conservative human rights groups assert that Cuba intentionally limits internet access. Freedom House, a conservative think tank, argues that the Cuban government keeps the country technologically backward and censors dissident websites as part of repressing political dissent. “Cuba remains one of the world’s least connected and most repressive environments for information and communication technologies,” according to a Freedom House report on internet usage. That claim plays well …

Best Acne Treatments for Teens 2026, According to Dermatologists

Best Acne Treatments for Teens 2026, According to Dermatologists

Published by Sam Flores

Acne affects an estimated 80 percent of people between ages 11 and 30 at some point in their lives, according to The National Institutes for Health. It’s most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and affects boys a bit later (ages 16 to 19 years old). Acne can be one of the more anxiety-inducing parts of being a teenager, but most cases are entirely curable, says Dr. Mona Gohara, a dermatologist at Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut. I spoke to dermatologists about the best ways to treat teen breakouts and compiled a list of products that align with their guidance, including options we’ve used. Want more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Best treatments for teen acne Below, I gathered expert-recommended face washes, spot treatments, retinoids, pimple patches and more that can help improve teen acne. All of the following acne products are noncomedogenic and include gentle or acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and adapalene. Best treatments for teen acne Best overall What …

Should Brad Pitt really win an Oscar for acting?

Should Brad Pitt really win an Oscar for acting?

Published by Sam Flores

In an Oscars season rife with controversies, shutouts and disappointments, the one seemingly surefire, feel-good figure this year has been Brad Pitt. Nearly 30 years into his Hollywood career, the hardworking leading man has created some of our most iconic movie moments and developed an uncanny instinct for creative, audience-pleasing parts. Now, he seems a lock to take home his first acting Academy Award (he has one under his belt as a producer on “12 Years a Slave”) for his supporting role as good-natured, possibly wife-killing, history-changing stunt double and righthand man Cliff Booth. But if ever there were a classic case of someone being the odds-on favorite based on overall industry goodwill than a singular performance, Pitt would be our greatest recent example. If merit alone earned awards, would Pitt really take it this year? Or to put it another way, can Brad Pitt act? At 56, the Oklahoma native has entered a career stage where he seems at last to be forgiven for being so really, really, really, ridiculously good looking. Yet perhaps his best trick all …