Latest news with #EmilyinParis
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Victoria Mboko's magical French Open run ends — but the Canadian breakout star is just getting started
It was three years ago and Victoria Mboko was doing her version of 'Emily in Paris.'' Inhaling the city, the bright lights, the fashion chic, the food, and up the Eiffel Tower of course. Just a 15-year-old girl with a blog. But already a rather special 15-year-old, a blossoming junior tennis player savouring her first bite of the French Open. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Upon her return to Canada, she wrote: 'I am just back from Paris where I played Roland-Garros for the first time and it was a tournament I loved so much. The crowd was loud with plenty of people watching the junior matches, and it was great to hear those cheers.'' She loves Roland-Garros a whole lot more now. And Paris has loved her right back this week as the first breakout star at the Grand Slam. China's Zheng Qinwen hits a forehand return against Canada's Victoria Mboko during their third round match at the French Open. ALAIN JOCARD AFP via Getty Images That her magical ride came to an end on Friday morning on the red clay of Court Simonne-Mathieu is hardly a setback, more a projection of wonderful things surely to come. In Zheng Qinwen, Mboko was facing the reigning Olympic gold medallist, world No. 7 and eighth seed. Lost in straight sets — 6-3, 6-4 — but her flawless run to the third round (hadn't dropped a set) means she'll rise in the WTA rankings to well within the top 100 after starting the year at No. 333. And that means the 18-year-old won't have to go through qualifying for Wimbledon in late June. Afterward, Mboko cited fitness and stamina as key areas for improvement. Zheng was the third top-15 player to whom she'd lost in the last 10 weeks. 'I found that (Zheng) was dictating a lot. Especially I think she had a really great forehand that was able to open up the court a lot easier than I did. She has a really great serve, she has a lot of good accuracy, she was hitting a lot of lines.'' And she definitely opened Zheng's eyes: 'For sure she will be one of the best players in the future. I'm 100 per cent sure because she's already got the strength, the game. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'She's really young. She has big potential. She hits the ball really hard and then she had a great serve. She had huge power. She moves on the court really well.'' After bulldozing through three qualifying matches, then knocking out 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Lulu Sun in her main draw Grand Slam debut and disposing of No. 59 Eva Lys, both the weather and the opposition got hotter. Zheng is only 22 herself and has also zoomed up the women's tennis hierarchy in the past few years. It was that experience with the big girls that gave Zheng, from China, the edge in key moments where she elevated her play, most especially in four out of four break points converted. Mboko had her chances, too, but went only 2-for-8. A fusillade of booming forehands garnered the opening game to love for Zheng, while Mboko held her serve in the second game and had her first peek at a break in the next game. Zheng pulled it back to deuce with a terrific return from the top of the bounce that cut off the angle and held for a 2-1 lead. Canada's Victoria Mboko had the crowd on her side throughout the French Open. ALAIN JOCARD AFP via Getty Images Mboko came under immediate pressure on her next serve game as Zheng rushed the Canadian on her shots, not allowing her much time to pick up the ball or even think strategy. The break put Zheng up 3-1, but Mboko broke right back. A miffed volley at the net and tentative approach shot fired back saw the Canadian broken again at 2-4, then Zheng backed up the break at 2-5. Zheng double-faulted on her next service as errors began to creep in, but held. Zheng served out the set with an ace. Zheng uncorked her best game to open the second set, breaking to love on a sequence of masterful drop shots. Mboko, showing off her signature athleticism and pace, struck to break back and level the set at 1-1. Zheng was clearly targeting Mboko's more vulnerable forehand, breaking at 3-2. Mboko held to love at 4-3 and had Zheng scrambling all over the court in the eighth game, ahead 0-40 yet was unable to seize the break. Serving for the match, Zheng struck a couple of impressive backhands, but again Mboko battled to break point before a pair of unreturnable serves squelched any hope of extending the match, with Zheng prevailing in an hour and 26 minutes, booking a place in the Sweet Sixteen for the second time at Roland-Garros. As a happy Zheng prepared for her on-court interview, Mboko gave a farewell wave and thumbs-up to a crowd that had been very much on her side throughout. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Tennis Canadian teen Victoria Mboko is making a name for herself at the French Open. The signs started when she was a toddler Mboko has yet to drop a set heading into a third round match against Zheng Qinwen at the French Open. Those who watched her grow up aren't surprised. Tennis Canadian teen Victoria Mboko is making a name for herself at the French Open. The signs started when she was a toddler Mboko has yet to drop a set heading into a third round match against Zheng Qinwen at the French Open. Those who watched her grow up aren't surprised. It may have been the coda for Mboko's French Open, but it was also a big hello Grand Slam beginning for a young woman born in Charlotte, N.C., to Congolese parents and raised in the GTA as the youngest of four children in a tennis-mad family. The prodigy flash was always there — older sister (by 11 years) Gracia, who attended the University of Denver on a scholarship, tells the story of how a then-nine-year-old Victoria stepped into an open tournament spot at their Burlington home club, lost 6-0, 6-0 to Gracia and was absolutely furious about it. In her first season on tour, Serena Williams -idolizing Mboko has recorded 42 victories at all levels, while Friday was just her sixth loss. This year, she extended top-10 players Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa to three sets in Rome and Miami, respectively. Mboko was red-circled by IMG, the powerful sports talent agency, when she was just 12. She has an endorsement contract with Wilson, which designed her Golden Yellow tennis frock for Roland-Garros. And she still wears braces.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Can we break the curse of ‘bad content'?
In the age of infinite scroll and algorithmic curation, it's getting harder to define 'art'. For some, it's an exercise in profundity, full of intent and crafted with care. Others would argue that art is meaningless, removed from humanity's need to attach purpose to existence. Ironic as it may be, it is in this meaninglessness that 'content' these days finds a purpose. A brain-dead plot-less heist film (anyone watch Saif Ali Khan-starrer Jewel Thief yet?) can comfortably top the charts for days on Netflix. A frivolous show of an American woman fumbling through a Parisian love triangle can rack up four seasons. We can sneer and dismiss 'bad content', but people are watching — a lot, numbers show. In the second half of 2024 alone, viewers watched 94 billion hours of Netflix. In fact, the show mentioned above, Emily in Paris, was watched 58 million times worldwide. Recently, Will Tavlin's brilliant essay written for n+1 magazine spotlighted a worrying trend. It dove into Netflix's 'not second screen enough' secret. If the phone is your primary screen, then the show playing in the background, on your second screen, say your laptop or TV, must not interfere with it. In rejecting a script that's not 'second-screen enough', the OTT executives make space for content that fetches them views without the user ever watching. This economics of unwatchable content relies on our reduced attention spans. Now, this isn't an attack on Netflix, and 'casual viewing', where you watch but barely pay attention, is by no means a new phenomenon. After an eight-hour shift slogging through meetings and emails, there's an undeniable allure in letting your brain clock out for the day. Earlier, it would be what people called 'trash TV', one that didn't require much processing. Now, it's the shows tailor-made for casual viewing. The arcs are predictable, the dialogues are banal. You could even be re-watching something. You know how it ends; you could probably finish the dialogue before the actor. You can tune in and out as you please. The situation, however, is not cataclysmic. There are shows that still grip us, make us cry, laugh and even angry. There are scripts that demand our attention, dialogues that make it to Instagram captions, and plots that are discussed on Reddit threads. Take the recent British offering, Adolescence, for instance, which sparked conversations worldwide and piqued interest with its unique cinematography. Or the spy thriller Slow Horses on Apple TV that didn't stop serving even with four seasons. Friends in the OTT industry tell me that while filmmakers acknowledge reduced attention spans, not all cater to it. As a recent Indian Express report also found, second-screen writing isn't an industry-wide phenomenon just yet. Tavlin's essay revealed that Netflix wants screenwriters to have the characters clearly announce what they are doing. However, an Indian screenwriter, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that this concept of 'over-exposition' isn't new for Indian cinema at all. Think of any massy entertainer, whether for comedic relief or dramatic effect, characters are often too verbose about their intentions. A recent example from the Jewel Thief comes to mind (spoiler ahead). As our slick protagonist, played by Saif Ali Khan, tries to hack into a safe, he tells us it has four locks in total. The camera focuses as he opens two of them. Khan, rather redundantly, then announces, 'two down, two more to go'. Similarly, years back, in Om Shanti Om (2007), one of the scenes focuses on Pappu (Shreyas Talpade), who has conspired to light a photo frame on fire using an electronic contraption. But the circuit appears to break. After multiple cuts clearly showing that the wire has detached, Pappu proclaims that it is not working, lest the audience miss that fact. The 'second-screen' phenomenon, however, forces us to question: Why are OTT platforms churning out brain-dead content? As hard as it may be to admit, the answer may lie in our viewing habits. Even as I type this, my phone lights up with a notification. I glance over—just in case it's important. It rarely is, but what if this time? One thing leads to another. Now I'm watching a reel about five ways to style a saree, followed by a prodigal child singing Lata Mangeshkar, followed by a stand-up comic doing a knock-knock joke. Each bit of content — tiny, digestible, and deliberately non-essential — is just two seconds of my attention. In this constant feed of almost-entertainment, a carousel of casual viewing, nothing sticks; nothing wants to. Perhaps, the value of content today is not in its substance, but in its disposability. Sonal Gupta is a senior sub-editor on the news desk. She writes feature stories and explainers on a wide range of topics from art and culture to international affairs. She also curates the Morning Expresso, a daily briefing of top stories of the day, which won gold in the 'best newsletter' category at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2023. She also edits our newly-launched pop culture section, Fresh Take. ... Read More
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Netflix warning as Brits risk £1,000 fine this weekend for little-known mistake
Streaming giant Netflix is counting down the days to its highly-anticipated live show Tudum. However, Brits watching the star-filled programme could be risking a £1,000 fine Brits watching Netflix this weekend could end up being slapped with a hefty fine for accidentally breaking a strict rule. On Saturday, May 31, the streaming giant will air a live show exploring behind-the-scenes access to some of its most beloved films and TV series. Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event will broadcast from Los Angeles at 8pm ET (Midnight on Sunday, June 1 for the UK) and will feature live performances from acclaimed singer Lady Gaga and Hanumankind. The show, hosted by actress Sofia Carson, will feature appearances from 'dozens' of Netflix stars, and is named after the iconic sound that plays at the start of every Netflix title. Tickets for Tudum are sold out - but Brits will still be able to join in on the fun from the comfort of their own home. "For one night only, Netflix 's biggest and brightest will hit the stage and stream live from Los Angeles," Netflix said. "The show is stacked with Netflix news and exclusive reveals about titles you won't want to miss, including your favourite stars from Emily in Paris, Frankenstein, Happy Gilmore 2, Love Is Blind, ONE PIECE, Outer Banks, The Rip, Squid Game, Stranger Things, and more." However, Brits watching Tudum without a TV Licence risk being issued a staggering £1,000 fine (or £2,000 if you live in Guernsey). This is because the BBC TV Licence, which is currently priced at £174.50 per annum, is required for anyone who records or watches live TV - even on a paid-for streaming site. You also need a TV Licence to access any content on BBC iPlayer, even if it's not live. As previously reported, those suspected of watching live TV without a licence may receive a visit from an inspector. While you can't be jailed for not paying your TV Licence, you do risk imprisonment for not paying fines imposed by the court. A judge may also approve of a warrant allowing an officer to enter your home. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Hundreds of thousands of Brits are actually eligible for a free TV Licence, without even realising. You can wipe the hefty fee if you're aged 75 or over and are in receipt of Pension Credits, or you live with a partner who gets Pension Credit. Those living in care or sheltered accommodation, are retired and over 60 or disabled are also eligible for a heavily discounted TV Licence (£7.50 per annum). If you're registered blind or live with someone who is - you can get a 50 per cent discount. Remember, you do not need a TV Licence if you only watch non-live content on streaming sites such as Netflix or Disney+. It is only if you watch live content on these platforms that you risk being fined for not having a licence.
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Elle
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
New ‘Emily in Paris' Set Photos Feature Emily Kissing [Spoiler]
Lily Collins is back at work filming Emily in Paris season 5 in Rome, and the latest shots from set give a big update on her character Emily's love life. In an upcoming scene, Emily appears kissing Marcello (Eugenio Franceschini) on a balcony while dressed in a black and red strapless gown. Emily and Marcello started their romance at the end of season 4, but the show teased complications ahead, with Emily's longtime French love interest Gabriel (Lucas Bravo) determined to win her back. This March, Collins spoke to ELLE about her excitement about stepping back into Emily's enviable wardrobe for season 5. 'It's such a pleasure to be part of a global show that highlights new and upcoming designers and provides them a platform to showcase their work,' she said. 'Fashion is such a big part of our show that it has become a character itself. Our costumes help us tell our stories in ways that words sometimes cannot.' Meanwhile, show creator Darren Star spoke candidly about Emily's love life in a September Hollywood Reporter interview. He explained that he needed to break Gabriel and Emily up, but they could have a future together. 'I think that real relationships have a lot of ups and downs, and so there's a point at which, yes, the audience could see them together,' Star said. 'But then the show would be Emily and Gabriel happy together. And I'm not sure that's the show anybody really wants to see, either. So I think that sometimes they have amazing chemistry and amazing connection, and yet they've got some obstacles. And maybe Emily and Gabriel aren't meant to be for now. Maybe they will be for later.' He also touched on Marcello's introduction to the show, saying, 'I wanted to bring in a new love interest for Emily that would feel like a fresh start after all of the drama with Gabriel. Marcello comes into Emily's life in an unexpected way and opens the door to so many possibilities for Emily: new country, new culture, new adventure.' Watch Emily in Paris on Netflix
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Will Millie Bobby Brown's Stranger Things Season 5 Hit Screens in 2026? New Release Date Hint Explored
Stranger Things season 5 is highly anticipated by the fans of the show. Finn Wolfhard previously dropped hints about the final bunch of episodes and claimed that it is going to be bittersweet for the cast members as well as the viewers of the show. However, the question still remains: when will the Millie Bobby Brown starrer hit Netflix? The release date for the final season of the show has not been revealed yet but will potentially drop in the later months of this year. According to a source on X, the show will not release in two parts but in three volumes instead. This means that the last batch of episodes will hit the digital screens in 2026. The news has not been confirmed by Netflix yet. The release date for Stranger Things season 5 is expected to be revealed during the streaming platform's annual event, Tudum. Apart from the sci-fi series, the event is also expected to share the details about other shows, including Emily in Paris and Squid Games season 3. Previously, the media reports confirmed that after the conclusion of Stranger Things season 5, the makers of the show are coming up with an animated series titled Stranger Things: Tales From '85. It is not disclosed yet whether the original cast members of the show will return to the spin-off series or not. Meanwhile, Netflix has already released the teaser for the upcoming season, which also unveiled the titles of the episodes, which include The Crawl, The Vanishing Of _____, The Turnbow Trap, Sorcerer, Shock Jock, Escape from Camazotz, The Bridge, and The Rightside up. As for the cast of season 5, Millie Bobby Brown, Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink will reprise their roles. All episodes of Stranger Things season 1 to 4 are available to stream on Netflix.
