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Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Doyel: Jim Irsay loved his daughters, his Colts and his music. And Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS – They're telling Jim Irsay stories at his funeral service on Monday, and you don't know whether to laugh or cry. In the sanctuary of St. Luke's United Methodist Church, people are doing both. We're laughing to hear about Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, power lifter of weights, being the Irsay family chef on Christmas morning, making omelets. His secret? Feta cheese. And laughing he'd get on the blender and make the best homemade chocolate shake anyone ever had. His secret? French vanilla creamer. Laughing, because when he was a boy in Winnetka, Illinois, he'd get permission to invite a friend — one friend — for a sleepover. As that kid was knocking on the front door, greeting Jim's parents, a handful of others would be sneaking around back and sneaking in through Jim's window. 'Late Night Action,' Irsay called those secret missions. Laughing, because when he became a father he'd sketch out happy little pictures for his girls. Irsay knew he wasn't much of an artist, so he'd include sticky notes on the pictures with arrows pointing out details like: 'This is a mountain!' Laughing, because he watched 'The Big Lebowski' and 'The Martian' so often he had them memorized. Laughing, because he was the same with musical lyrics. No, he was even better with lyrics, and had a knack for coming up with the perfect lyric for any situation. He'd encourage his three daughters — Carlie, Casey and Kalen — to learn the songs of his beloved Beatles like this: When a Beatles song started playing, the first girl to come up with the title and singer got a Tic Tac. Laughing, because so many speakers at the funeral can do a passable imitation of Irsay's slowly crooning voice, including some of his favorite catchphrases: 'Fire up,' he'd say to motivate someone. 'Really? Oh wow,' he'd say when he was told something of great importance, like McDonald's introducing its all-day breakfast menu. Laughing, because the house where he and Meg raised their girls — not far from St. Luke's, where the family walked to services — had an intercom, and you know Jim Irsay. He loved a microphone, didn't he? Any excuse to get on that intercom was sufficient. At the first sign of snow outside, even a single flake, the house filled up with his deep, gravelly, excited voice: 'Girls, no school tomorrow!' Crying, because every story comes with an unspoken afterward. Crying, because he's gone. Doyel obituary: Jim Irsay died and we're less for it; Indianapolis, the Colts, all of us Hey Jude, don't make it bad Take a sad song and make it better Those are the first lyrics from the first song on the Jim Irsay funeral playlist — 'Hey Jude,' by The Beatles — as guests are being seated and family photos are playing across a giant video screen. Here's one of Jim and Peyton Manning at Pebble Beach. Now he's holding the Super Bowl XLI trophy alongside coach Tony Dungy. Here he is, hoisting that same trophy after receiving it from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Pictures with Colts chief operating officer and dear friend of decades, Pete Ward — 'We're like Lennon and McCartney,' Irsay would tell Ward, who'd respond: 'More like Lennon and Ringo' — and John Madden, and Jerry Jones, and George Bush at the White House. Did you know Jim Irsay liked to play kickball? Or wear Rudolph's red nose? Or pull up his sleeves and growl as he compared biceps with his daughters? So many pictures, more than any other kind, of Jim with his favorite people on Earth: his three daughters, and his 10 grandchildren Ten people spoke, all of whom have known Jim for decades, with one admitting they'd been considering this eulogy for 20 years because, as most knew, 'He's had some brushes with death.' We are also told how Jim Irsay took a sad song and made it better, how he befriended players on his dad's Baltimore Colts as a teenager, lifting weights with them, defending them to his alcohol-fueled, rage-filled father and being watched over in return by those 1970s NFL players, 'Because they knew growing up was hell for Jim.' The crowd was the eclectic group you'd expect of a man who befriended rockers and poets and people experiencing homelessness. There were Colts past and present, quarterbacks and kickers, punters and tight ends, more. Every one of the Colts' past 25 years of coaches: Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Chuck Pagano, Frank Reich and Shane Steichen. Every front-office leader too: Bill Polian, Ryan Grigson, Chris Ballard. An eclectic mix that included high-ranking members of IMPD and Pacers executives and a handful of media: local and national, print and television. One speaker introduced himself as having met Irsay 'at a meeting.' He doesn't say what kind of meeting, then invites the crowd to join him in the 'Serenity Prayer' and calls Irsay 'a calming voice offering hope, comfort and support' at meetings. People gravitated toward him afterward, the speaker told the crowd, and Jim stuck around, giving others 'the courage to keep going.' Jim built some clubs that would hold meetings and renovated others — new carpet, nice chairs, like that — so attendees of these meetings would have a place 'where they were could feel like home.' Jim Irsay was an addict, as he talked about freely. Were there occasional headlines? Yes. It happens. The disease is cruel, and it does not discriminate. The Eastern Star Church choir is here to sing two songs, and its first selection is the 1929 hymn 'I'll Fly Away.' It starts like this: Some glad morning when this night is o'er I will fly away I will be free one day Jim Irsay is free now. Just yesterday morning they let us know you were gone… That's the third song on the pre-service playlist, that 1970 piece by James Taylor about life and death, addiction and fame. The crowd that files into the sanctuary walks past pictures of Irsay and his girls, Irsay and his grandkids, Irsay and his dog, a Maltese-Shih Tzu mix named Drake. The casket is near the pastor's pulpit, the lid a strong Colts blue, surrounded by nearly a dozen guitars and more pictures of Irsay and his family and a wreath of flowers shaped into a horseshoe. Another song: 'I am the Walrus' by The Beatles (1967). Another: 'What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye (1971). Another: 'Tired of Being Alone' by Al Green (1971). The songs are telling the story of Jim Irsay, a romantic and an optimist and a dreamer. And a realist who'd tell people, 'It's lonely at the top.' Soon John Mellencamp is playing, but not over the loudspeakers. He's right up there — next to the casket, in front of Irsay's prized drum set once played by The Beatles — having entered the sanctuary through a side door. Irsay was 24 when they met, shortly after the Colts came here from Baltimore in early 1984. Mellencamp was 32, and Irsay called him his 'big brother.' 'He was a dreamer,' Mellencamp says before he plays his first song. 'We all need to be dreamers. And he did that so well.' Mellencamp says he wrote the song he's about to play first, 'Longest Days,' for his mom. 'She lived to be 100,' he says. 'Wish I could say the same for Jimmy.' Then he's playing 'Pink Houses,' and if you're getting chills as you read those words, you're not the only one. All over St. Luke's, people in mourning are tapping their feet. Leather shoes, wing tips, high heels — they're keeping the beat. Irsay would've liked that. And this was a moment that Irsay, who talked about death quite a bit, had discussed with Mellencamp. 'He asked for this song to be played,' Mellencamp says. Doyel in 2014: Discovering Jim Irsay's private side — a heart of gold Doyel in 2022: Scars of Irsay family's mental health issues run deep. They share to heal, help. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die… Those are the first three lines from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, a scripture the family asked Dungy to read. As the nearly two-hour service unfolded, speakers kept describing the misunderstood essence of Jim Irsay in bursts of one or two sentences. No need to identify the speakers; this wasn't a news conference. This was further illumination of this city's biggest champion: 'A proud student of the school of life.' 'I'm going to miss his innocent and loving eccentricities.' 'He loved the Colts, he loved the state, and boy did he love people.' 'He was wonderfully, perfectly imperfect.' 'He'd speak to a homeless person in New York like he'd speak to one of his fellow (NFL) owners.' 'He believed in God, he believed in angels who were looking after him, and he believed that one day those angels would lead him into the arms of God.' 'I wish I could've seen it last week when he met his beloved John Lennon: 'What's up, brother!'' 'If you wanted to get on his bad side, talk down to somebody in the (Colts) building. He hated that.' 'Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud Those are the first two lines of 'Shelter in the Storm,' a 1975 song by Bob Dylan, another of Irsay's beloveds. The crowd is treated to audio of Irsay introducing that song at a club in Nashville, before he sings it in a passable rendition — better than that; the man had real talent — of Dylan himself. 'Three, two, one,' Irsay says, warming up before getting started on his introduction. 'Sometimes we can be trapped in this wilderness we call the world here…' Irsay continues in that gravelly smoker's voice of his, and while there is no video, you can hear him speaking around a smile. Then he is singing, and this is the end of the service. Jim Irsay is having the last word at the Jim Irsay funeral, and guests are holding candles as several of Irsay's grandchildren walk from row to row, lighting each candle at the edge of the row, the fire being passed from mourner to mourner until there are 1,000 or more flickering lights while Irsay sings to mourners in what the ceremony program calls a 'message from Jim in heaven.' He was a fascinating man, Jim Irsay, an intellectual who studied the lives of Teddy Roosevelt and George Halas, JFK and MLK. He was the Colts' No. 1 fan, celebrating with family the team's home victories — every one of them, for years — with takeout from Hollyhock Hill restaurant on the northside. He was a girl dad, writing the song 'Lily White' about the joy of watching his babies sleep. A grainy home video of Irsay singing that song played Monday at St. Luke's, with Irsay strumming his guitar and singing over audible conversations all over the room. Someone behind camera keeps giggling as he describes his girls, these future owners of the Indianapolis Colts, in hues of white and pink. He was a romantic, Jim Irsay. A man of music, a man of dreams. 'As we all go on,' Mellencamp had said before walking out the way he came in, 'think of Jimmy from time to time and what he did for this community. And let's hope his dreams come true.' Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Threads, or on BlueSky and Twitter at @GreggDoyelStar, or at Subscribe to the free weekly Doyel on Demand newsletter.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
3 best new Netflix movies you (probably) missed this month
Netflix adds a lot of new movies every single month, and naturally, when dozens of new additions flood the streaming service's library, some will get lost in the shuffle. May 2025 has been a slow month for new Netflix original movies, and the few that did arrive, like 'Nonnas,' went straight to No. 1, so they enjoyed plenty of attention. However, Netflix also added a bunch of older library titles this month, and a few of these didn't quite receive the interest that I had expected. So, if you think you've exhausted the 'new arrivals' section, here are three new movies added to Netflix this month that you (probably) haven't watched yet. I was a little surprised that 'Hanna' didn't make more of an impression on Netflix subscribers this month. Netflix viewers seem to gobble up action-thrillers with glee (even the bad ones, like the awful 'Midnight in the Switchgrass' which went to No. 1), and yet this 2011 assassin thriller didn't even manage to rank in the top 10 list. That's a real shame, as it's a well-crafted globe-trotting ride that packs a breakthrough performance from a young Saoirse Ronan. The eponymous Hanna (Ronan) is a 15-year-old with extraordinarily lethal skills after a childhood of training under the watch of her stern father, Erik Heller (Eric Bana), an ex-C.I.A. operative. Hanna's upbringing has shaped her into a lethal assassin, but she is forced to question everything she knows when she's dispatched to eliminate a target with ties to Erik's past, Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett). What follows is a deadly cat-and-mouse game, and as Hanna gets closer to some hidden truths about her past, her primary objective begins to shift. Watch "Hanna' on Netflix now The enigmatic Coen Brothers are most fondly known for their work on movies like 'The Big Lebowski,' 'Fargo' and 'No Country for Old Men.' Those are all fantastic flicks and have earned deserved plaudits, but for my money, 'Burn After Reading' is the directing duo's most overlooked film. This black comedy packs an all-star cast with George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt all in the mix. Plus, it boasts a charmingly irreverent tone and the Coens' usual habit of writing laser-sharp scripts. It's a real hoot and a half. Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) is a retired CIA analyst who decides to write his memoir. Meanwhile, his wife (Swinton) is having an affair with U.S. Marshal Harry (Clooney). When a CD with Osbourne's first memoir draft is left behind in a gym locker room and found by two bumbling employees (Pitt and McDormand), the pair think they've found the perfect get-rich-quick scheme. They plan to blackmail Osbourne for the return of what they believe to be classified government information. It all leads to a messy knot of hilarious mix-ups, melodrama and unexpected consequences for all parties involved. Watch "Burn After Reading' on Netflix now 'Train to Busan' is another case where I'm more than a little surprised that the movie didn't make a real impact on the Netflix top 10 list. Perhaps it's the fact that this is a Korean movie, so it does require watching with subtitles, but that's a tiny barrier that shouldn't deny anybody entry. For those who have watched, they'll know it's a titan of the zombie genre for good reason, delivering past-faced thrills and a frighteningly plausible vision of the apocalypse. The 2016 movie sees Soek-Woo (Gong Yoo) board a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan with his daughter. As they make their way to their destination, an apocalyptic event breaks out, and flesh-eating zombies emerge. The train journey becomes a non-stop nightmare as passengers face a battle for survival against threats both inside and outside the train. Rarely dropping the intensity levels for a moment, 'Train to Busan' is a first-class action-horror. Watch "Train to Busan' on Netflix now
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's coming to Peacock in June 2025? Movies, shows, live sports to air on Peacock
New month means new content on streaming services. And Peacock has some great offerings coming in June of 2025. Here's what's coming to Peacock in June. Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) Anna and The Apocalypse (2017) The Best Man (1999) The Big Lebowski (1998) The Birdcage (1996) Blue Crush (2002) Bride of Chucky (1998) The 'Burbs (1989) Capote (2005) Captain Phillips (2013) The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) A Cowgirl's Story (2017) Daddy Day Care (2003) The Day After Tomorrow (2004) Death Wish (2018) Deep Rising (1998) Dirty Dancing (1987) Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights (2004) Erin Brockovich (2000) A Fantastic Woman (2017) Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) Fifty Shades Darker (2017) Fifty Shades Freed (2018) Jurassic Park (1993) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) Jurassic Park III (2001) Jurassic World (2015) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) Jurassic World: Dominion (2022) Shaun of the Dead (2004) Ticket to Paradise (2022) 2025 U.S. Women's Open – Golf Grand Slam Track – Philadelphia MotoAmerica Superbike Championship – Road America Love Island USA: Season 7 Premiere Pase a La Fama: Season 1 Premiere U.S. Women's Soccer – USA vs. Jamaica How To Train Your Dragon (2025) The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets: Season 1 Premiere The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboy – Bravoleb Watch Party U.S. Men's Soccer – USA vs. Switzerland Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour: Season 1 Premiere Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023) High Ground (2020) Law & Order: Organized Crime: Season 5 Finale Bravo's Love Hotel: Season 1 Finale Jaws (1975) Jaws 2 (1978) Jaws 3 (1983) Jaws: The Revenge (1987) New York Homicide: Season 3, All Episodes Migration (2023) Revival: Season 1 Premiere The Real Housewives of Miami: Season 7 Premiere Summer House: Season 9 – Under the Covers Drive-Away Dolls (2024) American Ninja Warrior: Season 17 Premiere Below Deck: Season 12 Premiere Miss Universo Latina: El Reality: Season 1 Premiere Next Gen NYC: Season 1 Premiere Poker Face: Season 2, New Episode The Blackening (2023) U.S. Women's Soccer – USA vs. Ireland The Real Housewives of Atlanta After Show: Season 2 Finale Jurassic World Rebirth Rams (2020) This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Peacock June 2025 offerings. What's streaming on Peacock in June?
Time Out
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
15 things to do over Memorial Day weekend in L.A.
It's finally here: Memorial Day, and the unofficial start of summer. Luckily we have a three-day weekend—and a practically perfect weather forecast—to kick off the season in style. We've rounded up 15 summery ways to spend your days off that go beyond a basic beach trip. Read on for the best Memorial Day events in L.A. 1. Catch the first Cinespia screenings of the season Sat, Sun It isn't summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever Cemetery toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. First up on the film lineup this year is a Saturday screening of The Big Lebowski where the Dude will, indeed, abide. (Sunday's screening of Clueless is already sold out.) Other series are showing flicks including La La Land, 9 to 5 and Top Gun: Maverick across the city this weekend—check our full outdoor movies calendar for more. 2. Sip pickle lemonade on a Ferris wheel Sat–Mon The L.A. County Fair is wrapping up its 2025 run in Pomona, but there's still one more weekend to indulge in carnival rides and all the wild foodie fare you'd expect at a fair. Sat–Mon A long-standing Memorial Day weekend tradition, the free Fiesta Hermosa is back with an arts festival, shopping, a carnival, a wine garden and live music on the beach. 4. Dig the groovy vibes at Topanga Days Sat–Mon Bohemian, picturesque Topanga Canyon hosts its own country fair that feels like a West Coast offshoot of Woodstock. The Allah-Las and English Beat headline a weekend full of live music and games that culminates in a DIY Memorial Day parade on Monday morning. 5. See Compton's hometown hero at SoFi Stadium Sat Catch Kendrick Lamar and R&B superstar SZA's third and final night in Inglewood as part of the Grammy-winning rapper's victory-lap 'Grand National Tour,' and see the rapper perform Super Bowl scene stealer 'Not Like Us' live. Sat, Sun Both rooftop bar Desert 5 Spot and shopping center Ovation Hollywood are throwing country-inspired celebrations this weekend, complete with live country tunes, line-dancing lessons and cocktails. 7. Visit a museum offering free admission to military Sat–Mon If you're a veteran or active-duty member of the military, some of the city's best museums are offering free admission Memorial Day weekend in gratitude for your service, including the Petersen Automotive Museum. Some institutions—like LACMA, the Museum of Latin American Art, Museum of Neon Art and Gamble House —are going a step further and offering active-duty military personnel and their families complimentary entry through Labor Day, thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts' Blue Star Museums program. And active or retired military with ID can always get into the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum for free. Sat–Mon If you're not blessed with a private pool, luckily L.A. is home to some actually-appealing public options. One of our favorites is at the Annenberg Community Beach House, a former old-Hollywood beachfront estate that's been transformed into a public club. Its historic pool opens for recreational swimming from 10am to 6pm over Memorial Day weekend. After your dip, stick around for a game of ping-pong or beach volleyball. Sat–Mon Summer also means that bars that boast a pool are kicking off their pool parties, including a sexy gathering at Skybar in West Hollywood and a range of programming at Golden Hour downtown, where DJs will take the stage for Golden Daze every summer Saturday, starting this weekend. Sun The beachside city's punny MAINopoly event—which is celebrating its 10th anniversary—adds a fun board game spin to your typical tasting event. Sample offerings from 20 Main Street bars and eateries including Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Jameson's Pub and Triple Beam Pizza. There's even a themed 'Go to Jail' VIP Beer Garden. 11. Listen to live music on top of a mountain Sun Hear live jazz a mile above the city at the Mount Wilson Observatory—specifically inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope—when it resumes its monthly concert series this Sunday. 12. See boundary-pushing art for free in West Hollywood Sat, Sun The annual WeHo Pride Arts Festival spotlights the creativity of the LGBTQ+ community and fills the weekend before the WeHo Pride Parade with free arts programming, from comedy shows to dramatic readings to interactive workshops at the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Village at Ed Gould Plaza. 13. Banish hunger with a burger Memorial Day is synonymous with cookouts—in particular, burgers. If you don't feel like messing with the grill yourself, any one of these 30 best burgers in the city should satisfy that craving, whether you prefer your patties thick and juicy or thin and smashed. The weather isn't too hot yet, but it's never a bad time to cool off and indulge in the city's best frozen treats, from artisanal scoops to soft-serve to shaved ice. One of our picks, Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, just opened a new shop in Burbank that's worth a visit (there are over 100 flavors, but you can't go wrong with the refreshing mint Oreo). Sat Volunteer to help restore the native habitat in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve—and fit in a little bird-watching—at Friends of the L.A. River's rescheduled Earth Month Celebration.
Axios
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Paramount Theatre's summer film series returns
The Paramount Theatre's annual summer classic film series kicks off Thursday for its 51st year with 100 films from every era in cinema history — all screening at the historic 110-year-old downtown theater. Why it matters: During the Texas summer, it's hard to beat sitting in the air-conditioned dark, munching on popcorn and staring up at the big screen. What they're saying: "This year's lineup offers something for every film lover, from rare 70mm presentations to beloved classics celebrating significant anniversaries," Stephen Jannise, senior director of film programming at the Paramount, said in a news release. The movies are as diverse as "Boogie Nights" and "Dr. Strangelove," "The Big Lebowski" and "Working Girl," "Selena" and "All the President's Men." Fun favorites include "Miss Congeniality" and "Clueless." On June 11, novelist Katherine Center will join Austin actors Jared and Genevieve Padalecki for a special "Rom Com Night" and conversation, followed by a screening of the Rob Reiner romance classic "When Harry Met Sally." What's next: The series begins with Thursday's double feature of "Casablanca" at 7pm and "Breathless" at 9pm. On Saturday, filmmaker Robert Rodriguez will offer an in-person introduction of two 40th anniversary favorites, Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" and the rarely seen gem "Into the Night" starring Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, and David Bowie. "The Empire Strikes Back," arguably the best Star Wars movie, screens Sunday at 3pm. Other movies earmarked as the family film series this summer include "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Matilda," "The Goonies" and "The Sound of Music." If you go: Admission is $15 — including a $3 preservation fee for the theater — which covers both films in a double-feature.
