Sports & Entertainment Beat

Welcome back to the Spotlight! If you tuned in last week and you came here expecting clarity on the TikTok saga now that a week has gone by, I’ve got a bridge (and social media platform) to sell you. I bet you’d even believe that it snowed in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida last week Texas! Or even that two New York Knicks players were named starters in the NBA All-Star Game! (Wait…those last two are true!?). Anyway, as I was saying, after the statute banning ongoing US operations took effect, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance blocked US users’ access to the social media platform.  But not long after that, newly-inaugurated President Trump (having tried to ban TikTok during his first term as President, only to have it fall back in his good favor during the latest election cycle) issued an Executive Order aimed at keeping TikTok up and running for US users for more time so as to enable a last(?) last-ditch effort for ByteDance to divest its stake in TikTok. So queue up the Chubby Checker, because we’re back in limbo. Incidentally, the Spotlight would be a great limbo player, as it always seems to come up short of the bar. Without further ado or self-deprecation, your Spotlight for this week is below.  

• • The National Hockey League’s Utah Hockey Team may have to go back to the drawing board declaring an official name for itself, as the trademark application for the preferred “Utah Yetis” name was issued a refusal by the US Patent and Trademark Office. That may be a blessing in disguise as the team would be better suited with a name that is even more evocative of Utah—you know—like “Jazz.”
     
  • Rapper/Singer Post Malone announces a new collaboration with Oreo featuring a limited-edition salted caramel and shortbread crème swirl sandwiched between chocolate Oreo cookies that are embossed with prints related to his music.  With the product due to hit shelves ahead of the Super Bowl, they can be enjoyed with friends or malone.
     
  • Netflix is opening “Netflix Bites” – neither a subscriber complaint nor a warning not to approach, but rather an experiential pop-up eatery in Las Vegas at which patrons can enjoy food inspired by their favorite Netflix television shows.  A fun and novel concept, though I prefer to experience Netflix over wine and takeout.     

For inquiries and/or unabashed compliments, please feel free to contact me at josh.bloomgarden@foster.com or add me on LinkedIn.