Topline:
We know there are a ton of TV shows to watch these days, so each week on LAist's daily news show AirTalk, we ask television critics to help you (and us) sift through them.
This week's critics: Cristina Escobar, TV critic and co-founder of LatinaMedia.Co and Dominic Patten, senior editor and chief TV critic for Deadline.
This week's shows: This Fool Season 2 (Hulu), Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn (Apple TV+), and Ahsoka (Disney+).
It’s both a blessing and a curse that we’ve reached a time when there’s just so much television to experience, with so many different places to find it.
If you're going to invest the time it takes to scroll across your streamer of choice and check out new shows, you want some payoff, right?
That’s where I step in, with help from a few friends, as a deus ex machina of sorts — a way for you to resolve that inner conflict of what to choose and make sure it’s something worth investing in.
On LAist 89.3’s AirTalk, we're joined by television critics each week to give you a rundown of shows that are fresh out of the oven. They serve you a taste of what to expect and from there, you can choose whether or not to indulge in the rest.
Now it's my turn to add to their topline thoughts and offer my impression of a few initial episodes. I may not have "TV critic" as my title, but I watch TV — and as a fan of film and television, I can at least give you an informed perspective. I'll even toss in my Gen-Z filter.
Sound good? Grab a snack and read on before before you hit the remote.
This week, AirTalk’s Austin Cross talked about the latest on television and streaming with Cristina Escobar, TV critic and co-founder of LatinaMedia.Co and Dominic Patten, senior editor and chief TV critic for Deadline.
This week’s shows included:
Here is my take on three of those:
Streaming on Hulu
"I would definitely recommend 'This Fool' for Angelenos. It's a show created by Angelenos, set there, and it's an unlikely buddy comedy." — Cristina Escobar, LatinaMedia.Co
First Impression: Julio, the lead character, looks to help his cousin Luis adapt back into society after serving jail time. The start of Season 2 sees Julio trying to piece his life back together after he loses his job at gang rehabilitation center due to a lack of funding.
Lasting Impression: This is one of those shows that I have really been in love with. It’s got all the local flavor I want in a show based in Los Angeles, and the humor is as well-written as you’d want from a sitcom.
I've watched the entire series, and I’d probably say my favorite episode from Season 2 is Episode 7 (titled "The Big Deal"), which captures the silliness of kickback parties and the humor in dating a single parent. Each episode has its moments, though, making this one of my favorite comedies of late.
Who's behind it: This Fool is a brainchild of four folks: Chris Estrada, Pat Bishop, Matt Ingebretson, and Jake Weisman. The trio of Bishop, Ingebretson, and Weisman have worked together before, on the Comedy Central show Corporate. Co-creator Estrada, of course, is the actor-comedian who plays Julio.
When and where: All 10 episodes are streaming now on Hulu.
Streaming on Apple TV+
"He might be the hero, he might be the villain, but he is part of a system, and that's what's interesting about this." — Dominic Patten, Deadline
First impression: A documentary series that digs into the scandalous story of the former CEO of car manufacturing companies Renault and Nissan. The documentary charts Ghosn's ascent and what led to his infamous demise, failing to disclose more than $100 million of his earnings and ultimately becoming a fugitive. It bases most of its narrative on the book Boundless: The Rise, Fall, and Escape of Carlos Ghosn by the Wall Street Journal's Nick Kostov and Sean McLain.
Lasting Impression: This documentary does a pretty solid job of capturing Ghosn's world and his role as the risk-taker who brought Nissan back into prominence. The first episode is also significant in that it shows how beloved he was in Japan, with people treating him like a celebrity for reviving a business they took pride in.
Even if you aren’t as familiar with Ghosn as an influential businessman, I think folks can definitely get a lot from the history lesson. The documentary offers insights into how corporate greed manifests itself on an international level.
Who's behind it: The director is James Jones, who you might know from the HBO documentary Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes, a miniseries that told the story of those affected by the nuclear tragedy using recently uncovered archival footage.
When and where: All four episodes of the Ghosn series are streaming now on Apple TV+.
Streaming on Disney+
"I would say do a little homework before diving in, but then definitely check out [Rosario] Dawson and her performance [here]." — Cristina Escobar, LatinaMedia.Co
"What's interesting [about this show] is you see the building blocks of what happens when you have to govern, not when you have to be a rebel." — Dominic Patten, Deadline
First Impression: This follows the beloved Star Wars character Ahsoka Tano after the events of the series Star Wars Rebels, searching for antagonist Grand Admiral Thrawn and friend Ezra Bridger in the process. For those only familiar with the film franchise, this show would fall in between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
Lasting Impression: I thought the first episode was as beautiful as you’d hope for a live-action Star Wars show to be, which has tended to be the case in The Mandalorian and Andor. I’d say Rosario Dawson’s performance definitely meets the expectations of fans who fan-casted her in the role.
I also would like to shout out the depiction of Loth-cats in the show. It's a cat-like creature that was in the animated series and was turned CGI in The Mandalorian, and has now been brought into Ahsoka as an animatronic! The Star Wars franchise has long brought eye-catching practical effects into sci-fi storytelling and I’m glad to see the tradition is still alive here.
Who's behind it: The show’s creator is Dave Filoni. Filoni has served as a producer on most recent TV shows in the Star Wars universe, and was the showrunner for The Clone Wars and Rebels. These shows served as the storytelling catalyst for Ahsoka, so I'd imagine any opinion you might have of them will carry over to this show.
When and where: Episodes 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+, and Episode 3 releases Tuesday, August 29.
Topline:
The Long Beach Pride Parade is Sunday. Several road closures are scheduled and parking will be impacted along and near the parade route.
When is the parade? 10 a.m. Sunday, May 17.
Parking impacts and street closures: Those start at 4 a.m. Sunday.
Read on for all the details…
This weekend's Long Beach Pride Festival was canceled by the city on Friday — hours before kickoff. The city said festival organizers failed to provide the required safety documentation.
The Pride Parade, managed and funded by the city, will continue as scheduled on Sunday at 10 a.m.
The parade will start at Ocean Boulevard and Lindero Avenue and travel along the Ocean Boulevard coastline to Alamitos Avenue in Downtown Long Beach.
Roads will close and parking will be restricted starting hours before the parade. Streets are expected to reopen by 2 p.m.
Between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday parking won’t be allowed on:
The following streets will be closed to traffic during their designated times:
Long Beach Pride says that parking will be available at the Long Beach Convention Center at 400 E. Seaside Way. Accessible parking and viewing will be available at Junipero and First Street, near Bixby Park.
Take the LA Metro A Line and exit 1st Street Station in Downtown Long Beach. After you exit, it's roughly a 10-minute walk down Ocean Boulevard to the parade festivities at Marina Green Park.
Topline:
Harvey Weinstein's latest sex crimes trial ended with a hung jury Friday, on the third day of deliberations. It was the second time in a year a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the same charge.
Background: The mistrial concludes a month-long trial that was quieter than Weinstein's previous court appearances, with a diminished media presence and less public attention. Earlier this year, Weinstein hired a new legal team, including high-profile criminal defense attorneys such as Marc Agnifilo, known for representing Luigi Mangione and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Read on ... for more the Weinstein trials.
Editor's note: This story includes descriptions of allegations of sexual assault and rape.
Harvey Weinstein's latest sex crimes trial ended with a hung jury Friday, on the third day of deliberations.
It was the second time in a year a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the same charge.
Accusations against the former Hollywood mogul came to define the #MeToo movement, and he was first convicted of assaulting Jessica Mann in 2020. The former aspiring actress testified Weinstein raped her at a DoubleTree hotel in Manhattan in 2013. But that verdict, along with another charge, was later overturned.
In a second New York trial last summer, Weinstein was found guilty on one count of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and not guilty on another. But a third charge, of raping Mann, ended in a mistrial after the jury foreperson declined to return to deliberations, citing concerns for his safety.
Weinstein had returned to court for a third New York trial in April, this one focusing on Mann's allegations. But on Friday morning, Judge Curtis Farber received a note from jurors stating they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Farber then read jurors a modified deadlock charge, known as an Allen charge, urging them to resume deliberations.
Jurors soon responded with another note restating their position. "We feel that no one is going to change where they stand," it said. Nine jurors fell on the side of not guilty; three supported a guilty verdict, Weinstein's lawyers told press outside of the courtroom.
The prosecution has until late June to decide whether they'll try the case again.
Outside of court, 55-year-old juror Rick Treese said that the group diverged on "where we actually had facts." He told reporters, "We didn't have enough facts to grasp onto, so it was emotion." People in the group "had varying emotions about it based on [their] experience in life."
"Everybody respected each other. Everybody respected their backgrounds. It was very civil. I feel certain that we dug into it enough."
Another juror, Josh Hadar, said his vote was for "not guilty," in part because he felt there might be parts of Mann's testimony that were "fabricated."
"I think the prevailing thought was that the witness had a lot of inconsistencies in her story," he said.
The mistrial concludes a month-long trial that was quieter than Weinstein's previous court appearances, with a diminished media presence and less public attention. Earlier this year, Weinstein hired a new legal team, including high-profile criminal defense attorneys such as Marc Agnifilo, known for representing Luigi Mangione and Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Defense attorneys argued that Mann and the then-married Weinstein had a consensual, on-again, off-again relationship over many years. But Mann testified that on that 2013 morning at the DoubleTree hotel, Weinstein "command[ed]" her to undress and penetrated her despite Mann repeatedly saying "no." Weinstein has denied all allegations of sexual assault.
Now 74, Weinstein has been incarcerated since 2020. In 2022, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault in a separate case in California and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He is appealing that verdict.
Agnifilo said outside court on Friday, "It's our job not just to win this case. There is an entire legal knot that needs to be untangled. And we're going to start untangling that knot strand by strand with the New York case and then the California case. So this really is just a first step." He said that this latest mistrial might not be "the win [Weinstein] wanted, but it's a win."
A statement from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said prosecutors were "disappointed that the proceedings ended in a mistrial" and would consider next steps in consultation with Mann.
"For nearly a decade, Jessica Mann has fought for justice. Over the course of many weeks during three separate trials, she relived unthinkably painful experiences in front of complete strangers," the statement said. "Her perseverance and bravery are inspiring to the members of my office, and more importantly, to survivors everywhere."
Weinstein's lawyers have said that he is in poor health. He used a wheelchair in court and did not testify on the stand in this trial, nor during any of his previous criminal cases. At one point during jury deliberations, Judge Farber announced Weinstein could not appear in court due to complaints of "chest pains."
Weinstein has given a limited number of interviews from prison, including with far-right podcaster Candace Owens and the Daily Mail. Most recently, he spoke with The Hollywood Reporter from Rikers Island.
When asked whether he had apologized to any of the women who brought charges against him, Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter, "I apologized to them generally. You can't call them when you're in a trial with them. But I'll say it here today: I apologize to those women. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been with them in the first place. I misled them."
Citing his health issues, including bone marrow cancer, Weinstein said, "I'm dying here. And the DA's idea is probably to have me dying in prison. But I am dying."
Topline:
More than 30 teams will take their handmade cars through a custom downhill course of twisty turns and obstacles Saturday as the Red Bull Soapbox Race returns to Los Angeles for the first time in nearly a decade.
Why it matters: One of the homegrown teams trying their luck this year is made up of a group of renters and friends in Santa Monica and Victorville who built their “Runaway Hot Dog Stand” soapbox on an apartment patio.
Why now: Saturday's race includes competitors from across Southern California and beyond.
The backstory: Another entrant on Saturday is the Los Ingenieros, a group of mechanical engineering students from Cerritos College in Norwalk, who have taken inspiration from the team’s Hispanic heritage and Los Angeles culture.
Read on ... to meet some of the teams.
More than 30 teams will take their handmade cars through a custom downhill course of twisty turns and obstacles Saturday as the Red Bull Soapbox Race returns to Los Angeles for the first time in nearly a decade.
Teams from across the country were selected from hundreds of applicants to compete on creativity, design, showmanship, course navigation and time.
There are no engines allowed in this race — all soapboxes must be gravity-powered.
Fully-functioning brakes and steering are required, but almost every other aspect of the engineering and design is left up to the competitors’ imaginations. According to Red Bull, the soapbox should be an extension of its team, the wilder and more outrageous the better.
The race includes competitors from across Southern California and beyond.
UCLA Bruin Racing, made up of the school’s Formula SAE Squad (which also design and race specialized cars), entered with its “Mk. 9 racer” soapbox that was originally an out of commission EV car.
Metro LA repurposed parts from some of the unclaimed bikes left behind on the transit system for its “carrot-colored” bus design (and yes, that is the agency’s nod to Tyler, the Creator’s song "Rah Tah Tah." IYKYK).
The Seagrave 13 team from Las Vegas is dedicating their soapbox to Pasadena first responders who battled last year’s Eaton Fire. They’re planning to donate the car to the L.A. County Fire Museum after the race.
One of the homegrown teams trying their luck this year is made up of a group of renters and friends in Santa Monica and Victorville who built their “Runaway Hotdog Stand” soapbox on an apartment patio.
“The fact that we're able to do this shows that I mean anybody could do this, and honestly could do anything else,” Carlos Monson, captain of the Speedy Wiener team, told LAist.
The Speedy Wiener team drew their design inspiration from L.A.’s iconic hot dog carts, typically a small grill that serves bacon and veggie toppings outside concerts, sporting events and tourist attractions.
“For us, luckily, a majority of them are Latino and we're like, you know what, this is actually a perfect opportunity because the whole team is Latino,” said Monson, who will also be driving the soapbox.
The group of friends, between 18 and 21 years of age, built most of their cherry-red car on Monson’s apartment patio under Victorville’s glaring sun.
They repurposed the base using an old, rickety go-kart frame that Monson said took about an hour just to carry up the stairs and get through the front door.
They worked on the soapbox in between classes and shifts at work. The final touches include stamping their Speedy Wiener logo and adding a mock-menu to the frame. There’s also ketchup and mustard bottles with yellow and red streamers hanging from the nozzles and a rainbow umbrella over the wheel.
For the car’s structure, Monson turned to a collection of cardboard boxes he had lying around after a recent move and attached the various pieces with zip ties.
“We'll be able to hopefully last when they make it down the race track,” he said.
Another entrant on Saturday is the Los Ingenieros, a group of mechanical engineering students from Cerritos College in Norwalk, who has taken inspiration from the team’s Hispanic heritage and Los Angeles culture.
Their car is lucha libre-themed with rails modeled after a wrestling ring and the driver donning a muscle suit and mask.
The red, white and green colors represent the Mexican flag and features Chicano-style pinstriping from L.A.’s lowriders, as well as some Aztec patterns.
“It's definitely going to be a powerful testimony to our culture,” said Ruben Orozco, a Los Ingenieros member from La Mirada.
The team never expected to be picked for the race, and Orozco said the invitation has been “mind-blowing” and “surreal.”
Arelie Marquez, another member from Long Beach, told LAist she sketched the design for the modified go-kart frame before the team chopped the wheels, boosted the back axle and added suspension. While some of the students drew up blueprints on engineering computer software, Marquez used her welding experience to help mount the brackets — all in Orozco’s backyard.
As a community college student, Orozco said he’s felt like he’s missed out on opportunities to showcase their knowledge and innovations compared to students in the Cal State or UC system, but the Red Bull Soapbox Race has helped shed that notion.
“Not only has it been reassuring to myself, but also we've used it as a platform to kind of show others in STEM, in community colleges, that you could do crazy things as a student,” he said.
And yes, the team is already highlighting the unique engineering experience on their resumes, according to Gabriel Ramirez, a Compton resident and another member along with his twin brother, Hector.
Their next challenge? Cramming for finals next week.
The Red Bull Soapbox Race in downtown L.A. is free and open to the public:
Topline:
The Surfrider Foundation is hosting a protest in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday to oppose what it sees as mounting threats to our California coastline.
The backstory: In 2015, a pipeline operated by Plains All American spilled more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County. Hundreds of marine mammals were killed or injured and beaches across the region were contaminated. In March, the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to bring that same pipeline, now run by Sable Offshore, back online.
The pushback: The restart, along with the Trump administration’s push to open the California coast up to new oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades, has the Surfrider Foundation and other environmental protection groups sounding the alarm.
The paddle out: On Sunday morning, the Surfrider Foundation will host a spiritual ritual in surf culture: a paddle-out into the ocean at Refugio State Beach. Read on for details.
The Surfrider Foundation is hosting a protest in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday to oppose what it sees as mounting threats to our California coastline.
In 2015, a pipeline operated by Plains All American spilled more than 100,000 gallons of crude oil near Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County. Hundreds of marine mammals were killed or injured and beaches across the region were contaminated.
Bill Hickman, a senior regional manager with the Surfrider Foundation, remembers it well.
“I live in Ventura. We had a bottlenose dolphin wash up here that was covered in oil,” Hickman told LAist. “That was really sad to see. And there was oil on the beach all the way down to L.A.”
The spill also “shut down fisheries, closed multiple beaches, and impacted recreational uses such as camping, non-commercial fishing, and beach visits,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In March, the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to bring that same pipeline, now run by Texas-based Sable Offshore, back online. The company says that the system will produce tens of thousands of barrels of oil a day, as well as “provide a secure, consistent source of domestic crude oil, replacing approximately 1 million barrels per month of imports.”
Refugio paddle out
Refugio State Beach
10 Refugio Beach Rd., Goleta
Sunday, May 17. Event starts at 8:30am
But Hickman and other environmental advocates say restarting the pipeline raises serious concerns. California sued the Trump administration in March to keep it shut.
The restart, along with the Trump administration’s push to open the California coast up to new oil and gas drilling for the first time in decades, has Hickman sounding the alarm.
“Right now it seems like if you’re not outraged you’re not paying attention,” Hickman said. “And luckily a lot of people are really fired up about all of the threats to the environment and particularly the Santa Barbara channel.”
Oil spills like the one in 2015 could also deeply affect tourism, the fishing industry and lead to billions in cleanup costs, according to Gov, Gavin Newsom’s office. In a January 2026 statement opposing the Trump administration’s new offshore drilling plans, the governor’s office said the state's coastal economy “supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and generates over $44 billion annually.”
On Sunday morning, Hickman will be part of a spiritual ritual in surf culture: a paddle-out into the ocean at Refugio State Beach.
He said anyone with a human-powered craft is welcome to join the circle to oppose drilling on our coasts.
“People are standing up. There’s a lot of opposition,” Hickman said. “Californians really treasure our coast, our beaches, our waves and really want to protect them.”
