Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Why Ty Simpson&x27;s first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford Jori EpsteinFri, May 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC 0 When Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and when Justin Fields was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, a similar narrative of opportunity unfolded. The teams’ incumbent quarterbacks, Michael Penix Jr. and Patrick Mahomes respectively, are recovering from lateseason ACL tears. Each is aiming to return by Week 1 but in serious question for offseason participation.

Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Jori EpsteinFri, May 1, 2026 at 3:05 PM UTC

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When Tua Tagovailoa signed with the Atlanta Falcons, and when Justin Fields was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, a similar narrative of opportunity unfolded.

The teams’ incumbent quarterbacks, Michael Penix Jr. and Patrick Mahomes respectively, are recovering from late-season ACL tears. Each is aiming to return by Week 1 but in serious question for offseason participation.

So Tagovailoa and Fields likely await acclimation to new teammates not only in the locker room and meetings. Their onboarding to new schematic principles and terminology will likely not be confined to mental reps.

Tagovailoa and Fields should each get plenty of offseason and preseason snaps, including reps with the starters.

Ty Simpson, selected 13th overall by the Los Angeles Rams last week in the NFL Draft, could find a similar opening.

The Los Angeles Rams do not have an injured quarterback in the driver’s seat. And reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is not fighting to retain his role after the Rams selected the Alabama quarterback with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.

But Stafford’s preseason limitations due to an aggravated disc in his back last summer, and his subsequent MVP campaign, taught the Rams a lesson.

Expect them to limit the 38-year-old’s offseason and preseason work yet again.

And thus expect Simpson to have a chance to acclimate on the field soon.

Rams general manager Les Snead spoke to that reality last month at the league’s annual meetings in a conversation with Yahoo Sports about the challenges of investing in the immediate future while planning a longer-term outlook.

Los Angeles is realistic, Snead said, that when “you go through a quarterback transition, that’s a cliff.” The club hopes managing Stafford in the offseason can firstly support his late-season performance and secondarily support the depth chart’s development for their post-Stafford era.

“The way we manage Matthew, at least our backup QB is going to get more reps,” Snead told Yahoo Sports on March 30. “But it's going to come during OTAs. It's going to come during some portions of training camp. And then once the season starts, so that's the tough part.”

Without 2025 Rams QB2 Jimmy Garoppolo in the fold, Simpson will compete with 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett to allocate snaps. Bennett may have a leg up on understanding the offense at first — but head coach Sean McVay reiterated before the draft that “Stetson is considered a backup” compared to how he viewed Garoppolo as a starting quarterback.

It strains credulity to think the Rams would select Simpson 13th overall without a belief Simpson will be, if not already is, a starter. And thus, opportunity during Stafford’s cautionary period awaits.

“The most important thing is, when you’re going into Year 18, how do we keep you as physically, emotionally and mentally, basically as fresh as possible?” McVay said in a news conference. “[Using our other quarterbacks] allows us to operate in a manner where you're saying, ‘All right, hey, what's the priority? How do we keep our guy feeling as good as possible?’

“And being able to do that without allowing it to fall off too much.”

‘There's moments where I think he's better than Fernando [Mendoza]’

Creating a succession plan for any contributor, much less an MVP- and Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is a tricky balancing act.

But the Rams’ belief in their Super Bowl-contending legitimacy fuels their belief that a potentially strong class of 2027 first-round quarterbacks will be out of reach by the time Los Angeles gets onto the draft board next year (they hope to pick 32nd). The most successful quarterback currently set to hit free agency in 2027 is Baker Mayfield, whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will likely extend before then.

All of this made the path to a Stafford successor next year murky. And while Stafford has confirmed he’ll play in 2026, his status in 2027 and beyond remains to be seen.

Add to that a young, talented corps that includes Puka Nacua, Jared Verse, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Braden Fiske? The Rams will have choices to make on second contracts. Consider that 2025 first overall pick Cam Ward received a four-year, $48.8 million deal that averages $12.2 million per year (the division of cap hits is malleable). Compare that to the veteran quarterback market, where 10 quarterbacks have received contracts averaging more than $50 million per season? The Rams want to extend their Super Bowl window by positioning themselves financially to keep their young stars beyond Stafford’s era.

So drafting Simpson, the Rams believed, has the potential to answer a major question mark as soon as 2027. The Rams are also not naive enough to feel sure they won’t need Simpson in 2026.

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“Sometimes you might take someone and it's a little bit for the future and you have an unforeseen attrition due to injury, and all of a sudden, the delayed becomes the immediate,” Snead told reporters in a pre-draft news conference. “So you're always balancing that with every pick. And I think, as you mentioned, that's subjective on where our roster ranks and things like that.”

An AFC talent evaluator told Yahoo Sports they graded Simpson similarly to Bo Nix coming out. The two quarterbacks’ volume of experience differs drastically — Nix started a massive 61 games in college, compared to Simpson’s 15 — but Simpson’s best moments this past season reflected NFL-caliber play.

“There's enough really good film of him this year,” the AFC evaluator said. “There's moments where I think he's better than Fernando [Mendoza] when I watch Fernando.”

Simpson ranked third among quarterbacks on Yahoo Sports’ 2026 NFL Draft consensus big board from draft experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald. But he ranked as their 55th prospect overall, compared to Mendoza at second overall and LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier at 34.

Will that be enough to earn Simpson the second-string snaps behind Stafford, and the first-team snaps when he’s on veteran mandatory rest? Snead spoke to the challenges of earning any spot on a perennial playoff team.

“Usually it is very hard for any rookie to come into an ecosystem like ours that has the efficacy,” Snead said. “We've won before, so it's hard for those players to come in and earn equity. [We] try to find players that give us an edge and then put them in the ecosystem. Let them earn equity. And at the right time, they'll get on the field.”

Why Simpson looks like a natural fit in L.A.

McVay explained his muted draft-day expression the following day.

“The demeanor would have been stoic by nature because you are excited but … it is Matthew’s football team,” McVay said on Friday, in part. “Whenever that time comes for [Simpson] to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms.”

If Simpson does need to wait a year or three before seeing meaningful action in live games, the experience will be familiar.

In the transfer-happy era of college football, Simpson made the rare decision to stay at Alabama his entire college career. He did not attempt more than 25 passes until his fourth and final season. Then, he completed 64.5% (305 of 473) of his attempts for, 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Simpson led the SEC in completions and attempts, ranking second in passing yards and passing touchdowns. Alabama finished 11-4 in his 15 starts.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound quarterback raised concerns from some evaluators who believe his slighter frame contributed to his 2025 injuries and could increase his injury risk going forward. But even in his one-year sample size, Simpson impressed the Rams with his ability to process, his mobility, his versatility from dropback passing to play-action, and the timing and rhythm with which he threw.

His late-season performance dipped from his 2025 start, which evaluators attribute to a mix of playing through injury and playing tougher competition. Regardless, Simpson is aware he has room for refinement.

“There's not a throw that I feel like I can't make on the field,” Simpson said, “but it's also, I got to make sure that I throw it on time.”

Stafford health permitting, Simpson won’t be thrust into immediate regular-season action. But if he is, the Rams believe Ryan Grubb’s Alabama offense last season was rooted in similar principles to those which McVay asks of his quarterback.

And first, expect Simpson to receive opportunities over the next couple months to immerse on and off the field. He’s entering a team with the oldest starting quarterback in the league under contract. (Aaron Rodgers can change that if the 42-year-old signs his Pittsburgh tender or another deal.) There are practice benefits that come with that in spring and summer.

And once the regular season hits, Simpson will have opportunities to learn as the reigning MVP digests film, acts on his instincts and manipulates defenses with his footwork.

Simpson knows how to play the waiting game after three years sitting at Alabama. He’ll begin by focusing on improvement rather than expectations.

“I learned that from Coach [Nick] Saban about how if you have expectations, you're always really bound to fail,” Simpson said. “If I come in here and say, ‘Well, I want to win rookie of the year,’ well, Matthew Stafford just won the MVP. That's going to be a fail. So my plan is to just get better each day.

“I just want to get better each and every day so eventually I have a long career like Matthew.”

Making it to 18 seasons, like Stafford?

Somewhere, a 2043 class first-round quarterback will be waiting.

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Source: "AOL Sports"

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Why Ty Simpson's first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford

Why Ty Simpson&x27;s first 2 months with Rams will be important as he teams up with Matthew Stafford Jori EpsteinFri, May ...

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Dan Levy spills Schitt's Creek season 5 secrets: Cabaret, that hike, 'A Little Bit Alexis,' and more By Alamin Yohannes :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/AlaminYohannesauthorphotob9211b4217454a74b83fd90524ded829.jpg) Alamin Yohannes Alamin Yohannes is ’s social media director. He has been working at the publication since 2018. His work has appeared on NBC News and Inverse in addition to . EW's editorial guidelines October 23, 2019 10:28 a.m.

Dan Levy spills Schitt's Creek season 5 secrets: Cabaret, that hike, 'A Little Bit Alexis,' and more

By Alamin Yohannes

Alamin Yohannes

Alamin Yohannes is ’s social media director. He has been working at the publication since 2018. His work has appeared on NBC News and Inverse in addition to .

EW's editorial guidelines

October 23, 2019 10:28 a.m. ET

It's showtime, bébé!

For season 3 of EW's BINGE podcast, we're talking to *Schitt's Creek* showrunner, co-creator, and star Dan Levy all about the Emmy-nominated CBC and Pop TV sleeper hit. Each week we recap a season of the comedy and Levy shares behind-the-scenes secrets about many of the show's biggest moments. Follow along and you'll be ready when the final season premieres in January.

In this week's episode, which you can hear below, we cover season 5, which starts with Moira on a movie set in Bosnia and ends with an incredible performance of *Cabaret*. Levy discusses giving Moira the win she deserves, how Stevie's story led to *Cabaret*, ‘A Little Bit Alexis,' and much more. Here are just a few highlights from this week's BINGE, which you can subscribe to on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts.

**Return of the ****Crows**

Viewers already knew about Moira's work on The Crows Have Eyes franchise, so it was great to see her back on set in Bosnia working on another installment in season 5.

When faced with an unenthused director, Moira fought for her movie by suggesting changes and inspiring him to get behind the project. "I wanted her to have a big win. I wanted Moira to finally be validated," Levy says, "I wanted there to be a legitimacy to her career."

The new film also gave us that unforgettable crow costume — prosthetic beak and all — and voice. "I remember her coming out of the hair and makeup truck in that wig and the prosthetic beak and being like, ‘Okay, great, this is exactly what I wanted,'" Levy adds. "Her impulses are so unique and there will never be anyone like her. You write something and she takes that and makes magic out of it."

The confidence and sense of hope Moira brought back to Schitt's Creek from Bosnia gave new energy to her character and the storylines of season 5. "It's so new for Moira because she's been so beaten down by the experience that to give her that sense of hope was crucial," Levy shares, "it was a really fun season to play and a really fun season to write because it was very hopeful and excitable."

**Patrick's Big Steps Forward**

Happy in his relationship with David, Patrick went through a lot of personal growth in season 5. He moved into his own apartment and finally came out to his parents, developments that allowed viewers to get to know the character better.

Getting the apartment was important for Patrick and it also created an opportunity for an epic — and eventful — housewarming party. The high school slumber party-themed event got wild after a very drunk Ted plants a big, enthusiastic kiss on David during a game of spin the bottle.

"He knows deep down that he probably shouldn't be because it really does mean nothing," Levy says about Patrick's reaction to the kiss. "To show a little bit of the cracks in the veneer of Patrick I think is really valuable in building him up to what becomes of his character over in the second half of the show."

Another crack in his veneer came when David invites Patrick's parents to a surprise birthday only to learn they don't know he's gay. "I knew that I wanted there to be a side of Patrick that we hadn't seen yet. I wanted there to be a skeleton in the closet," Levy shares. "With a character that's so confident, it's so important, especially knowing what I wanted to end with in terms of their relationship."

To add to Patrick's stress, David was taken aback to learn his boyfriend had been keeping his sexuality a secret. "I felt heartbroken for David that he's like, ‘Wait, you didn't tell them?' to then immediately having so much empathy for Patrick who is struggling so much to figure out how to do this and then kind of back again when David's like willing to basically go back into the closet if necessary to get his boyfriend through this," Levy says.

**A Little Bit Alexis**

One of the season's biggest stories was the town musical. The audition process for *Cabaret* gave us one of the show's most iconic and viral moments, thanks to Alexis.

Searching for a lead actress turned out to be a difficult task, so Alexis graciously offered her services. And who could turn down the trained singer and star of critically reviewed limited reality series "A Little Bit Alexis," which actress Annie Murphy actually wrote.

"She has always sort of been surrounded by musicians and new people and producers and said, ‘Yeah, let me see what I can do," and came back to us with a banger," Levy shares. "Now, I'll get tweets from predominately gay men who are in clubs and the song will play. I think gay bars and clubs are like playing it, which to me is the greatest compliment."

Unfortunately for Alexis, she didn't get the part.

From David's lack of interest in hiking to a branch going straight through Patrick's shoe, this couple's trip was a mess from the start. A mess that stressed out a typically-laid back Patrick, a change of pace that Levy enjoyed because it showed Patrick being "extra" for once as the frustration slowly built up.

Speaking of that branch, that painful development came from an incident from Levy's own life. "I was taking my dog for a walk and stepped on a branch that went right through my shoe. I'm fine…but it was a strange thing."

This seemingly-doomed adventure allowed for a role reversal, where David is the one to salvage the hike by literally carrying Patrick the rest of the way on his back. "Then for David to be rewarded with what happens, I thought was a really nice turn and twist," Levy adds, referencing Patrick's marriage proposal.

The choice of four rings to replace the four David always wear is both a romantic touch and testament to how well Patrick knows his finacé.

"It was an easy way of adding like an extra sucker punch to the emotionality of that scene by saying, ‘Oh, he really sees this person and knows what he wants and is thoughtful and caring and has taken the time to really know who this person is,'" Levy adds.

**Stevie Goes to the Cabaret**

The reason Levy landed on *Cabaret* for the musical had a lot to do with Stevie. "Because I knew … what Stevie was going to do at the end of it. And I knew how that song could service that character," Levy shares, adding that actress Emily Hampshire has always dreamed of playing *Cabaret*‘s Sally Bowles. "As she said, ‘I could never have dreamed that playing Stevie playing Sally would be how I did it and I wouldn't have it any other way,'" he says.

With that incredible performance, *Schitt's Creek* season 5 ends without a dry eye in the house.

Thank you so much for going on this journey with us as we revisit five great seasons of *Schitt's Creek*, but we're not done just yet. We have some amazing bonus episodes of BINGE where we sit down with stars Annie Murphy and Dustin Milligan AND we have the upcoming EW On Set podcast when *Schitt's Creek* returns for its final season in January.

*A* Schitt's Creek* immersive experience is coming to New York City and Los Angeles in November, and Dan Levy is hosting a charity fundraiser through Omaze and flying one lucky fan out to N.Y.C. to visit the pop-up with him! Get all the details here.*

**Related content:**

- EW is headed to Schitt's Creek! EW On Set podcast brings listeners inside season 6 of the hit comedy

- Dan Levy spills Schitt's Creek season 4 secrets: The musical moments, emotional journeys, and more

- Dan Levy dishes on *Schitt's Creek's* final season, LGBTQ representation, and drag queens

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Dan Levy spills Schitt's Creek season 5 secrets: Cabaret, that hike, 'A Little Bit Alexis,' and more

Dan Levy spills Schitt's Creek season 5 secrets: Cabaret, that hike, 'A Little Bit Alexis,' and more By Alamin Yohan...

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With Community now on Netflix, creator Dan Harmon and stars Joel McHale, Alison Brie, and more are walking us through the cult classic sitcom. EW is binging Community with the cast and creator: Watch the first episode now With Community now on Netflix, creator Dan Harmon and stars Joel McHale, Alison Brie, and more are walking us through the cult classic sitcom. By Derek Lawrence :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/derek160e1b72b3389c74b8ca03743731e346949.jpg) Derek Lawrence Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at . He left EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines May 7, 2020 11:00 a.m.

With Community now on Netflix, creator Dan Harmon and stars Joel McHale, Alison Brie, and more are walking us through the cult classic sitcom.

EW is binging Community with the cast and creator: Watch the first episode now

With Community now on Netflix, creator Dan Harmon and stars Joel McHale, Alison Brie, and more are walking us through the cult classic sitcom.

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

May 7, 2020 11:00 a.m. ET

***To celebrate *****Community***** finally arriving on Netflix, EW is binging the beloved comedy with the cast and creator.***

In recent years, Netflix has continually given new life to shows joining the streaming platform's catalog, whether you were already a modern day classic, like *The Office*, or something like *Waco*, which two years after a quiet run on Paramount Network has become a regular in Netflix's top 10. Now, it's time for *Community* to get the golden ticket.

After being on Hulu since premiering on NBC in 2009 and spending the sixth and final season on Yahoo Screen (R.I.P.), the cult classic sitcom arrived April 1 on Netflix, coincidentally, right as the world was stuck at home and looking for new binges more than ever. And with *Community* seemingly primed for the Netflix bump, EW is launching the latest installment of our *BINGE* series, in which hosts Chancellor Agard and Derek Lawrence will go through the entire run via in-depth analysis of each season and interviews with the cast and creator.

Over the next week, one episode will be released daily, focusing on a particular season and featuring the likes of stars Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jim Rash, and Ken Jeong. But, before we dive deep into each school year, creator Dan Harmon is taking us through *Community*'s creation, rise, and end in our series primer, which can be watched above. And, like so many of us, he's already found himself dipping his toes back into the show.

"It's been the right amount of time, even for somebody who's been too inside it, which could refer to either me or the fans," he shares. "I mean, we both had a passionate relationship with the show that's resulted in me not really watching it for a long time. And, for a totally unrelated reason, I was watching one of the episodes. The easiest way to do it was to hop on Netflix to find it really quick, watch that one episode, and I ended up in this four or five episode binge. And I'm the guy that has the worst anxiety about the show and the most reasons to turn his head away and stuff like that, and I was just like, 'Wow, it's been just long enough and this is just easy enough to keep it running, and it's just a kind of delightful binging experience on Netflix.'''

Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

The idea for *Community* came from Harmon's own experience going to community college in his early 30s. Like Jeff (McHale), Harmon was initially annoyed upon being asked by some younger students to study, only to soon have a change of heart. "I was having the greatest time of time of my life," he says. "In my head, I was like, 'I am a pretty rare specimen of jackass,' and then [it] clicked, like, 'Okay, so the next time I'm pitching a network, I don't have to pitch them the robot show or the show about people who produce your dreams, or the conceptual medieval fantasy thing. I can finally satisfy myself and them by saying, 'This is a show about a fish out of water,' because that fish out of water is me, and it's an asshole, but one you'll learn to like because you'll cast a handsome guy in the role.' It's about the kinds of things that people care about."

Upon getting the greenlight from NBC and scoring a spot in their coveted Must See TV block alongside comedy heavyweights *The Office*, *Parks and Recreation*, and *30 Rock*, Harmon felt the pressure "do what I thought I should be doing" and make a more traditional series. "It wasn't my goal to do something crazy; it was my goal to get a pool and a health plan," explains Harmon. That being said, he admits to preparing Abed (Pudi) to be his "ripcord," knowing he had the meta-crazed film major in case he did need to reverse course and steer into the madness. Then, with the end of season 1 approaching, NBC commissioned three extra episodes to air before the finale, and Harmon points to a "distracted" studio in Sony, who was working on new pilots, as well as his attitude of "desperation" that allowed him to throw up a few "Hail Marys." And that led to two of season 1's most memorable episodes: *Goodfellas* homage "Contemporary American Poultry" and paintball OG "Modern Warfare."

"It was kind of like kids on the last week of school; we had this really fun time writing these last three episodes that felt like they didn't need to matter as much to our handlers," recalls Harmon, who points to that as the stretch when they noticed an uptick in critical praise. "I think going into season 2, it was sort of like, 'Well, we almost got canceled, we're only here because it was cheaper to keep us, and the only thing that we accomplished was a couple of reviews that distinguished us from *30 Rock*, distinguished us from *Parks and Rec.* Not because we were better or worse, but because we were at least different and not something that was just trying and failing to be also them. This is our survival mechanism, to get more reviews like this, not Nielsen ratings, which are never going to happen.' Then, season 2 got a little more self-indulgent, if that's the word. It was a little more confident. It was like, 'stay in your strong corner,' and that's probably why it was the peak season for a lot of people, because it was a perfect, different split between total self-indulgence and self-destruction."

For more from Harmon, including his reaction to the rallying cry #sixseasonsandamovie, watch the first installment of EW's* BINGE *of* Community* above. And check back on Friday for season 1's episode with Joel McHale.

**Related content:**

- The 15 best episodes of *Community*

- 10 years after it premiered, *Community* is the perfect show for our moment

- Alison Brie still has hope for a* Community* movie — but only if it's on Netflix

by Chancellor Agard

Chancellor Agard

Chancellor Agard is a former staff writer at **. He left EW in 2022.

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Michael J. Fox Calls “Back to the Future” Costar Christopher Lloyd 'Youthful' Ahead of His 88th Birthday (Exclusive)

Michael J. Fox Calls “Back to the Future” Costar Christopher Lloyd &x27;Youthful&x27; Ahead of His 88th Birthday (Exclusive) Chris BarillaSun, May 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM UTC 0 Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in 2023Credit: AFFUSA/Shutterstock Michael J. Fox reflected on Christopher Lloyd turning 88, tying it to the iconic DeLorean speed in Back to the Future Fox praised Lloyd as one of the most "youthful" people he knows after a recent dinner together Fox attended a Parkinson’s fundraiser in Nashville, celebrating $3.5 million raised and his ongoing acting success Michael J.

Michael J. Fox Calls “Back to the Future” Costar Christopher Lloyd 'Youthful' Ahead of His 88th Birthday (Exclusive)

Chris BarillaSun, May 3, 2026 at 5:30 PM UTC

0

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in 2023Credit: AFF-USA/Shutterstock -

Michael J. Fox reflected on Christopher Lloyd turning 88, tying it to the iconic DeLorean speed in Back to the Future

Fox praised Lloyd as one of the most "youthful" people he knows after a recent dinner together

Fox attended a Parkinson’s fundraiser in Nashville, celebrating $3.5 million raised and his ongoing acting success

Michael J. Fox knows how important the number 88 is to Christopher Lloyd.

In conversation with PEOPLE at the A Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s event in Nashville on April 15, the acclaimed Back to the Future star, 64, took a brief moment to reflect on the notion that his costar in the 1985 film and longtime friend, Christopher Lloyd, is turning 88 this year.

Through the lens of the movie, that number is the same as the speed needed by the DeLorean time machine to time-travel.

"Yeah. I put a picture on my Instagram," Fox said, referencing a photo he and Lloyd shared in a joint post of the pair out to eat, leaning in and smiling at one another.

That post was captioned, "Dining with my bestie at the beach. Next year BTTF is 41. Great Scott. Chris will be 8️⃣8️⃣. That’s some serious s---," in reference to Lloyd's character, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown.

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox at A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's in November 2018Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage

Lloyd, quoting Fox's character, Marty McFly, as he just did his own, wrote in the comments, "Man, that’s heavy."

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"He and I went out for dinner a few days ago, and he said he'd be 88 ... when he turns 88. But he's great. He's one of the most youthful guys I know. So young," Fox told PEOPLE at the Nashville event.

A Country Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's 2026 marked a major milestone for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which celebrated having raised more than $3.5 million over the past three years by hosting events in Music City. For this year's iteration, Fox was joined by Willie Geist, Little Big Town, Eric Church and more for an evening of music and celebration as his foundation works toward a cure.

— sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. Fox in 'Back to the Future' (1985)Credit: Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Beyond his noteworthy contributions to Parkinson's research, Fox is still keeping busy as an actor and a family man. His most recent appearance on the hit series Shrinking has drawn critical acclaim and, for the star, an even closer bond with collaborator Harrison Ford.

Asked about a potential return to the series, Fox told PEOPLE, "Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I love Bill [Lawrence] and I'm so happy it's a success. And it's such a great time being with those actors."

On top of that, Fox released a memoir, Future Boy, at the end of 2025, in which he recounts what it was like filming Back to the Future and his fan-favorite sitcom Family Ties at the same time.

on People

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Michael J. Fox Calls “Back to the Future” Costar Christopher Lloyd 'Youthful' Ahead of His 88th Birthday (Exclusive)

Michael J. Fox Calls “Back to the Future” Costar Christopher Lloyd &x27;Youthful&x27; Ahead of His 88th Birthday (Exclus...

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Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star

Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star Marcus D. Smith, USA TODAYFri, May 1, 2026 at 11:03 AM UTC 0 Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has missed most of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and a similar pattern is expected for Game 6. Durant missed Game 1 with a right knee contusion, an injury he sustained during practice a day before the game. He scored 23 points in a Game 2 loss, but suffered a left ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined for Games 3, 4 and 5.

Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star

Marcus D. Smith, USA TODAYFri, May 1, 2026 at 11:03 AM UTC

0

Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star

Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant has missed most of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers and a similar pattern is expected for Game 6.

Durant missed Game 1 with a right knee contusion, an injury he sustained during practice a day before the game. He scored 23 points in a Game 2 loss, but suffered a left ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined for Games 3, 4 and 5.

The pain in his ankle will likely keep him from competing in the potential elimination Game 6 in Houston. League sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that Durant will not play, as the Rockets trail the Lakers 3-2 in their best-of-seven series. Durant was listed as "doubtful" on the NBA injury report as of 10 p.m. ET, April 30.

The Rockets have won the previous two matchups against the Lakers after falling down 3-0 in the series. A Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, if necessary.

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1 / 0Coolest kicks of the NBA playoffs as stars show their sneaker style

The NBA playoffs bring out more than high‑stakes basketball, as stars showcase their sneaker style on the league’s biggest stage.See the coolest kicks worn during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where footwear becomes part of the spotlight.Above, The shoes of Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks are seen during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden on April 18, 2026, in New York City.

Durant's timetable for a return was a minimum of two weeks, sources told Charania. He first suffered the ankle injury on April 21. If the Rockets can force Game 7, it would be just days before the two-week mark given for Durant.

The Rockets have won back-to-back games without Durant, though, led by their young, future core of Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Alperen Sengun. Smith led Houston with a team-high 22 points in the Rockets' 99-93 Game 5 win in Los Angeles. Thompson led the Rockets with 23 points in their 115-96 Game 4 win in Houston.

Durant, 37, averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 78 games during the 2025-26 regular season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant injury update, status for Lakers-Rockets Game 6

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Source: "AOL Sports"

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Source: Sports

Published: May 1, 2026 at 02:27PM on Source: MORNING MAG

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May 02, 2026

Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star

Is Kevin Durant playing today? Latest injury update on Rockets star Marcus D. Smith, USA TODAYFri, May 1, 2026 at 11:03 AM UTC 0...

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Zoë Kravitz Shows Off Diamond Sparkler Days After News of Harry Styles Engagement

Zoë Kravitz Shows Off Diamond Sparkler Days After News of Harry Styles Engagement Charna FlamThu, April 30, 2026 at 11:11 PM UTC 0 Zoe Kravitz on April 30Credit: backgrid Zoë Kravitz was spotted wearing her new diamond ring in New York City on Thursday, April 30 On Monday, April 27, PEOPLE confirmed that the actress and Harry Styles are engaged The couple was first reported to be romantically linked beginning in August 2025 Zoë Kravitz was spotted with her new accessory in New York City.

Zoë Kravitz Shows Off Diamond Sparkler Days After News of Harry Styles Engagement

Charna FlamThu, April 30, 2026 at 11:11 PM UTC

0

Zoe Kravitz on April 30Credit: backgrid -

Zoë Kravitz was spotted wearing her new diamond ring in New York City on Thursday, April 30

On Monday, April 27, PEOPLE confirmed that the actress and Harry Styles are engaged

The couple was first reported to be romantically linked beginning in August 2025

Zoë Kravitz was spotted with her new accessory in New York City.

On Monday, April 27, a source confirmed to PEOPLE that the actress and director, 37, and Harry Styles, 32, got engaged. The confirmation followed photos of the High Fidelity actress spotted out with new bling on her hand during the couple's recent outing in London.

Then, on Thursday, April 30, Kravitz was photographed taking a stroll in New York City, with her new diamond ring peeking out from under a brown suede fur-lined jacket. The actress kept her look casual, pairing the cozy jacket with black pants, black boots and a black leather tote.

Zoe Kravitz on April 30Credit: backgrid

Jewelry experts have shared their thoughts and examinations of the ring, with some experts believing the diamond weighs between five and 10 carats. They believe it is either a radiant or cushion-cut stone with a yellow gold bezel setting and band—and could cost upwards of $600,000.

Kravitz and Styles were first linked in August 2025, when they were spotted walking arm in arm in Rome. That same month, Deuxmoi reported that the pair had been spotted kissing at Rita's in London the week prior.

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At the time, a source told PEOPLE that the former One Direction singer was "spending time with Kravitz while she's been on her [Caught Stealing] press run." Since then, they have been spotted together several times in London and New York City.

Zoe Kravitz on April 30Credit: backgrid

"They seem very serious and focused on prioritizing time together," a source told PEOPLE in February.

"They also seem to have created a life together that they both genuinely enjoy," the insider added.

Zoe Kravitz and Harry Styles on Sept. 12, 2025Credit: COBRA TEAM / BACKGRID

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A source told PEOPLE that the couple has shared their engagement news with "a small circle," adding that the actress has been showing off her ring to friends.

on People

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Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Published: May 1, 2026 at 03:09AM on Source: MORNING MAG

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Zoë Kravitz Shows Off Diamond Sparkler Days After News of Harry Styles Engagement

Zoë Kravitz Shows Off Diamond Sparkler Days After News of Harry Styles Engagement Charna FlamThu, April 30, 2026 at 11:11 PM U...

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Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5 Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. By Samantha Highfill :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/SamanthaHighfillauthorphoto0917254112e875604542d49744a27de908d183.jpg) Samantha Highfill Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at , where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television. EW's editorial guidelines August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET Katherine Pierce was a staple of the Vampire Diaries universe.

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened.

By Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill

Samantha Highfill is an executive editor at **, where she's worked for more than 12 years covering television.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 18, 2021 9:00 a.m. ET

Katherine Pierce was a staple of the *Vampire Diaries* universe. But at one point in the series, the writers had to fight to tell more of her story.

"We had to negotiate for the right to let Nina [Dobrev] play Katherine again because the season 2 Katherine [story] had really taken everything out of her and the network was being very protective," executive producer Julie Plec says about the show's fifth season during episode 5 of *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries*. "[The network] and studio were being very protective and they were like, 'You can't do that anymore, you can't have Katherine.'"

On an earlier episode of the podcast, Dobrev spoke about how exhausted she was at the end of season 2, the first season in which she played both Elena and Katherine in the present day. So when it came time to make Katherine human and even introduce a third Petrova doppelgänger, the writers had to get creative. "We had to basically beg the network to let us even write story for Katherine," Plec says, noting that "the triplegänger made the whole thing worth it."

Nina Dobrev as Katherine Pierce on 'The Vampire Diaries'. Tina Rowden/The CW

Fans will remember that season 5 featured Katherine taking over Elena's body, which meant that for a good chunk of the season, Dobrev only had one character to play. And then, eventually, Katherine met her demise, a decision that also came about following those negotiations. "I literally think we had to say we'll kill her in order to get permission to use her," Plec recalls.

Additionally, during the podcast, Plec discusses the choice to have Bonnie (Kat Graham) and Damon (Ian Somerhalder) be the two characters who "die" together at the end of season 5, which led to a discussion about Bamon, the popular ship. "Bonnie and Damon had a thing in the books we had sort of always said, 'We don't buy a romantic connection between Bonnie and Damon because Damon's just done too many terrible things and Bonnie just has more integrity than that,'" Plec says. "But we wanted to service that relationship in the canon a little bit."

For more about season 5—and the series overall—listen to the full episode below:

**To listen, subscribe to *EW's Binge: The Vampire Diaries* feed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also subscribe to EW's YouTube page to catch all the video interviews and stay tuned to EW.com.**

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- *Vampire Diaries* creators talk season 1 Katherine twist, the fan response that left them 'aghast'

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Source: "EW Sci-Fi"

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Published: May 2, 2026 at 09:19AM on Source: MORNING MAG

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May 02, 2026

Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in season 5

Also, Julie Plec reveals why Bamon never happened. Vampire Diaries boss reveals the real reason they killed Katherine in seaso...

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