Luckily, the list of television shows set to leave Netflix in June 2020 is considerably shorter.

Unfortunately, though, those of you looking to dodge the coming heatwaves by spending June in the air-conditioned confines of a Madison Avenue skyscraper are in for a bit of a shock. AMC's flagship series Mad Men, which has been a Netflix staple for longer than we can remember, will leave the platform on June 9, taking with it a sense of mid-century cool that simply cannot be replaced.

If mid-century cool isn't really your thing, it's entirely possible that early 19th-century cool is. Should that be the case, you've probably already heard all about the BBC's bold small-screen adaptation of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. If not, you'll want to start your binge of the seven-episode series, which follows dueling English magicians using their powers to turn the tide of the Napoleonic Wars, immediately it's leaving Netflix on June 11.

Netflix is also losing three of its Jeopardy! collections on June 27. If you happen to have an affinity for classic television, June 30 will prove a big loss as well, since that's when Netflix is set to say goodbye to the entire series runs of both The Andy Griffith Show and Cheers. Consider yourself warned.

Leaving June 9

Mad Men: Seasons 1-7

Leaving June 11

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell: Series 1

Leaving June 27

Jeopardy!: Celebrate Alex Collection

Jeopardy!: Cindy Stowell Collection

Jeopardy!: Seth Wilson Collection

Leaving June 30

The Andy Griffith Show: Seasons 1-8

Cheers: Season 1-11

Happyish: Season 1

Limitless: Season 1

Read more:
Best movies and shows to watch on Netflix in June 2020 - Looper

FOX ENTERTAINMENT RENEWS FAMILY COMEDY "LAST MAN STANDING" AND MEDICAL DRAMA "THE RESIDENT" FOR THE 2020-2021 SEASON

FOX has renewed family comedy LAST MAN STANDING and medical drama THE RESIDENT for the 2020-2021 season, it was announced today by Michael Thorn, President, Entertainment, for FOX Entertainment. LAST MAN STANDING, starring Tim Allen, will enter its third season on FOX, and ninth in total. THE RESIDENT will enter its fourth season.

"THE RESIDENT and LAST MAN STANDING are such important parts of FOX, and we're so pleased they will be returning next season," said Thorn. "We want to thank all of the writers, actors, directors, producers and talented crews for both of these shows, and, of course, our friends and producing partners at 20th Century Fox Television."

LAST MAN STANDING averages more than eight million Multi-Platform viewers, and is FOX's most-watched comedy. The series ranks among the season's Top 10 comedies among Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and male/female components, Adults 25-54, Adults 35-49, Men 18-49, Men 35-49 and Teens.

THE RESIDENT averages nearly 10 million Multi-Platform viewers, and ranks among the season's Top 10 broadcast dramas among Adults 18-34.

LAST MAN STANDING follows MIKE BAXTER (Allen), a happily married father of three daughters, who finds himself the odd man out as he tries to maintain his manliness in a home dominated by women. In addition to Allen, the series stars Nancy Travis as Mike's wife, VANESSA; Amanda Fuller as their oldest daughter, KRISTIN; Molly McCook as their free-spirited second daughter, MANDY; Christoph Sanders as Mike's charmingly nave co-worker and Mandy's husband, KYLE ANDERSON; Jordan Masterson as Kristin's husband, RYAN VOGELSON; Jonathan Adams as Mike's neighbor and co-worker, CHUCK LARABEE; Krista Marie Yu as Mike and Vanessa's live-in foreign exchange student, JEN; and Hector Elizondo as owner of Outdoor Man, ED ALZATE.

THE RESIDENT continues to rip back the curtain and reveal the truth of what really happens, both good and bad, in hospitals across the country. The provocative medical drama follows a group of doctors at Chastain Memorial Hospital, as they face personal and professional challenges on a daily basis. The series stars Matt Czuchry, Emily VanCamp, Bruce Greenwood, Manish Dayal, Shaunette Rene Wilson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Jane Leeves and Morris Chestnut.

LAST MAN STANDING is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series was created by Jack Burditt. Kevin Abbott, Matt Berry, Kevin Hench, Ed Yeager, Tim Allen, Marty Adelstein, Shawn Levy, Becky Clements, Richard Baker and Rick Messina are executive producers. Abbott serves as the series' showrunner. "Like" LAST MAN STANDING on Facebook at OfficialLastManStanding. Follow the series on Twitter @LastManStanding and join the discussion using #LastManStanding. See photos and videos on Instagram by following @LastManStanding.

THE RESIDENT is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. The series' executive producers include Todd Harthan, Amy Holden Jones, Rob Corn, Antoine Fuqua, David Boorstein, Oly Obst and Elizabeth Klaviter. "Like" THE RESIDENT on Facebook at TheResidentonFOX. Follow the series on Twitter @ResidentFOX and join the discussion using #TheResident. See photos and videos on Instagram by following @TheResidentonFOX.

More:
Breaking News - FOX Entertainment Renews Family Comedy "Last Man Standing" and Medical Drama "The Resident" for the 2020-2021...

Offensive Line

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: Offensive tackle Dalton Risner #66 of the Denver Broncos runs onto the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field at Mile High on September 29, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Denver: LT Garett Bolles, LG Dalton Risner, C Lloyd Cushenberry III, RG Graham Glasgow, RT Ja'Wuan James

The Broncos have invested heavily in their offensive line over the past two seasons with the additions of Dalton Risner (2nd Round 2019) and Lloyd Cushenberry III (3rd Round 2020) along with pricey free-agent additions in Ju'Wuan James and Graham Glasgow.

The interior should be stout in both the run and pass game. The questions for this team surround their tackles as James looks to stay healthy and Bolles tries to eliminate penalties. This group has the potential to be a top or bottom 3rd line depending on the play outside. 7.0

Kansas City:LT Eric Fisher, LG Martinas Rankin, C Austin Reiter, RG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, RT Mitchell Schwartz

Fisher has come into his own as the former 1st overall pick while Schwartz continues to be one of the better right tackles in the game. Inside, Reiter stepped in nicely for the departed Mitch Morse.

This group was able to provide Mahomes with adequate time. Mahomes only needs so much based on his improvisation skills. This group can look to improve the in the run game as they ranked 28th in run blocking. 7.5

Las Vegas:LT Kolton Miller, LG Richie Incognito, C Rodney Hudson, RG Gabe Jackson, RT Trent Brown

The Raiders ranked in the top 6 in both the run blocking and pass blocking in 2019. Richard Incognito, Rodney Hudson, and Gabe Jackson form a stout interior line that ranks amongst the leagues best. Incognito came back from a hiatus and performed at an All-Pro level.

Trent Brown came over from New England as the highest-paid right tackle in NFL history and performed well most of the season when healthy. Miller is still learning the ropes but has performed respectably. This unit will be amongst the leagues best in 2020. 8.0

Los Angeles:LT Sam Tevi, LG Dan Feeney, C Mike Pouncey, RG Trai Turner, RT Bryan Bulaga

The Chargers have been riddled with poor offensive line play for the past several years, but are hopeful this group has ended that trend. The team traded former Pro-Bowl tackle Russel Okung for perennial Pro-Bowl guard Trai Turner from Carolina.

The team also went and signed veteran Bryan Bulaga to solve one of the right tackle position. Mike Pouncy and Dan Feeney sure up the interior, leaving Sam Tevi as the lone question mark upfront.

The team believes in Tevi enough to pass on a tackle rich 2020 draft class. However, Tevi will be tested early and often as teams attack him until he proves worthy of the starting role. The Chargers will also have to weather the injury bug that has plagued this group throughout their recent history, as many of their projected starters have missed chunks of time over the past several seasons. 7.0

Next: Predicting the Broncos top 6 cornerbacks in 2020

See this story to see how the Broncos defense and special teams stack up with the AFC West.

The rest is here:
Denver Broncos: How offensive position groups stack up in AFC West - Predominantly Orange

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With roughly 20 percent of the NBA regular season left to be played, every team could use some extra time to sort out unanswered questions.

Whether it be lottery-bound teams developing young cores or playoff hopefuls that are trying to incorporate trade-deadline additions, every team still needs more time to evaluate its roster.

When the NBA resumes, these are the biggest issues teams should seek clarity for.

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The Atlanta Hawks gave up the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and Evan Turner to get Clint Capela from the Houston Rockets in a four-team deal at the trade deadline. Two months later, we still have no idea how he fits on the roster.

Capela had been sidelined with plantar fasciitis and a bone bruise in his heel since Jan. 29 and was scheduled to be reevaluated March 18. At that point there would have only been 13 games left on Atlanta's schedule.

Since the team is stocked with young talent at the four other positions, Atlanta's trade for the 25-year-old Capela made sense. Heaveraged 14.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks per game and shot 64.5 percent from the field in Houston over the past three years, playing strong defense that should help the Hawks'No. 28 ranking (114.8 rating) in the category.

Spacing could become an issue given Capela's lack of shooting, but power forward John Collins is up to a career-high 40.1 percent mark from three to help ease any concerns.

Depending on the severity of Capela's injuries, we may not get our answer until next season.

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While the Boston Celtics were probably hoping to snag Tristan Thompson or John Henson on the buyout market, they'll have to settle for a center combination of Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams III.

With Theis locked in as starter, the 28-year-old is averaging 9.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and shooting 56.5 percent in just 23.8 minutes per game. Despite his modest size, the 6'8", 245-pound Theis is a good athlete who times his shot contests well.

Come the playoffs, however, his lack of size could be an issue.

If the postseason started with the current seedings, Boston would face the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round in a No. 3 vs. No. 6 series. That means a Theis-Joel Embiid matchup, with Embiid standing four inches taller and outmuscling Theis by 35 pounds.

If Boston were to advance, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol of the Toronto Raptors would likely be up next, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez in the Eastern Conference Finals.

While Theis has done a solid job, can he hold up night after night against much bigger, stronger competition in the playoffs?

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Taking over for the fired Kenny Atkinson, Jacque Vaughn coached just two games with the Brooklyn Nets before the NBA was suspended March 11.

While he went 2-0 in those games, which included an impressive road win over the Los Angeles Lakers, he'll likely need a far bigger sample size to make a case for keeping the job past this season.

Slapped with the interim tag, Vaughn does bring an impressive resume with him to get a contract extension.

He's a former NBA point guard, playing 12 seasons for the Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs. He's played alongside guys like John Stockton, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Tim Duncan, learning from some all-time coaching greats in Jerry Sloan and Gregg Popovich.

He also brings head-coaching experience, leading the Magic from 2012 to 2015.

While former head coaches like Tyronn Lue, Mark Jackson and David Fizdale may all be considered, Vaughn shouldn't be ruled out.

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Devonte' Graham began his season on the Charlotte Hornets'bench before the organization quickly figured out he was its best player.

Averaging 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game, Graham has become a beacon of hope on a miserable Hornets roster that still has to pay Terry Rozier $36.8 million over the next two years.

Still, it's fair to question Graham's ceiling and role on a playoff team.

Despite his high scoring and assist marks, the 25-year-old is shooting just 38.2 percent from the field. Of the 57 players who have taken at least 750 shots this season, heranks lastin field-goal percentage.

A split from playing alongside Rozier may help, as Graham has a true shooting percentage of 59.0 off the bench, compared to 52.9 percent as a starter. On the season, he owns a net rating of minus-6.0 when sharing the court with Rozier, compared to minus-1.5 when Graham is in the game and Rozier sits. His true shooting jumps from 51.1 percent to 57.3 percent when getting the floor to himself, as well.

If the Hornets don't want to move Rozier and his contract to the bench, then letting Graham thrive as a reserve may be the better option.

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Is the Chicago Bulls' rebuild at the point of drafting for position, or is this still a best-player-available sort of deal?

That's what Chicago has to figure out, and it has more questions than answers regarding foundational pieces.

Wendell Carter Jr. is safe at center, having averaged 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game, with a plus-4.0on/off rating this year. Injuries have stalled his first two seasons, but he's got star potential and can anchor a defense.

Coby White has made major improvements as the year's gone on from the point guard position, but he's not a true pass-first floor general. Zach LaVine is averaging 25.5 points per game but has spent more time at small forward this season than his native shooting guard.

Otto Porter Jr. was brilliant after coming over in a trade from the Washington Wizards last season but has played in just 14 games this year because of foot problems and holds a player option for 2020-21. Power forward didn't look like a need with Lauri Markkanen in tow, but his production has dipped across the board.

Center looks like the only position the Bulls should avoid in the draft, with more time needed to evaluate the other spots.

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While the Cleveland Cavaliers can be patient with their young backcourt of Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Kevin Porter Jr., they may need to make a decision on 26-year-old Andre Drummond soon.

Acquiring him for a pair of expiring contracts and a 2023 second-round pick was fine, especially with the level of production (17.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.4 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game) he's given Cleveland in his first eight games.

With the Cavs' three young guards averaging 20 years in age, does Drummond still fit a rebuilding timeline when he's set to turn 27 in August? General manager Koby Altman seems to think so.

"Absolutely, we consider him a potential long-term play," Altman said in a conference call after the trade deadline. "Obviously, he has a player option that if he picks up, we think we're in good shape in terms of our cap space. There's no better money spent than on Andre Drummond if he picks up his option."

Barring a trade, Drummond will almost certainly be back with the Cavaliers next season on a $28.8 million player option.

After that, the Cavs may be wary of investing in a non-modern center who's approaching 30.

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When talking NBA title contenders, the Dallas Mavericks often get left out of the conversation.

But why? Dallas has the NBA's sixth-highest net rating (plus-5.8), ahead of teams such as the Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz and Denver Nuggets.

They've also had the No. 1-ranked offense nearly all season (115.8 rating), with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis thriving in their roles.

While this makes the Mavs seem underrated, they have their faults.

They have fallen to seventh place in the Western Conference standings. The defense is just 17th overall, and losing Dwight Powell to a torn right Achilles in January was a devastating blow.

Getting out of the seventh seed is a big deal, as moving up to sixth means the difference between playing the Los Angeles Clippers or the Nuggets in the first round.

But without a postseason, we probably won't know how to properly value this team.

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Michael Porter Jr. has all the makings of a star.

He possesses a 6'10", 218-pound athletic frame that seems a model for today's power forward. His 42.2 percent shooting from three on 102 attempts proves his outside game should be sustainable, and his 16.5 total rebound percentage is already better than Paul Millsap's (13.5).

Despite all these positive qualities, Porter Jr. is averaging just 14.0 minutes in his 48 games, starting just once.

While head coach Michael Malone doesn't appear to be the biggest fan of playing a rookie for a team with title hopes, the Nuggets will need clarity on his progress before the offseason.

Millsap is 35 and set to become an unrestricted free agent. Backup Jerami Grant has a player option for $9.3 million that he could easily decline.

At some point, Porter Jr. will play a big role for the Nuggets. They need to find out if he's ready for the promotion.

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By keeping veteran point guard Derrick Rose at the trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons signaled they may not be ready to dive into a deep rebuild.

While Drummond was essentially traded for cap space and Reggie Jackson waived, Rose remains under contract for next season, and Blake Griffin has two years and $75.8 million remaining on his deal.

Griffin had season-ending knee surgery in early January, meaning the Pistons will be hard-pressed to find a taker for his contract.

If Griffin and Rose are both coming back, should Detroit still try to make the playoffs?

One of the few teams with significant cap space this summer, the Pistons could try to entice a player such as Fred VanVleet or DeMar DeRozan (player option) to jump on board if they don't want to go the rebuilding route. Bringing back center Christian Wood (21.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game, .560/.408/.734 as a starter) is a must as well.

With the Eastern Conference still incredibly weak toward the bottom, it's reasonable to think of Detroit as a playoff team next season.

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Andrew Wiggins has built a reputation for being an inefficient scorer who doesn't provide much rebounding or ball distribution, despite his obvious athletic gifts.

So far with the Golden State Warriors, that hasn't changed.

Wiggins' true shooting percentage has remainedabout the samegoing from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Warriors (53.5 percent to 54.2 percent), as have his rebounding (7.9 total rebound percentage to 7.4) and passing (18.1 assist percentage to 18.2).

The 25-year-old small forward has never been a good defender, either, an issue that could show up more on a title-hopeful Warriors team.

So much of Golden State's success over the past decade has revolved not just around outside shooting, but also ball movement and defense. Those aren't Wiggins' strengths.

Six years into Wiggins' career, can the Warriors instill some of those things, or do they just have to accept that this is who he is?

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By swapping center Clint Capela in a trade for Robert Covington, the Houston Rockets committed to a small-ball unit that's worked really well.

An 8-6 record with Covington in the lineup doesn't seem that special, but the lineups he's joined have been extremely successful.

The five-man unit of James Harden, Russell Westbrook, P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and Covington has a net rating of plus-10.7 in 164 total minutes. With Eric Gordon instead of House, Houston is still a plus-7.1 in 45 minutes together.

In theory, this should work in the postseason when defenses regularly switch. Having extra wings on the floor who can move, contest shots and cut off driving lanes should help.

Having to play a series against one of the Western Conference's premier bigs (Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic) could prove problematic for the Rockets, however.

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Victor Oladipo only played 13 games this season before the NBA went on hiatus and looked far from the player who's been named a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers.

Without him, Indiana would probably be lucky to make it past the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. With him at his best, the Pacers have a chance at winning multiple series.

We've seen what Oladipo can do as a No. 1 option in the postseason, pushing LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in 2018. During that series, he averaged22.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and shot 40.4 percent from three..

In his first eight contests back from a quad injury this season, Oladipo predictably struggled. His averages of 10.8 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game on 33.3 percent shooting were far from what we've grown accustomed to from the 2013 No. 2 overall pick.

In the five games after that, however, Oladipo looked much better, putting up averages of 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.4 steals and shooting 47.1 percent overall in 27.4 minutes per contest.

The extra time off may be good for Oladipo.

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The Los Angeles Clippers were playing some of their best basketball before the suspension, claiming second place in the Western Conference behind the additions of Marcus Morris Sr. and Reggie Jackson.

Since the All-Star break, the Clippers had the best net rating in the NBA (plus-11.5), comfortably ahead of the second-placed Los Angeles Lakers (plus-6.9).

Only the Lakers had posted a better record since the break, going 8-2 to the Clippers' 7-2 mark.

This means no ground gained for the Clips, who trail the Lakers by 5.5 games in the West. Getting the No. 1 seed would mean home-court advantage in a potential Western Conference Finals matchup with the Lakers, a meeting that seems inevitable.

While it wouldn't be a typical home-court advantage situation, given both teams play in the same arena, changing out the court to the Clippers' logo and covering up the Lakers' championship banners could create a psychological advantage, especially since would mean they had caught James and Co. for the No. 1 seed.

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As unbelievable as it may be, a James-led team hasn't finished with the NBA's best record since the 2012-13 Miami Heat went 66-16.

This year, the Los Angeles Lakers have a chance.

Sitting at 49-14, they trail the Milwaukee Bucks by only three games with 19 contests to go, assuming the NBA plays out the rest of the regular season.

While there's still a chance the Clippers close the 5.5-game gap in the West, the Lakers should be motivated to get home-court advantage because of a potential Finals against the Bucks.

James has begun his last five NBA Finals on the road, ever since starting in Miami in 2013. Opening a Finals in Los Angeles for a pair of games would be huge, especially considering Milwaukee is 28-3 at home this season.

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The rest is here:
The Question Every NBA Team Has Failed to Answer in 2019-20 - Bleacher Report

Like previous games in the series, Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 have a New Game + mode, which unlocks after you finish the game. It allows you to carry over multiple things that you unlocked during your previous playthrough into a fresh run. Essentially, you can start a new story with a bunch of bonuses. In this guide, we'll detail all aspects of New Game + in Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5.

As mentioned, you'll need to finish the game in order to unlock New Game +. After the credits have rolled and you've seen any ending, the game will ask whether you want to save your 'Clear Data'.

Make sure to save this Clear Data onto a save slot of your choice - but be aware that overwriting the last save that you made during gameplay will mean that you can no longer go back to it.

Once you've saved your Clear Data, you'll return to the main menu. From here, simply select Load Game, and then choose to load your Clear Data.

Next, you'll be asked whether you want to carry over your progress into a new game. Select yes and you'll go straight into New Game +.

Here's what carries over in both Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 New Game +:

In Persona 5 Royal, you carry over additional bonuses alongside the unlocks listed above. We've listed all of Persona 5 Royal's additional New Game + unlocks below:

Yes, you can change Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5's difficulty level when starting New Game +, regardless of the difficulty setting you chose during your previous playthrough. Once the story has started and you're in the interrogation room, you'll once again be given the option of choosing the difficulty level.

No, the strength of enemies doesn't increase in Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5's New Game +. This means that if you choose to carry over all of your powerful equipment from your previous playthrough, you'll probably find that early battles are much easier because your party members are that much stronger. If you're looking for more of a challenge during your New Game + playthough, consider choosing a higher difficulty level.

This article is part of our Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal Guide, which contains All Differences Between Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal along with Crossword Answers, Exam Answers, Romance Options, How To Get The Best Ending, New Game + details for Persona 5 Royal and How To Unlock Persona 5 Royal's New Semester Endgame.

We also have Best Ending Walkthrough, Confidants Guide, Exam Answers and Skill Level articles for the original Persona 5 game.

View original post here:
Persona 5 Royal: New Game + - What Carries Over and How to Start New Game + - Push Square

Once upon a time this weekend would have marked the opening days of Coachella, the giant pop festival in the Southern California desert that attracts 250,000 revelers across two weekends. It is the unofficial opening ceremony for a summer run of global music extravaganzas as disparate as Glastonbury in Somerset, England, and the beach parties of Ibiza, Spain.

But now the festival ground, with its distinctive backdrop of bare mountains and towering palm trees, lies empty. Coachella has been postponed until October, organizers confirmed last month, over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Scores of other festivals have also fallen off the calendar, leaving musicians without stages to play on, millions of attendees set to stay home and fashion brands with mountains of unsold denim hot pants, fringed skirts and sequin cropped tops.

For some brands, festivals arent just a season like summer or fall, but the season of the year to build relationships with a certain kind of shopper, who buy fun new extra additions for their wardrobe that they wouldnt normally be tempted by, said Lucie Greene, a trend forecaster and the founder of the Light Years consultancy. They define an entire aesthetic of collections and products for some labels.

According to Katy Lubin, the vice president for communications at the global fashion search platform Lyst, online searches for festival fashion usually begin in March and last until July.

Fast fashion names like H & M and ASOS plan for months in advance of that expected spike, with online shops in place for festival gear. They place vast orders with suppliers for items like neon fanny packs meant for young, predominantly female shoppers who will buy, wear and then often discard looks after two or three days (though not before posting their outfits on social media).

Unsurprisingly, we havent seen that same surge in demand this year, Ms. Lubin said. The global fashion industry is expected to contract by 30 percent in 2020, according to a recent report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, with eight out of 10 listed fashion companies in Europe and North America set to be in financial distress if lockdowns last for more than two months.

This time last year, Leonie Hanne, a German fashion influencer who has 2.1 million Instagram followers, was deep in preparations for her upcoming trip to Coachella. Her annual desert pilgrimages (this would have been her fifth) have produced scores of beautiful snapshots, video clips and catchy phrases for previous brand partners like Dior and Paco Rabanne, which she then posted online.

Alongside fashion week, Coachella was also one of the most lucrative times of the year for me, Ms. Hanne said from her London apartment this week, forwarding images taken at the festival. In one she posed in a nude lace skirt, pearl bra and face crystals in front of the giant Coachella Ferris wheel; in another, she wore a black feather necklace and flared jacquard pants. This year she was planning projects with GHD, a hairstyling appliance company, YSL Beauty and Jimmy Choo. They have all been put on ice.

Revolve, the e-tailer known for cultivating relationships with social media personalities and reality television stars with huge online followings, generates around 30 percent of its total annual revenue in the weeks up to and around Coachella. The company usually hosts its annual invitation-only #REVOLVE festival near the Coachella site, where frolicking attendees pose for pictures in outfits by brands sold by the platform, generating masses of likes, and revenue, online.

This was our best week ever, Michael Mente, Revolves co-chief executive, said after the festival in 2018. Monday before Coachella beat our Cyber Monday.

Not this year. With the festival sales window disappearing alongside customers summer plans, some wholesale retailers have moved to cancel orders for products like short playsuits, kimono minidresses and flower crowns. Supplier factories have said that they are being asked by some retailers to give discounts on low-cost garments.

Several Revolve employees, who asked to be anonymous out of fear of retaliation at work, said that, ahead of Coachella, the company had planned to stock more festival-inspired playsuits, dresses and accessories than at any other time of the year. Because of the postponement, however, those orders were now being reduced to a fifth of what had been expected. (The company declined to comment.)

ASOS likewise confirmed this week that total sales had tumbled by 20 to 25 percent since the beginning of the pandemic, primarily as shoppers turned away from party pieces, or what it termed going out gear, in favor of clothes like loungewear designed for staying inside.

Given that some events, like Coachella, have been tentatively rescheduled for fall, it is possible that the lockdown measures will be only a short-term blip in the festival fashion business. But after months of social distancing, will festivalgoers want to rush back to crowded venues?

Weve already accepted that the first half of this year is going to be very soft regarding sales that is a given, said Marisa Hordern, the founder of Missoma, a jewelry label worn by the Duchess of Sussex and Margot Robbie. Ms. Hordern had planned to introduce a new line of bejeweled belts and sunglasses chains at Coachella exhibitionistic pieces designed for hedonistic moments.

Our focus has turned to building brand loyalty and community, rather than getting people to buy, Ms. Hordern said. That said, the big fear is whether there is a second wave of infections. We cant carry on as we are now forever.

Some consumers had already started to re-evaluate their relationship with cheap, disposable clothes before the crisis began. Even if there is a partial recovery in demand, there are concerns that the appetite for nonessential items will be muted in a post-Covid era.

I am hoping everyone will feel the urge to come together, celebrate and make up for all the missed special moments, Ms. Hanne, the influencer, said, noting that she plans to return to Coachella in October. But some parts of our behavior regarding traveling and consuming will definitely change when this situation is over.

Read more here:
For Festival Fashion, the Music Has Stopped - The New York Times

What We Do in the Shadows delivers even more supernatural silliness as it expands its universe and celebrates its characters to great success.

Death comes for us all. It comes for the bees. It comes for the trees. It comes for basically anyone from zero on up

Horror and genre programming have recently been embraced to such levels that topics like vampires, zombies, or werewolves are nearly considered to be played out. Accordingly, its exciting to see properties that approach this material with genuine love and respect and are interested in pushing the concepts to new places rather than cashing in on something thats popular. During a time where the supernatural can unfortunately make people shrug, its inspiring to see a show that causes fits of laughter and gasps. What We Do in the Shadows is a lovely celebration of the horror genre and the last thing that it wants to do is blend in with the crowd. Death still casually gets thrown around as if its as natural as breathing in What We Do in the Shadows. Comedy and the macabre continue to sublimely mix together in this amazing television show that proves that something undead can still be so full of life.

These vampires egos are more inflated than ever before after their journey for power during season one. They still operate on a relatively small-scale, but theyre prepared to seize the world and make it beg for mercy. Its enjoyable to witness how the events of the first season have caused these characters to grow in certain ways, but in spite of any developments theyre all more or less the same characters at their cores.

The entire cast of this series is still fantastic and everyone seems to be even more comfortable in their characters this year. This season also creates more situations to have the entire cast together and those chaotic scenes where everyone gets to play off of each other are often the most satisfying. There are no weak links with this shows cast, but Guillermo and Colin may low-key be the best characters this season. They hit such fantastic grooves this year and theyre properly utilized to get the most out of their characters. Its also probably no mistake that theyre the two characters who arguably have the least amount of power in this series. Theyre consistent highlights through these episodes. Nadja also gains a fantastic companion in the form of a living doll that blossoms into a weird, wonderful relationship. Its a bond thats much more deep than it appears, but it also results in some gloriously surreal visuals.

Ever since Nadja and Laszlos exodus from the vampiric council there have been a slew of assassins who have been trying to take them out, all of which Guillermo disposes of with a certain effortlessness that speaks to his Van Helsing roots. This is highly amusing, but it also results in Guillermo needing to hide this side of himself to his vampire friends. Its a rich storyline for the season that continues to give as Guillermo buries his latent skills and the vampires handle everything else thats happening around them. Guillermos time in the spotlight this season allows for both his insecurities and his passion over his job to get tested. The direction that he gets pulled in and the new friends that he makes this season are strong additions. Its a nice change of pace to get some regular scenes where Guillermo is valued and exists outside of his usual vampire clique.

This season embraces the mystical and supernatural side of horror a little more, with necromancers and sances being major topics. In the same sense, this season widens its scope to include zombies, ghosts, and returns to werewolves, all in a satisfying way that provides quirky takes on all of these iconic horror tropes. This is not to say that What We Do in the Shadows has run out of ideas of what to do with vampires, but its a nice way in which this supernatural pocket of Staten Island gets to broaden itself.

What We Do in the Shadows becomes even more confident this season and now that its established things it plays around with some really clever ideas. Theres a fantastic story that hinges on the idea that if vampires are dead then they should also have ghosts. There are some excellent episodes that are born out of questions that dont get asked enough in the horror genre. This season really has fun challenging old archetypes in absurd ways. Theres a strong sense of continuity from this season that calls back to many episodes and elements from the first season. It actually expands on those ideas and they dont just feel like manipulative excuses to bring back characters. Its a reflection of how the structure of the shows storytelling becomes even more layered this season.

The stories from this season explore plenty of well-known vampire traditions, like glamour/hypnosis, but it pushes them to more daring and surprising places. The show comes up with plenty of brilliant, new ideas that stem from the evolution of old horror concepts. Theres a delightful spin-off of this series that focuses on the cops from the What We Do in the Shadows feature film, thats called Wellington Paranormal. For whatever reason, FX or Hulu hasnt snagged up the rights to air this show, but its had two seasons and has expertly handled a wide range of supernatural topics, a lot of the time in a manner thats even funnier than whats looked at in What We Do in the Shadows. This second season of What We Do in the Shadows feels like it finally rises to the occasion and provides just as challenging and humorous of a look at the macabre as its spin-off. The shows wider ranger only does it favors.

Its very entertaining to watch these vampires acclimate to modern customs, but its also interesting to see how these fantastical characters have certain supernatural hang-ups and how theyre skeptical to certain creatures or superstitions, in spite of how much theyve seen. The concept of skeptical vampires is so wonderfully anachronistic. As many supernatural topics are elegantly handled this season, theres also still plenty of enjoyment to be had over these vampires attempts to indoctrinate themselves into society through mundane events like Super Bowl parties, workplace promotions, or e-mail chain letter curses (which is easily one of the best episodes that the show has ever done). A lot of this season finds humor in forcing these characters out of their comfort zones, even if its in minuscule ways.

This season of the series approaches more adventurous territory and it fits in some very pleasant surprises, much like the shows first season. There are some very satisfying and unexpected guest stars who fit in very well in this exaggerated universe, as well as the appearance of many of the more popular characters from the first season, even when it seems like thats impossible. Its nice to see that What We Do in the Shadows puts just as much effort into its supporting characters and guest roles as it does its main cast.

What We Do in the Shadows continues to be one of the more consistent and hilarious comedies on television and the second season is even better than its strong debut year. In a genre thats flooded with lazy and unearned takes on vampires, its comforting that programs like What We Do in the Shadows work so hard to respect horrors roots and also take it to fun, new places. As much as this is a fantastic horror series, its also just a great family sitcom at the end of the day, too. These are characters that you just want to spend more time with, even if that means getting covered in blood in the process. Hopefully there will be many more years to spend time with this eccentric, bloodthirsty bunch.

The second season of What We Do in the Shadows premieres on FX on April 15th, and the following day on Hulu.

This review is based on the first four episodes of the shows ten-episode second season.

Read the original:
[Review] Season Two of "What We Do in the Shadows" Bites into Even Bigger Laughs - Bloody Disgusting

The latest on the coronavirus pandemic.

WASHINGTON The Strategic National Stockpile is nearly out of the N95 respirators, surgical masks, face, shields, gowns and other medical supplies desperately needed to protect front-line medical workers treating coronavirus patients.

The Department of Health and Human Services told the Associated Press on Wednesday that it was deploying all remaining personal protective equipment in the federal stockpile. A small percentage will be kept in reserve to support federal response efforts, the department said. The statement confirms federal documentsreleased Wednesday by the House Oversight and Reform Committee showing that about 90% of the personal protective equipment in the stockpile has been distributed to state and local governments.

House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y. said in astatementthat the Trump administration is leaving states to scour the open market for scarce supplies, often competing with each other and federal agencies in a chaotic bidding war that drives up prices.

Trump has faulted the states for not better preparing for the pandemic and has said they should be relying on the federal stockpile only as a last resort.

Read the full story about the shortage of medical supplies here.

South Korea sees smallest daily jump in new cases since Feb. 20

SEOUL, South Korea South Korea says it has reported 39 more cases of the coronavirus over the past 24 hours, in a continued slowdown of the virus outbreak in the Asian country.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement Thursday the additional cases increased the countrys total to 10,423. It says 6,973 of them have been recovered and released from quarantine. The center says fatalities from the coronavirus rose by four to 204.

But the 39 new cases are the smallest daily jump since Feb. 20. South Korea recorded 47 and 53 new cases on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are still worries about a steady rise in infections linked to international arrivals, which has helped inflate the caseload in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area.

A total of 22 of the 39 new cases have been reported in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province.

Coronavirus cluster among hospital staff on Maui

HONOLULU Hawaii officials said Wednesday they have identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Maui islands only hospital as it disclosed 15 employees of the facility have tested positive.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said the Maui Memorial Medical Center employees have been sent home to self-isolate. He said plans were being made to isolate the workers at a quarantine site away from their families.

Bruce Anderson, the director of the state Department of Health, said the first case at the hospital was identified in mid-March and many of the initial cases were related to travel. He said it was only Tuesday when the state epidemiologist saw the connections between subsequent cases and recognized the virus had likely been transmitted between workers and from patient to worker.

He said all those who have had close contact with the employees will be tested.

Nevada governor clamps down on public gatherings

CARSON CITY, Nev. Nevadas governor on Wednesday ordered a closure of golf courses, real estate open houses, religious gatherings of 10 people or more and additional restrictions to try to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Gov. Steve Sisolak said he was adding restrictions because some people have created an unnecessary risk by trying to circumvent the rules he has already put in place. Other restrictions were designed to cut down on the amount of time people spend next to others, he said.

The governor last month ordered a closure of non-essential businesses, including gambling and casinos, and issued a directive telling Nevadans to stay at home, though exceptions were granted for people going outside to exercise.

Sisolak said at a news conference Wednesday night he was ordering the closure of sports and recreational facilities where people congregate, such as golf courses, tennis courts, basketball courts and pools. He said that despite his decision last month to leave golf courses open, he had seen pictures that had been sent to him of people riding together in golf carts and standing together on the greens.

Outcry over racial data grows as virus slams black Americans

As the coronavirus tightens its grip across the country, it is cutting a particularly devastating swath through an already vulnerable population black Americans.

Democratic lawmakers and community leaders in cities hard-hit by the pandemic have been sounding the alarm over what they see as a disturbing trend of the virus killing African Americans at a higher rate, along with a lack of overall information about the race of victims as the nations death toll mounts.

Among the cities where black residents have been hard-hit: New York, Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago and Milwaukee.

Of the victims whose demographic data was publicly shared by officials nearly 3,300 of the nations 13,000 deaths thus far about 42% were black, according to an Associated Press analysis. African Americans account for roughly 21% of the total population in the areas covered by the analysis.

The APs analysis is one of the first attempts to examine the racial disparities of COVID-19 cases and deaths nationwide. It involved examining more than 4,450 deaths and 52,000 COVID-19 cases from across the country, relying on the handful of state and local governments that have released victims race.

A history of systemic racism and inequity in access to health care and economic opportunity has made many African Americans far more vulnerable to the virus. Black adults suffer from higher rates of obesity, diabetes and asthma, which make them more susceptible, and also are more likely to be uninsured. They also often report that medical professionals take their ailments less seriously when they seek treatment.

Second U.S. study for COVID-19 vaccine uses skin-deep shots

WASHINGTON U.S. researchers have opened another safety test of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine, this one using a skin-deep shot instead of the usual deeper jab.

The pinch should feel like a simple skin test, a researcher told the volunteer lying on an exam table in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday.

Its the most important trial that weve ever done, Dr. John Ervin of the Center for Pharmaceutical Research told The Associated Press afterward. People are beating down the door to get into this trial.

The experiment, using a vaccine candidate developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals, is part of a global hunt for much-needed protection against a virus that has triggered an economic shutdown and forced people indoors as countries try to stem the spread.

A different vaccine candidate began safety testing in people last month in Seattle, one developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. About two-thirds of that studys participants have gotten the first of two needed doses.

Inovios study is set to test two doses of its vaccine, code-named INO-4800, in 40 healthy volunteers at the Kansas City research lab and the University of Pennsylvania. Inovio is working with Chinese researchers to also begin a similar study in that country soon.

These early-stage studies are a first step to see if a vaccine appears safe enough for larger tests needed to prove whether it will protect. Even if the research goes well, it is expected to take more than a year before any vaccine could be widely available.

Dozens of potential vaccines are being designed in labs around the world, expected to begin this testing process over the next several months.

Read more about the vaccine experiments here.

Stocks climb 3.4% on Wall Street as hopes build for virus peaks

NEW YORK Stocks shot 3.4 percent higher on Wall Street on Wednesday as investors chose to focus on the optimistic side of data about the coronavirus outbreaks trajectory.

Its the latest about-face in this brutally volatile stretch for the U.S. stock market, which has flip-flopped between gains and losses for six straight days.

The up moves have recently been bigger than the downward swings, though, amid signs that deaths and infections may be nearing a peak or plateau in some of the worlds hardest-hit areas. The S&P 500 has jumped nealry 23 percent since it hit a low two and a half weeks ago.

Trading remained unsettled around the world, though, with European and Asian stock markets mixed. A day before, an even bigger gain for the S&P 500 suddenly vanished in the afternoon.

Read more from Wall Street here.

Hundreds of young Americans have succumbed to coronavirus, data show

Two weeks after her husband died alone in an intensive care unit in Fort Myers, Fla., Nicole Buchanan is quarantined at the home they shared with their 12-year-old daughter, wrestling not only with grief but with why and how the coronavirus could steal someone so young and healthy.

My husband didnt have diabetes, he didnt have asthma, he didnt have high cholesterol. He didnt have anything, Buchanan said. Theres just so much Ill never know, that Ill never get the answers to.

Conrad Buchanan, who died at 39 on March 26 after battling the infection for nearly two weeks, was creative and goofy. A professional DJ, he could entertain huge crowds with his music. But at home, he was fond of singing Bob Marleys Three Little Birds to his 12-year-old daughter, Skye.

He had an amazing sense of humor. He had a big laugh. He was so magnetic, his 37-year-old widow said. He was our universe.

He also was among at least 759 people under age 50 across the United States who have perished amid the deepening pandemic, according to a Washington Post analysis of state data. These deaths underscore the tragic fact that, while the novel coronavirus might be most threatening to the old and compromised, no one is immune.

For the very young people under the age of 20 death is extremely rare in the current pandemic. But it happens: The Post identified nine such cases.

The risk appears to rise with every decade of age. The Post found at least 45 deaths among people in their 20s. (Its hard to give a precise number because of the divergent ways that states present age groups: For instance, this figure does not include 15 deaths under the age of 30 in Louisiana and New Jersey.)

As ages progress, The Post found at least 190 deaths among people in their 30s, and at least 413 among people in their 40s.

Read the full story on the toll of the coronavirus among young people here.

Sales of Dr. Anthony Fauci bobbleheads raise $100,000 to buy masks

Bobblehead Hall of Fame CEO Phil Sklar will present a virtual $100,000 check Wednesday afternoon to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy after the Milwaukee-based museum launched a fundraising campaign with a Dr. Anthony Fauci bobblehead that became its best-seller ever.

More than 20,000 orders had come in as of Wednesday from 50 states and a dozen-plus countries to support the 100 Million Mask Challenge. The Fauci bobblehead was unveiled April 1.

The creation features Fauci wearing a suit as he makes a motion showing how the nation needs to flatten the curve in the coronavirus pandemic.

The museum picked Fauci because many people see the plain-speaking expert on the coronavirus as a hero right now, Sklar said.

Video courtesy of National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum via Associated Press

Condition of British prime minister, in ICU with coronavirus, is improving

LONDON British Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care with the coronavrus but is improving, a senior official said Wednesday, as the U.K. saw its biggest spike in deaths from the virus to date.

Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said Johnson has been sitting up in bed and engaging positively with the clinical team at St. Thomas Hospital in London, three days after he was admitted.

A shaken U.K. government sought to keep a grip on its response to the outbreak with its leader hospitalized and the number of COVID-19-related deaths approaching the peaks seen in Italy and Spain, the two countries with the greatest number of fatalities.

Britains confirmed death toll reached 7,097 on Wednesday, an increase of 938 from 24 hours earlier. Italy recorded 969 deaths on March 27 and Spain 950 deaths on April 2.

Not all the deaths reported each day occurred in the preceding 24 hours, and the British total only includes deaths in hospitals.

Johnson was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 and still had a cough and fever 10 days later. He was admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in London on Sunday and moved to the ICU on Monday after his condition deteriorated. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is standing in for Johnson while he is hospitalized.

Johnson spokesman James Slack said earlier Wednesday that the prime minister continues to receive standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance.

Read the full story about Boris Johnson here.

Pentagon says military coronavirus cases near 2,000

WASHINGTON The Pentagon says the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the military has surged to nearly 2,000.

Last weekend the number topped 1,000, and one week ago it stood at 771.

Among the services, the active duty Navy has the most cases, with more than 500. The Army has 470.

Switzerland hopes to lift restrictions soon

GENEVA Switzerland plans to lift some restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus crisis by the end of the month.

Switzerland, like other European countries, has closed nonessential shops and schools and banned events. President Simonetta Sommaruga says the existing restrictions will remain in place until April 26.

But she says officials are planning a gradual reopening, and the government will consider a strategy on April 16.

Sommaruga didnt specify what measures might be relaxed first.

Switzerland has recorded more than 22,000 infections, including 858 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

Puerto Rico asks to ban flights from certain U.S. cities

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Puerto Ricos governor is asking federal officials to ban all flights from U.S. cities with a high number of coronavirus cases to help prevent the spread in the U.S. territory.

The petition by Gov. Wanda Vzquez to the Federal Aviation Administration comes as officials accuse some visitors of taking medicine to lower their fevers to avoid being placed in quarantine. National Guard members screen people at the islands main international airport.

The National Guard has said at least two passengers from New York who lowered their fever with medication are now hospitalized in the island with COVID-19.

London bus and underground workers demand more protection

LONDON Transit unions and grieving relatives are demanding more protection for bus and subway workers after 14 London transport staff died from the new coronavirus.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says eight were bus drivers.

Londons subways and buses have continued to run a reduced service to transport key workers since the U.K. went into lockdown March 23. Subway travel is down 95% and bus travel down 82% from the same period last year.

Khan says steps are being taken to protect transit staff. He says they include cleaning buses with antiviral disinfectant, blocking off seats nearest the driver and and using protective screens between driver and passengers.

WTO estimates drop in global trade

The World Trade Organization estimates global trade will fall between 13% and 32% this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Geneva-based body, which oversees the rules of trade, says in a report the drop would be worse than during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

The wide range in its forecast is due to the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, as it remains uncertain when business will return toward more normal levels. Governments around the world have locked down on business and travel to contain the outbreak, disrupting supply chains.

WTO Director-General Roberto Azevdo says, The unavoidable declines in trade and output will have painful consequences for households and businesses, on top of the human suffering caused by the disease itself.

These numbers are ugly there is no getting around that. But a rapid, vigorous rebound is possible.

Democrats seek additions to $250 billion emergency virus aid

Congressional Democratic leaders proposed Wednesday adding hundreds of billions of dollars for health care, state and local governments, and food stamps to $250 billion in fresh emergency aid President Donald Trump wants to help small businesses weather the coronavirus epidemic.

Trump requested an additional $250 billion for a just-launched small businesses payroll program and is looking to secure congressional passage this week. For that he will need Democratic support.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer outlined their own priorities in a Wednesday statement.

They say they will approve the $250 billion in assistance to small businesses, but want $125 billion of that channeled through community-based financial institutions that serve farmers, families, women, minorities and veterans.

Read more here:
The Latest: Federal stocks of protective equipment nearly depleted - Press Herald

After a difficult start in Neal Browns first year atop the West Virginia football program, the Mountaineers closed strong down the stretch winning two of the last three games, both of which were on the road. What are the expectations for West Virginia in 2020 and who are the key players returning?

WVSports.com managing editor Keenan Cummings takes a look.

3 prominent storylines

1 Can the offensive line take that next step? The West Virginia offensively line was bad in 2019, like historically bad as the Mountaineers only mustered 879 yards as a team, good for 2.6 yards per carry. The final total was the worst of the modern era and for the season there were only 25 carries of 10+ yards over the course of the 12-game schedule by the running backs combined. It left the coaching staff scratching their head and trying several different run schemes in order to generate any spark in that department, but it simply never came together. That meant the offense was often starting behind the sticks and struggled to win battles in the trenches that must be won to win football games.

Now, some of this can be attributed to the interior of the offensive line which was littered with young players or newcomers and struggled with some of the talented fronts across the Big 12 landscape but now gone are the top two tackles from last year raising more questions. Because for as many as the run game was, the pass protection certainly did its job. The rest of the line returns a year older and stronger, but the question remains if by simplifying the run game can the Mountaineers make that leap in 2020 on the ground that was never there in 2019?

2Who plays quarterback? The Mountaineers used two different signal callers in 2019 in Oklahoma graduate transfer Austin Kendall or Bowling Green transfer Jarret Doege. The former played the first 9 games, while Doege was the signal caller for the final three games including road wins over Kansas State and TCU to close the year. That has sparked a natural debate over which one gets the call in 2020?

On the surface it seems the success of Doege would be enough to tab him with the job but a nagging finger injury seemed to affect Kendalls play after the Missouri game and Brown has yet to declare which of the quarterbacks will have the job. The success from Doege is enough to sway many of the fanbases minds that perhaps he should be the pick but when you break down their actual numbers, they are very similar although obviously different sample sizes. A decision was likely expected this spring but given the state of college football on hold this is one that could now rage well into the fall.

3Can the Mountaineers make a second-year leap? West Virginia closed 2019 strong to finish with a 5-7 record just outside the reach of a bowl game in year one under Neal Brown. Can they take that next step in the second season in order to perhaps get there or beyond? This is a roster that despite being young has plenty of returning talent as well as some incoming players that could help fill some of the obvious holes. Last years schedule also helped to iron out some of the young mistakes for players that were likely thrown into the fire before they were ready given scholarship numbers.

West Virginia is one of those teams that could easily make a jump up the standings in 2020 but will this team have enough to do so? Thats going to be something we pay close attention to.

3 biggest departures

1OT Colton McKivitz. Given the noted struggles of the offensive line it speaks volumes that the one-time basketball player was selected as the co-Big 12 offensive lineman of the year and a first-team selection on the conference team. The Ohio native made 42 career starts during his career and 49 overall appearances making him the most experienced piece up front for the program across the offensive linemen. It goes without saying that filling McKivitz shoes will not be easy as his departures leaves a massive hole on the roster at one of the most important positions on the field.

McKivitz has participated in both the Senior Bowl and the Combine and is set to be taken in the NFL Draft, but the Mountaineers now must find a way to replace the former basketball player. There are some possible options on the roster and the program is kicking the tires on some graduate transfer options, but it remains clear that filling his spot will be one of the biggest concerns.

2CB Keith Washington. You can make an equal argument for the other departing senior corner in Hakeem Bailey, but Washington gets the nod. The former junior college prospect developed into an impressive shut down cornerback option allowing only 16 of the 36 passes thrown at him to be completed (44.4-percent) while recording 9 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. The Mountaineers cornerback position was a strength with a lot of youth around the rest of the football team a season ago which really helped the defense find its footing. There are some talented options on the roster to potentially replace Washington or Bailey, but each of them are young with limited experience. That means that the loss of the cornerbacks is one that will likely be felt at least early in the year.

3P Josh Growden. It seems almost silly to list a punter here from a 5-7 football team as one of the top three losses from the roster, but if you look back at the story of the 2019 Mountaineers football team it really is not. Yes, cornerback Hakeem Bailey or wide receiver George Campbell could get the nod but Growden helped to stabilize a spot that was a mess throughout spring and fall camp. The Australian born punter who came to Morgantown for one season from LSU did his job at the position averaging 42-yards per punt and routinely flipping the field to set up the defense.

Given the struggles that the offense had last season, it was critical to have a punter that could not only boot the ball with seven kicks over 50-yards but had impressive placement with 18 of those kicks downed inside the 20. Growden even threw a pass that was completed against Oklahoma. In the end, Growden is the selection because out of the other potential candidates there are at least an idea of who is going to replace them but the same issue is back for 2020 here.

3 key returners

1NG Darius Stills. The only other first-team all-Big 12 selection on the roster, Stills took his game to the next level in the first year under new defensive coordinator Vic Koennings scheme. From his spot in the middle on the defensive line, Stills recorded 47 tackles, 7 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss as he was one of the most disruptive linemen in a league full of them. The more lightly recruited of the two Stills brothers, Darius will now look to take his game even further in his final year after bypassing an opportunity at the NFL Draft in order to come back and close things strong.

The challenge now for Stills will be to become more consistent so he is dominating on a week-to-week basis as opposed to peaks and valleys that he saw at times last year. The West Virginia defensive line has a chance to be very good in 2020 and Stills will be a big part of that formula.

2LB Josh Chandler. At a position that has issues, Chandler is one constant. The redshirt junior has only managed to play in a handful of snaps over his two-year career but got his biggest chance last season 74 tackles over 10 games. He did miss time with injury, but his athleticism was a welcomed upgrade to a position room that needed an influx of that. Now, in his third season on the field Chandler should be ready to take that next leap and make the most of his opportunities at either MIKE or WILL.

3WR Sam James. The redshirt sophomore hit a wall during his freshman year but flashed glimpses of how impressive he could be as a lead pass catcher. James led the Mountaineers in receptions (69), receiving yards (677) and target share, but only managed to score a pair of touchdowns. A speedster that can be used at levels across the field, James seems primed to take a massive step in year two on the field as he has already proven his ability to take over contests at various stages throughout 2019.

The West Virginia wide receiver room is one of the bigger positions of strength on the roster and James ability to slide around to various spots, create room after the catch and stretch the field make him an intriguing pick here as one of the key returners this fall.

3 biggest additions

1The bandit linebackers. This is sort of a cheating answer, but no position struggled more (outside of the offensive line get the drift) than finding bodies that could adequately play the bandit spot. The program cycled through multiple options, but injuries, inconsistencies and just outright bad fits played a role in the defense struggling to get much from that spot. Now in addition to returning redshirt junior Vandarius Cowan, who is now healthy, the Mountaineers added three players to play that spot in Lanell Carr, Taurus Simmons and Eddie Watkins. All three were specifically recruited for the position and are excellent pass rushers that can drop back into coverage. The fact that these body types fit here is already a massive upgrade from the square-peg and round hole approach from last season.

2DB Jackie Matthews. West Virginia needs help in the secondary given the loss of two starters at cornerback and Matthews has the versatility to slide around to fill multiple spots. After recording seven interceptions a year ago at the junior college level, Matthews is going to make a play to see the field in some capacity and is physical enough that he can bounce down into the box to play safety if need be. But perhaps the biggest reason for this selection is that he has already enrolled which will help the adjustment curve that typically comes with the jump up a level.

3A graduate transfer offensive lineman. It might seem weird Im leaving the third option here open for now, but that is because recruiting is far from done for the Mountaineers. West Virginia needs help on the offensive line, preferably at tackle where both starters from a season ago are now gone. There have already been offers made here but until the position is filled with an actual name, Ill list the spot.

Expectations for 2020

This is the question for 2020 because this could clearly be a step forward for the program under Brown as he continues to plant his roots in Morgantown. Even at this stage of the spring there are still questions that must be answered with this team but there is a good chance that with the right development and a little bit of luck the program is back to its bowling ways this coming year with the possibility to set the table in 2021 as a potential Big 12 title contending year given the youth.

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Around the Big 12: West Virginia Mountaineers - Rivals.com

Alabama formally announced the hires of David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea as the team's new director of sports performance and director of performance science in a release Tuesday morning, March 3, 2020.(Photo: Alabama athletics)

TUSCALOOSA Alabama football officially elevated its player developmentto the next level with Tuesday's announced additions of two hires to replace one.

The Crimson Tide formally named Indiana strength and conditioning duo David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea as its newly-createddirector of sports performance and director of performance science, respectively, in a press release Tuesday morning.

"Just as with any other area, we feel that it is imperative that we adopt and integrate advancements in the field of strength and conditioning that will provide elite training, while better protecting our players from injuries and helping them develop and perform at a higher level," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said in a statement. "Our program has been working toward these type of advancements with the development and construction of our own sports science center, and with the addition of David and Matt, we believe our student-athletes will be better equipped to reach their goals for many years to come."

The hires formally fill a hole vacated by longtime Alabama strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran after he left to become Georgia's special teams coordinator last week following 13 seasons in the support role in Tuscaloosa.

The additions of Ballou and Rhea were made with the program's new sports science center, which is still under construction but should be finished later this summer, in mind, creating new roles to further utilize innovative advancements in strength and conditioning.

IU football director of athletic performance David Ballou speaks with reporters about the Hoosiers' approach to strength and conditioning. Indianapolis Star

"The collaboration between strength and conditioning, sports medicine and nutrition are absolutely critical for the success of our program," Alabama's associate athletic director of sports medicineJeff Allensaid in the release. "The addition of Coach Ballou and Dr. Rhea to our program will allow us to take full advantage of our sports science center. The data they will generate on our athletes, through their unique training methods, will allow us to know exactly how to manage our team to ensure we are performing at our best each Saturday and make sure we are doing all we can to prevent injuries."

Ballou spent the past two years as Indiana's director of athletic performance while Rhea was the Hoosier's high performance coordinator. Both also served two years apiece in similar roles at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, before Ballou accepted a co-director of strength and conditioning at Notre Dame in 2017. Ballou, who played fullback at Indiana between 1997-99,also spent more than a dozen years as the head strength and conditioning coach at Avon (Indiana) High.

"Player development is my passion" Ballou said in the statement. "We can't wait to get to Tuscaloosa and begin working with some of the best athletes and football players in the nation. We will attack all avenues of performance to make sure we are optimizing the physical abilities of every player on the roster."

Rhea has an educational background having served as a professor of kinesiology at A.T. Still University where he taught courses in sports conditioning and exercise physiology and has published nearly 100 studies in performance enhancement. Rhea has a master's degree in exercise science and physical education and a doctorate in philosophyat Arizona State in 2001 and 2004, respectively,and a second master's in sports management from American Public University in 2016.

"For the past 22 years, I have been studying how best to develop athletes, prevent injuries and prime for competition," Rhea said in a statement. "Through research, I have found some innovative ways to target neuromuscular issues that are limiting performance and, by teaming up with one of best strength and conditioning coaches in the world, we can target those limiting factors during training.

"Everyone works hard in football these days, and our system involves a lot of hard work, but not just for the sake of causing pain and suffering. It involves hard work because getting improvements in very elite athletes is very challenging. We are combining hard work with very scientific methods in order to maximize development and preparation."

Alabama's new sports science center will be a comprehensive facility that will feature assessment areas for all athletes, physical-evaluation areas, a behavioral health center, two athlete-recovery rooms that feature 15 specialized recovery chairs, three float beds and a multi-person, whole-body cryo chamber.

"The addition of Coach Ballou and Dr. Rhea shows the unsurpassed dedication to the student-athlete at The University of Alabama," Alabama team doctor andAndrews Sports Medicine Center orthopedic surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain said. "Their ability to develop football players while working in conjunction with athletic training and nutrition to help prevent injuries will be vital to the program's success. With all these factors in place, Alabama will possess a one-of-a-kind program, not only in college, but in the NFL as well, that will focus on protecting its players and helping them reach their full potential."

Indiana Hoosiers Director of Athletic Performance David Ballou looks on during practice at Mellencamp Pavilion in Bloomington, Ind., on Monday, August 6, 2018.(Photo: Rob Goddin/For IndyStar)

Alex Byington isthe Montgomery Advertiser's Alabama beat reporter. He can be reached by email at abyington@montgome.gannett.com or on Twitter at @_AlexByington.

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Alabama formally announces additions of David Ballou, Dr. Matt Rhea from Indiana - Montgomery Advertiser