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Kaitlin Olson Says ‘High Potential’ Role Is Nothing Like Her Past ‘Degenerate Characters’
Disney/David Bukach

It’s fitting that one of the most anticipated fall TV shows has a title like High Potential. A fish-out-of-water tale with shades of The Rookie and Castle that stars the deft Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Hacks), ABC’s newest dramedy procedural, written by Alias and Good Place vet Drew Goddard, is poised to be a breakout series. And Olson is ready.

“It’s so different than anything I’ve done before,” she tells TV Guide Magazine, even though her protagonist Morgan Gillory — a single mom of three with a genius IQ — bears some resemblance to Sunny’s wise-cracking barfly “Sweet Dee” Reynolds. “I still love a scrappy character. Morgan’s incredibly intelligent, but it tortures her. She also is a wonderful mom who cares so much about her kids. It’s a fun departure from the degenerate characters I’ve played.”

ABC/Disney

Based on the French hit Haut Potentiel Intellectuel, this take taps into Olson’s crackerjack comedic timing and dramatic abilities as her authority-averse brainiac juggles parenthood with the search for a missing beau and an unlikely alliance with the LAPD.

“She’s the cleaning lady, and in the first episode, as she’s dancing around cleaning in the middle of the night, she knocks over a big pile of evidence,” Olson previews. While trying to put everything back in place, Morgan uses her exceptional intelligence to figure out the suspect board on the wall, and viola! She’s recruited into helping intrigued lieutenant Selena Soto (ClawsJudy Reyes) crack the case and eventually partnered with a very irked by-the-book detective (Rescue Me’s Daniel Sunjata).

“It’s not like the police department is inadequate,” explains the actress. “They’re very capable and very talented, but because her brain just works differently, Morgan is able to just spot things that they maybe didn’t see.”

High Potential, Tuesdays, Fall 2024, 10/9c, ABC

This article first appeared on TV Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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Green Bay Packers Former 1st Round Pick Has Been The Star Of Training Camp
NFL

Green Bay Packers Former 1st Round Pick Has Been The Star Of Training Camp

Green Bay Packers fans have every reason to feel optimistic as the team moves through training camp. One of the players everyone is keeping an eye on is edge rusher Lukas Van Ness. The former first-round pick is making waves with his standout performances in one-on-one drills and his growing potential as a dominant pass rusher. Throughout camp, Van Ness has been a consistent source of buzz, and it’s no surprise considering the raw talent and athletic energy he brings to the field. Green Bay Packers Lukas Van Ness Standing Out in Training Camp Training camp serves as the proving ground for rookies and veterans alike, and Lukas Van Ness is seizing the opportunity to showcase his growth. On just the third day of camp, Van Ness made headlines by going 3-0 in one-on-one pass-rushing drills. He demonstrated his ability to overpower opposing offensive linemen, including former first-round pick and teammate Jordan Morgan, who was twice bested in their matchups. These drills have been a reliable barometer for evaluating defensive linemen, and Van Ness has consistently stood out. His explosiveness off the line, combined with his refined upper-body strength, makes him nearly unguardable in short-yardage scenarios. This early knack for dominating such settings has coaches and players alike buzzing about what he can offer not only in practice but also when the curtain rises on the regular season. Filling a Key Role in the Packers’ Defense Lukas Van Ness’ immediate impact isn’t exactly what the Packers hoped for when they drafted him 13th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Van Ness has been largely a disappointment in his first two years. It is important for fans to remember that he was a project coming out of Iowa, and he may have just needed a little time to blossom into an elite pass rusher. His presence not only offers the potential for an improved pass rush but also adds an element of unpredictability to the Packers’ defensive line. Strengthening the Pass Rush The Packers’ pass rush has been inconsistent in recent years, largely due to injuries and personnel changes. Van Ness offers a solution. At 6’5” and 272 pounds, his mix of size, speed, and raw strength stands out even among NFL athletes. What’s more, his versatility allows him to line up both on the edge and along the interior defensive line. This flexibility enables defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to scheme more creatively, exploiting mismatches based on Van Ness’s ability to overwhelm blockers. His success in one-on-one drills suggests that Van Ness could quickly become a third-down menace—an edge rusher capable of collapsing pockets and forcing quick decisions from opposing quarterbacks. That’s a skill set the Packers desperately need in the NFC North, which features highly capable offenses led by players like Caleb Williams and Jared Goff. The Excitement Around Van Ness What makes Lukas Van Ness such an exciting prospect isn’t just his physical gifts; it’s also his work ethic and hunger to improve. Training camp reports note that Van Ness is constantly refining his techniques, working with coaches to expand his toolkit as a pass rusher. Chief among his attributes is his motor. Van Ness doesn’t quit on plays. Couple that relentless pursuit with his power and explosiveness, and you have a player who can make a difference on every snap. Even in drills, he’s consistently displayed drive and adaptability, reading offensive schemes and making rapid adjustments to cut off running lanes or disrupt passing plays. Team insiders compare his temperament to that of Rashan Gary, another high-energy player who developed into a key piece of Green Bay’s defense. If Van Ness follows a similar trajectory, it’s not hard to see the Packers’ defensive front emerging as one of the league’s most imposing units. Final Thoughts Lukas Van Ness has been one of the most exciting storylines of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, and his standout performances are setting the stage for a successful third year. His dominance in drills and his opportunity to work with the first team have made it clear that he has the tools, energy, and potential to excel in Green Bay’s defense. If Van Ness can build on the momentum he’s created in camp, he won’t just be a bright spot this season—he’ll be a game-changer for years to come. Keep your eyes on No. 90 this season. If his training camp buzz is any indication, Lukas Van Ness is ready to make his mark.

Pitcher bizarrely faces old team on same day of trade
MLB

Pitcher bizarrely faces old team on same day of trade

Seranthony Dominguez certainly had an eventful day on Tuesday. The veteran MLB reliever began the day on the Baltimore Orioles and was with his teammates in the dugout during the first leg of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays. The O's went on to win, 16-4, at Oriole Park in Baltimore, though Dominguez did not pitch during the game. But the day took a bizarre turn when the two teams agreed to a deal in the middle of the doubleheader. The Orioles traded Dominguez to the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitcher Juaron Watts-Brown. That led to a strange scene where Dominguez switched clubhouses after being traded, walking across the hallway to get to the Toronto side. Things got even weirder during the second leg of the doubleheader. Dominguez got the call to pitch for the Blue Jays against his former team. He had to walk past his ex-Baltimore teammates to get to the Toronto bullpen, and then entered the game in the seventh inning to pitch. Here is the unusual spectacle that saw Dominguez pitch against the guys that he began the day as teammates with. The whole thing was so bizarre that it even looked like Dominguez received a hastily-made Blue Jays jersey with the “8” in his No. 48 apparently stuck on backwards. Dominguez, a 30-year-old in his seventh MLB season, ended up striking out two in a scoreless frame against his former team. We have certainly seen instances of MLB players getting traded in the middle of games before, but that had to be the first instance of a player starting the first half of a doubleheader on one team and then pitching in the second half for the other team.

Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp
NFL

Steelers reporter shares big claim about how Aaron Rodgers has looked in training camp

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers spent the bulk of the spring as an unsigned free agent and, thus, only began officially practicing with Pittsburgh Steelers teammates during the team's three-day mandatory minicamp in June. During a Monday appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 102.5 WDVE, Steelers reporter Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette addressed how Rodgers looked during his first few training camp practices with the club. "His release is just astonishing to watch," Dulac said about Rodgers, as shared by Ross McCorkle of Steelers Depot. "Everybody knows about it, and when you see it in person, you see it every day in practice, you just marvel at it. To me, he's the greatest thrower of the football I have ever seen, even at 41 (years old). That flick of that wrist and that ball comes out, it's moving and it is something to see." Rodgers was with the New York Jets when he suffered a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the 2023 regular-season opener. He was then slowed by a nagging hip issue, injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a serious hamstring problem as the 2024 Jets went 5-12. According to Pro Football Reference, Rodgers finished last season ranked 28th in the NFL among qualified players with a 48.0 adjusted QBR and 26th with a 43.9 percent passing success rate. That said, he was also eighth with 3,897 passing yards and tied for seventh with 28 passing touchdowns. Rodgers and Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson endured some struggles during training camp sessions last summer before the two allegedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during the season. It sounds like Pittsburgh fans should be encouraged by how Rodgers performed in recent practices. "That guy can get rid of the ball as quick as anybody," Dulac added. "He made three throws in seven-on-seven (drills) the other day that the cumulative total I bet couldn't have exceeded 2.1 seconds. And two of those were for touchdowns." Rodgers wants to finish his career "the right way" and help the Steelers notch at least their first playoff win since January 2017. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Pittsburgh at -150 betting odds to miss the playoffs for the upcoming season.

Red Sox Targeting All-Star Starter At 'Annoying Level'
MLB

Red Sox Targeting All-Star Starter At 'Annoying Level'

It certainly seems like the Boston Red Sox are putting their best foot forward to acquire one of the top starting pitchers potentially on the trade block. The Red Sox kicked off a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday. It wasn't a great night for Boston full of wild weather, a last-second rain delay, and another walk-off loss. The timing of the series certainly is interesting. The series will end on Wednesday and then Boston will have a day off on Thursday which also is the day of the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline. Boston is getting some face time with the Twins right now and it sounds like the Red Sox are targeting one of the club's All-Stars. The Athletic's Jim Bowen reported a handful of teams are calling Minnesota at an "annoying level" for ace Joe Ryan. "The Red Sox, (New York Yankees), (Toronto Blue Jays), (Philadelphia Phillies), and (Seattle Mariners) are speed dialing the Twins at an annoying level with continued interest in Joe Ryan, basically their whole bullpen, Willi Castro and Harrison Bader," Bowden said. "Twins could end up being the headliner at the deadline as talks heat up according to sources." Ryan has a 2.82 ERA this season across 121 1/3 innings pitched. On top of this, Ryan still has two more seasons of arbitration-eligibility. He's the type of pitcher who could help Boston now and into the future. That's why he's a perfect fit, but he also would cost an arm and a leg, especially with all of the suitors for him.

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