Taraji P. Henson is posing in front of the hottest seat at the premiere of Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. 

There’s a line of her Fight Night co-stars waiting for their turn to be photographed on a metallic gold tufted sofa, flown in especially for the New York City afterparty. Attendees might believe it’s an inspired set design from the limited series based on a storied piece of Atlanta history from the 1970s, but the couch has its own history. More about that later.

Fight Night follows the real events around Oct. 26, 1970, the night Muhammad Ali made a historic return to boxing after a three-year suspension for avoiding the U.S. Armed Forces draft. At the same time, a celebratory party across town hosted by an Atlanta numbers runner Gordon “Chicken Man” Williams (played by Kevin Hart) was going terribly wrong. Chicken Man’s brazen attempts to impress notorious New York gangster Frank Moten (Samuel L. Jackson), the party’s honored guest, went widely askew as they entered the house party. Chicken Man, Moten and nearly 100 other affluent guests become victims of one of the city’s biggest robbery heists.

The series was adapted from the true-crime podcast, created by Atlanta-based screenwriter-turned-podcaster Jeff Keating and film producer Will Packer and launched on iHeartPodcast in October 2020. The podcast caught the attention of Kevin Hart, who signed on to star and executive produce when Peacock ordered the series.

With Hart on board, Packer made his next call as he began building out the ensemble cast: “Sam Jackson… We went straight to the big dog,” Packer told The Hollywood Reporter at the series premiere on Wednesday in New York City. “I said, ‘Yo, Sam, we got something for you, brother. This is gonna be good. We’re all in. And if you get in, you will be our anchor, and we will be able to build an incredible cast around you.’”

Jackson’s heavyweight talent grounded the series in more ways than one. The award-winning actor has personal ties to Fight Night’s history. “I knew Sam was around in Atlanta during the time this all went down. What I didn’t know is we were shooting in the neighborhood where his wife was from, and he had got married at the church around the corner 40 years ago,” said series creator and showrunner Shaye Ogbunna. “Samuel Jackson is a part of the constituency that I feel responsible towards telling the story accurately.” 

Packer couldn’t agree more. “Sam was a wealth of information throughout. He would tell us if we weren’t getting things right — if that wasn’t the watch that they wore, if that wasn’t the look that they had,” said the executive producer. “Sam was very serious about that because he lived through it. He was at college at Morehouse at the time, so he was like an extra researcher for us that made sure he kept us in line. Sam said we got this right, and that meant a lot coming from him.”

Fight Night‘s stellar ensemble reunites several castmembers, including Taraji P. Henson, who plays Chicken Man’s right hand and lover Vivian Thomas, while Terrence Howard stars as Moten’s enforcer Cadillac Richie. Henson and Howard both had breakout moments when they appeared in 2005’s Hustle & Flow and 10 years later in the TV series Empire.

Don Cheadle plays J.D. Hudson, one of the first Black detectives in Atlanta’s desegregated police force, who gets assigned to the robbery case. Cheadle and Henson led the biopic Talk to Me in 2007. Although they did not share much screen time in Fight Night, they saw each other off-set and have been in touch through the years. “It’s like home,” Cheadle said of working with Henson. “I love her. I’m a big fan of her work, and I love whenever we have the opportunity to come together again.”

Back at the afterparty at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Howard stayed in character by wearing a Farrah Fawcett-inspired feathered wig while Cheadle was outfitted by British bespoke tailor Ozawald Boateng. Other Fight Night co-stars Jackson, Sinqua Walls, Chloe Bailey, Dexter Darden, Lori Harvey as well as party attendees Ego Nwodim, Amber Ruffin, Busta Rhymes and more made their way to the gold couch for photos. The elaborate decor hails from the office of former Roc Nation senior vp Lenny “Kodak Lens” Santiago, who’s taking his love of photographing the private parties of Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Hollywood. 

When asked about the significance of the couch to Fight Night, Santiago said this: “The couch has become sort of an aspirational thing. I used to be an A&R in the music business, where I would sign artists, develop talent, and then I used to feature those artists and people who I like on the couch. Now it’s become aspirational, like, ‘Look, I’m gonna make it to that couch.’ Because people who are on the couch have made it in one way or another, and it doesn’t matter in what capacity, hairdresser, mechanic, director, producer… The couch has become so popular it’s taken a life of its own.”

Fight Night’s first three episodes are now streaming on Peacock, with new episodes on Thursdays. 

The Atlanta Falcons have created $7.5 million in cap space, restructuring the contract of All-Pro safety Jessie Bates III on Wednesday.

Atlanta converted $11.25 million of Bates’ contract into a signing bonus for salary cap purposes, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. As a result, Bates’ cap hit dropped from $17.5 million to $10 million. The cap number will rise to $22.25 million in 2025 and $22.27 million in 2026.

The Falcons now have $6.464 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap. Atlanta needed the salary cap relief to sign another player — the active roster currently holds only 52 players, with one spot remaining open.

Since trading backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke to the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 28, the Falcons have left the final roster spot vacant. They now have the financial freedom to address it — thanks in part to Bates, whose value off the field is nearly as impactful as he is on it.

The Falcons Podcast: Spotify | Apple Pods | iHeart

Last season, Bates led the Falcons in tackles with 132 while recording six of the team’s eight interceptions. He also had three forced fumbles, a trio of tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 11 passes defended.

Among defensive backs league-wide, Bates trailed only Minnesota Vikings standout Camryn Bynum (137) in tackles, while his six interceptions were the third-most. As a result, Bates earned his first career Pro Bowl appearance while being named second-team All-Pro for the second time in his six-year career.

Now, Bates is helping the Falcons’ front office — beyond proving them right for their four-year, $64.02 million investment last spring.

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. – Officials have released the names of the two teachers and two students killed during Wednesday’s shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.

The GBI identified the victims as Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimie, both math teachers, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14-years-old.

Richard Apsinwall: Dedicated coach

Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall was a math teacher and assistant football coach for the Apalachee Wildcats.

The 39-year-old Aspinwall is the team’s defensive coordinator, being hired in 2023.

“It’s just so hard to think that somebody that you spent so much time with, because this is my second year with coach, but spending so much time, like family basically,” said sophomore football player, Isaiah Hooks. “So, turning around, knowing that he’s not going to be there.” 

He was previously at Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville. The Mountain View HS Athletics posted a heartfelt message on its Facebook page:

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former Mountain View High School teacher and coach Ricky Aspinwall, who lost his life at Apalachee High School today. Mountain View extends its deepest condolences to the entire Apalachee High School community. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this tragic time.”

The Rome native was also previously a teacher at Dunwoody High School.

Buford High School football Coach Brandon Gill shared a photo of him with Coach Aspinwall to his X account writing: 

“Unbelievably heart broken over the loss of our dear friend @CoachAwall … He was truly as great as they come. Helluva human being. Would do anything for anyone. Amazing husband, father, teacher and coach. I’ll never forget you, brother! RIP Rick-Bo” 

Christina Irimie: Beloved math teacher

Christina Irimie (Supplied)

Christina Irmie was part of the math department at Apalachee High School. 

Students described the 53-year-old teacher as patient and caring.

Mason Schermerhorn

Family members tell FOX 5 that Mason Schemerhorn was 14-years-old.

He was a freshman at Apalachee High School.

Christian Angulo

Freshman Christian Angulo was remembered by friends as a free spirit who loved to make others laugh. The 14-year-old was described as having a “chill” attitude, but was full of life and energy.

“I was just like, ‘What’s going on?’ And then I checked the family group chat and there’s my sister saying that there’s a shooting at Apalache and that’s how I was just like, ‘This isn’t real, this can’t be happening,’” said Abner Sanz, who has been friends with 14-year-old Christian Angulo since middle school. “I started asking other people if it was true that he had passed away because I just wanted to know. I was in denial because you would never believe somebody that you knew would pass away just like that,” Sanz said. 

What we know about the Apalachee High School shooting

Four people, two teachers and two students, were killed in the shooting at the high school, which is located about 40 miles northeast of Atlanta. Nine other people were also injured and taken to area hospitals for treatment.

Investigators say the suspected shooter entered the building at around 10:20 a.m. and opened fire.

Law enforcement officers responded immediately and encountered the shooter, who dropped his weapon and surrendered. 

Once in custody, the suspect was reportedly interviewed by investigators. A motive behind the shooting has not been revealed. 

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All those transported to Northeast Georgia Health System’s hospitals in Barrow and Braselton have been treated and released, officials said.