Team Coco is bringing Conan O’Brien’s unique brand of comedy back to San Diego with its successful daily pop-up comedy club Team Coco House open Thursday July 18th through Saturday July 20nd. Located at 401 G Street in the historic Gas Lamp District, Team Coco House will showcase a daily lineup of comics handpicked by Conan, podcasts, panels, trivia, giveaways, surprise appearances by friends of Team Coco, as well as O’Brien himself. This marks the third time Team Coco has run the successful comedy venue, with past appearances in San Diego and New York City.
Team Coco House will serve as a major comedy hub in San Diego, curating a fan-friendly space that will expand the overall CONAN experience at Comic-Con® International. Since its debut on TBS in 2010, CONAN has featured more stand-up performances than all other late-night shows. Continuing to build on the success of O’Brien’s live endeavors, including his headlining an international 19-city comedy tour, Team Coco House continues O’Brien’s goals of supporting live comedy and up-and-coming comics.
Team Coco House runs in conjunction with CONAN’s Comic-Con® International shows being taped at San Diego’s historic Spreckels Theatre on Wednesday, July 17 – Saturday, July 20.
Team Coco House will showcase many well-established Team Coco collaborators; Andy Richter will record his newly-launched podcast “The Three Questions with Andy Richter” live on Thursday 7/18 followed by Aparna Nancherla & Friends that evening. Rory Scovel will bring his unique voice to Team Coco House on Friday 7/19. Saturday 7/20 will feature a full day of Team Coco regulars kicking off with an exclusive table read and screening of Final Space with creator and star Olan Rogers. That evening, Ron Funches hits the stage followed by Moses Storm bringing his very popular Up & Up monthly series from Los Angeles to San Diego for a special show. Each day at Team Coco House, fans will be able to recharge at the “Team Coco Power Hour” presented by AT&T. Fans will have access to refreshments and phone chargers free of charge after a long day of lines and crowds that are physically and technologically draining. Every evening,Team Coco House will conclude with MIDNIGHT @ COCO’S, a chance for fans to mix and mingle and maybe even interact with a surprise bartender.
Over the three days, Team Coco House will feature appearances by Conan O’Brien, Rory Scovel, Aparna Nancherla, Ron Funches, Olan Rogers, Moses Storm, Flula Borg, Jenny Zigrino, Shane Torres, Rell Battle, Max Silvestri, Laurie Kilmartin, Andres du Bouchet, Brian Kiley, Levi MacDougall, Mike Sweeney, Jessie Gaskell, Aaron Bleyaert, Charla Lauriston, Gavin Matts, and more.
The full Team Coco House schedule is as follows:
Thursday 7/18
2:00 pm: Team Coco presents SUPERBOSS WITH AARON BLEYAERT
3:30 pm: AT&T presents TEAM COCO HOUSE POWER HOUR
5:30 pm: Team Coco presents THE THREE QUESTIONS WITH ANDY RICHTER
7:30 pm: Team Coco presents APARNA NANCHERLA & FRIENDS
10:00 pm: Team Coco presents CONAN’S WRITERS LIVE
12:00 am: Team Coco presents MIDNIGHT @ COCO’S
Friday 7/19
2:00 pm: Team Coco presents INSIDE CONAN: A VERY IMPORTANT HOLLYWOOD PODCAST
4:00 pm: SNICKERS® presents The ConanCon Trivia Challenge
5:30 pm: AT&T presents TEAM COCO HOUSE POWER HOUR
7:30 pm: Team Coco presents TRIPLE HEADER STAND-UP
10:00 pm: Team Coco presents RORY SCOVEL
12:00 am: Team Coco presents MIDNIGHT @ COCO’S
Saturday 7/20
2:00 pm: Team Coco presents FINAL SPACE SNEAK PREVIEW & LIVE TABLE READ
4:30 pm: Team Coco presents TRIPLE HEADER STAND-UP
6:00 pm: AT&T presents TEAM COCO HOUSE POWER HOUR
8:00 pm: Team Coco presents RON FUNCHES
10:30 pm: Team Coco presents UP & UP WITH MOSES STORM
12:00 am: Team Coco presents MIDNIGHT @ COCO’S
Stay tuned for tickets and more information at: http://teamcoco.com/house

Movie
Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

Director: Adhik Ravichandran
Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran
Genre: Action / Crime Drama
Rating: 4.5/5
“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.
“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.
While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.
The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.
“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.
Streaming
Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!
When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting. And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!
Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home.
Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence.
Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.
The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!
However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene.
Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes.
My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues.
I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.
Presence is available to stream.
Three and a half stars.
Streaming
Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan
Overview
Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.
Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.
Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.
The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.
The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.
Rating: 9/10
Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.
Pros
- Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
- Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
- Rich mythological lore
- Epic fight choreography
Cons
- Sparse episode release
- Story pacing can be uneven at times
Final Verdict 9/10
If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.