Media & Entertainment

Los Angeles – October 04, 2026 -- The General Insurance has launched a nationwide sweepstakes offering one winner a fully restored, drivable replica of the iconic Street Fighter car plus a cash prize of $25,400.69. Entries are open now through November 18, 2026.

The build debuted live at ComplexCon in Los Angeles

The vehicle, unveiled at the pop culture convention, recreates the pixelated car players have smashed on screen for decades. The design includes custom pixel-patterned upholstery, new leather seats, upgraded speakers and a coin-slot change holder that doubles as a seat warmer.

Palmetto, Fla. – October 02, 2026 -- Monster Jam fans can catch new weekly episodes of Monster Jam Primetime for free starting Thursday, October 1, at 8 p.m. ET, with two fresh episodes dropping every Thursday on the Monster Jam Channel.

The series streams across nine free ad-supported streaming (FAST) platforms: Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, VIZIO WatchFree+, Pluto TV, LG Channels, Plex, Local Now, Rakuten TV, and the newly added Xumo Play. Episodes also premiere simultaneously on the Monster Jam YouTube channel, where they remain available on demand.

Encore airings give fans a second chance to watch.

Each episode repeats the following Thursday starting at 6 p.m. ET, with additional re-airs on select Saturdays surrounding live Monster Jam event coverage.

New York – October 02, 2026 -- A new light-and-sound production called LUMINISCENCE opened to the public at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue on October 2, 2026, with select performances running through mid-November and a possible extension into 2027.

A portion of every ticket sold goes toward "Renew the Living Voices: The Kilgen Organ Campaign," which funds preservation of the Cathedral's organ and broader musical legacy. Guests can choose between LUMINISCENCE Live+, featuring a live choir and orchestra, or the standard LUMINISCENCE show, which uses recorded music and narration; ticket prices vary by experience.

Miami – October 02, 2026 -- Royal Caribbean will debut the first-ever at-sea production of "The SpongeBob Musical" aboard Hero of the Seas, its fourth Icon Class ship, when the vessel sets sail from Miami in August 2027.

The show, inspired by the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical and the Nickelodeon animated series, will run in the ship's Royal Theater. It brings the undersea world of Bikini Bottom to the stage with original songs, elaborate sets and the story of SpongeBob and his friends racing to save their town from destruction.

Royal Caribbean frames the show as entertainment for every generation

"'The SpongeBob Musical' delivers on that by bringing generations together through a story families know and love, while showcasing the creativity, cutting-edge technology and world-class production that can only be experienced on a Royal Caribbean vacation," said Christi Coachman, Royal Caribbean's vice president of entertainment.

Englewood Cliffs, N.J. – October 02, 2026 -- LG Electronics has partnered with Miniclip to bring 8 Ball Pool, the mobile game with more than 1 billion downloads worldwide, to LG Smart TVs for the first time. The free-to-play title launches this week on LG Smart TVs and monitors running webOS 6.0 and above across 165 countries.

A new Couch Play Mode lets two players compete on one screen.

The game is accessible through LG Apps or the LG Gaming Portal, where users can earn badges and rewards by completing tasks.

Kansas City – October 01, 2026 -- America Haunts has named its top five haunted attractions for 2026, recognizing the mega-haunts that deliver the Best Scream for Your Buck through year-round preparation and large-scale production.

Erebus leads with nearly 30 years of immersive horror

Erebus Haunted Attraction in Pontiac, Michigan, takes guests on a four-story descent through more than half a mile of indoor sets centered on Dr. Colber's world of experimentation. The attraction has operated for nearly 30 years, drawing Halloween fans from throughout Metro Detroit.

New York – October 01, 2026 -- Pop star Tate McRae has launched her first signature fragrance, TATE 01, developed with Scent Beauty, Inc. and priced from $30 to $82 for sizes between 10ml and 100ml.

The scent blends bergamot with amber and sandalwood

Perfumers Adriana Medina and Antoine Maisondieu of Givaudan built TATE 01 around a top note of sparkling bergamot and clary sage, moving into white florals before settling into amber, tonka bean, sandalwood and soft woods. The formula is anchored by ISO E Super, a molecule designed to interact with individual skin chemistry so the scent shifts slightly from wearer to wearer.

McRae said she wears the fragrance during rehearsals, describing it as a layer that "warms up and moves with my body" rather than sitting on top of it.

Nashville, Tenn. – October 01, 2026 -- Minno, a Christian streaming platform for kids, has premiered a new animated series called Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids: Jesus Stories, with a companion book arriving October 13 and a screen-free audio version also available on the platform.

The series launched October 2 and expands Minno's existing Laugh and Grow Bible for Kids franchise, which already includes more than 65 animated episodes, a Bedtime Stories series, a Learning Series, music, holiday specials, and bestselling books translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and American Sign Language.

Santa Monica, Calif. – September 30, 2026 -- STARZ says Verizon Fios customers could lose access to all STARZ channels, STARZ On Demand and the STARZ app unless the two companies reach a new distribution agreement soon.

Negotiations remain unresolved as a deadline looms

Alison Hoffman, President of STARZ Networks, said the company has been negotiating in good faith with Verizon but warned that viewers "should be prepared for Verizon to remove STARZ" unless a deal is struck imminently.

Losing the deal would cut off several exclusive shows

A removal would block Verizon Fios subscribers from the full "Power" Universe and the upcoming "Power: Origins," every episode of "Outlander" and its prequel "Outlander: Blood of my Blood," the next season of "P-Valley," the current season of "S.W.A.T. Exiles," and the upcoming premiere of "Tip Toe."

Fans would also lose STARZ's film library, including the global hit Michael.

Jacksonville – September 29, 2026 -- Sandbox VR will open its newest venue at St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, Florida, on October 9, 2026, offering a 20% presale discount through October 8 for guests who book ahead.

The 4,518-square-foot venue features four private rooms for group play

Groups of up to six guests can suit up with headsets, haptic vests and motion sensors for full-body immersion, allowing players to see and physically interact with each other during the experience. Each session ends with a personalized highlight video guests can keep and share.

Vic Ali owns and operates the new Jacksonville location

"My management team and I are very excited about bringing this exciting and completely immersive entertainment experience to Jacksonville!" Ali said.