A Hallmark Philly miss, a Flyers playoff run, and Wildwood after midnight | Weekly Report Card
The Flyers are keeping Philly sane right now: A
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>At this point, it’s not a fluke. It’s a situation. And right now, that’s doing a lot of work for this city.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>So, yes, the Flyers are showing up like this matters.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Which is how you know it’s real again.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>And right now, that’s enough.
A promotional image for “To Philly with Love,” a new Hallmark Channel movie set in Philadelphia starring Stephen Huszar and Rebecca Dalton.Courtesy of Hallmark Media
A Hallmark movie set in Philly (allegedly): B-
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>It aired at 8 p.m. Saturday (during the first Philadelphia Flyers playoff game in six years) so, naturally, no one here watched it.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>In this version of Philly, everyone is very earnest, very put-together, and very into decoding Revolutionary War love letters. Cheesesteaks are eaten neatly on a park bench. The Liberty Bell is just open at all times. Someone says “wooder ice” like they practiced it in the mirror (because they probably did).
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>A real Philly Hallmark movie has one of the love interests text “on my way” and still be 20 minutes out. There’s a full argument about where to get a cheesesteak that becomes a second argument about whether it’s even worth it. Someone’s aunt has a strong opinion. A SEPTA delay becomes a plot point. A neighbor is yelling, and no one knows why but everyone accepts it. That’s the Philly Hallmark movie we want to see.
Matt Damon vs. the Phillies third base gene pool: B+
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Somewhere between the mustache, the dirt, and whatever is happening with the hair, he keeps landing squarely in Brandon Marsh territory — not exact, but close enough that you can see the resemblance.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>And here’s where it really gets good: This is probably Matt Damon’s personal nightmare.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>It’s not inaccurate. The Phillies have a casting type: a little dirt on the face, some questionable facial hair, maybe the hair’s doing its own thing under the cap, looking like they just rolled out of a doubleheader no matter what time of day. What Matt Damon is giving in all of these examples.
The Flyers’ win song makes no sense — which means it’s perfect: A+
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Which, if you think about it for more than five seconds, is kind of funny.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>But there is something very specific about a bunch of hockey players — fully geared up, probably bleeding a little — singing along to “Man I Need.”
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Olivia Dean playing in the background makes it that much sweeter.
New Jersey “Jeopardy!” contestant Jamie Ding has quickly become one of the most successful competitors in the quiz show’s history.Sony Pictures Television
A New Jersey guy is dominating ‘Jeopardy!’ and beating Philly contestants: C
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Which raises an uncomfortable question. Are we… losing to New Jersey?
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>And him. From Jersey. This is not ideal.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Yet that’s exactly what is happening. We’re watching this guy buzz in faster, answer better, and walk away like it’s nothing.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>The only thing keeping this from being a full-blown crisis: He missed a Lucy the Elephant clue. Which goes to show: You can rack up 28 wins, but South Jersey will still trip you up.
A crowd strolls along the boardwalk in Wildwood on May 26, 2025.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
Wildwood wants to close the boardwalk overnight: B-
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>So the boardwalk is closed. Unless it isn’t.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>But it’s also Wildwood.
a]:text-blue-mid [&>a]:no-underline [&>a]:hover:shadow-lightmode px-4 font-medium”>Now there’s a plan. 1 a.m., lights out. Boardwalk’s closed. Chaos hours are officially over.
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