The Late Night Happy Hour with Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

She's one of the best writers covering the league, and now she's on Late Night Happy Hour! We open by discussing the best segment on Twitter these days, "The Lena Show!" It's where her daughter picks NFL gams for the week. So how she doing, and why the faith in the Jets?

From there, it's onto young quarterbacks. By now. most listeners are familiar with Brian's skepticism about Jared Goff, which she shares! But why is it so hard to get a bead on young QBs? How is Carson Wentz a star... and then not? What's new that's letting Josh Allen thrive? Why has Lamar Jackson seemingly gone backwards this year?

Who are the quarterbacks capable of transcending talent? Is Kyler Murray one of them?

What does it mean to be "The Next Sean McVay?" or similar? What are execs talking about when they say they're looking for that?

Finally, it's a game of Jones Jeopardy!

In this crossover episode of the Land O'Lakers Podcast and the Late Night Happy Hour with the Kamenetzky Brothers, Seerat Sohi of Yahoo! Sports joins the show. We start on LeBron James and the surprising news Wednesday of his two-year extension with the Lakers, one that barring the unusual will keep him in L.A. through the 2023 NBA season. Why did he decide to break career norms and make a longer term commitment? What does it mean for the Lakers? For LeBron himself?

From there, we turn to the other massive news Wednesday brought -- Houston and Washington swapping problematic contracts as John Wall goes to the Rockets, with Russell Westbrook headed east to the Wizards. How exactly do these parts fit together? Is Wall a better match with James Harden than Westbrook was? What Wall is Houston even getting, here? It's basically been two years since he played. What about Russ with Bradley Beal? Is that combo any better?

Does the move entice either incumbent star to stay with his current team long term?

We talk too about Seerat's column about Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller. Why did that story hit so close for her?

Finally, it's a Christmas tradition... with a TWIST! Our annual Land O'Lakers Hallmark Christmas Movie Game has a third person in it for the very first time. Who knows the genre better?

It's always a good time when Travis Rodgers stops by, and this show is no exception. After a quick look at the most special moments of Beverly Hills 90210, we dive into the Rams and, more specifically, QB Jared Goff. What exactly explains the wild swings in his performance? After a lousy game on Sunday against the Niners, are we getting any closer to understanding how effective a quarterback Goff is?

What does meh QB play mean for a team getting better showings from around the offense, and spectacular showings from the defense?

From there, it's a segue into the aesthetics of quarterbacks. Literally. Like how good looking do you need to be in order to be a successful NFL QB?

Finally, it's pie trivia, in honor of National Pie Day.

Los Angeles is a city with an incredible history, and few know it better than Alison Martino (@alisonmartino) founder of Vintage Los Angeles. She joins the show, talking about what shapes our perceptions of the city, starting with the influence of pop culture.

What qualifies as "vintage," in a city like this? What separates one era from another? Does she have a favorite?

We talk about the influence of food and restaurants on the formation of classic L.A. culture. What were some of the best? What were they like, in the days before cell phone and the web changed the way people and celebrities interact?

What makes something historic in a city like Los Angeles? What should be preserved, when everything can't be?

A great, wide-ranging conversation about a great city not everyone understands.

Well that was a big day...

The NBA launched into free agency Friday, with big names and big teams coming hot out of the gate. Breaking it all down is Mo Dakhil of Bleacher Report and The Athletic.

Among the topics...

Has anyone done better than the Lakers? Wes Matthews and Montrezl Harrell, in addition to acquiring Dennis Schroder ahead of Draft night.

Breaking down the good and bad of Harrell's game. How well will he fit with the Lakers?

What about the Clippers? Denver? The rest of the West? What does the Western Conference playoff ladder look like, now?

How damaging was Friday to the Clippers?

What's next for the Lakers? What do they still need to accomplish before rosters open? What do they lose with Dwight Howard headed to Philly?

Plus, breaking down some potential personality problems in Brooklyn.

It's coming, people! Goff vs. Brady! LA vs. Tampa Bay! We get you ready for the Rams' critical Monday night tilt against the Buccaneers in Florida with Lindsey Thiry, who covers the Rams for ESPN.

We start by looking at this week's brush with COVID-19 at the team training facility, then back at last week's win over Seattle. What went right? What did it show about the Rams, and where they are halfway through the season? What has gone right? Why has the defense outperformed expectations under first year coordinator Brandon Staley? Why has the offensive line been better than predicted? And yet the offense itself? Kinda inconsistent.

Who are the great stories of this season? Start with Darious Williams, who is starring at corner opposite Jalen Ramsey.

We're not even at the NBA Draft yet, but the NBA has already had a bonkers start to the transaction season.

Milwaukee acquires Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

The Suns get Chris Paul.

The Lakers flip Danny Green to Oklahoma City for Dennis Schroeder.

Houston trades Robert Covington.

And with Wednesday's Draft, expect more fireworks. Will the Warriors make an aggressive move with the second pick? Do the Nets and Rockets pull the trigger on a James Harden deal? Justin Verrier of The Ringer joins to answer these questions and more.

Including... what do the Lakers do post-Schröder? Did GM Rob Pelinka deserve more credit for what the Lakers did last season? How confident should people be in his ability to recreate another high end supporting cast?

Who are the real contenders this year? Which teams don't have a shot? Is Milwaukee the best team in the East, even with the moves?

All of that, plus pelican trivia!

It's been a disappointing season to say the least for the Los Angeles Chargers. Lots of losing, heaps of injuries to critical, frontline players, and no fans attending games in the sparkly new Sofi Stadium. (Which, by all accounts, is amazeballs.)

On the other hand... there's Justin Herbert. The rookie QB has been the team's lone true bright spot, playing high end football under challenging circumstances, and definitely exceeding expectations. Is he enough to generate excitement around the team, helping them gain a stronger foothold in LA?

Just one of the Q's we ask. There's also the issue of head coach Anthony Lynn, and his future. Where do the Chargers stand vis-a-vis the rest of the AFC West?

Plus... Basketball talk on a WILD WILD WILD day in the NBA. Some massive trades going down on Monday.

Ready for a good time? We got one for you. With the NBA about to kick the 2020-21 season into gear next week, we lay the foundation for the Lakers and other teams around the league. What do the Lakers do with Kyle Kuzma? Is he good enough to pay to keep around? Would he want to stay on the Lakers in the role he's in now? What teams might value him? And WTF was he doing on Twitter Friday afternoon?

From there, we talk trades. Does DeMar DeRozan make sense as a Laker, next to LeBron and Anthony Davis? What about Chris Paul? How does someone like DeRozan go from underrated to overrated and maybe back to underrated again? Depends on what parts of his game you value.

As for the rest... What does the NBA do with the schedule this year? What would it mean for the Lakers to "pod" with the Pacific Division? How much impact should we expect COVID-19 to have on the season? Will fans see a minute of it in LA, from inside the building?

Finally... we talk Russell Westbrook. Where does he land? Is it Charlotte? Mitch Kupchak implies... no. What about the Clippers in a trade including Paul George? That would be kinda epic.

And Mitch voice. So much Mitch voice.

She is, first and foremost, a fantastic writer with a deep understanding of football and the Los Angeles Rams, the team she covers for The Athletic. But Jourdan Rodrigue is also someone who respects, but does not like, birds.

And we begin there. What, exactly, is causing all the problems, here?

Eventually, the conversation turns to football. Where do the Rams stand coming off their bye week, halfway through the year? Why has Brandon Staley's defense worked so well? What has held back Sean McVay and the offense? The pieces are there... but something is off.

From there, it's a look at this weekend's pivotal game between the Rams and Seattle. What to look for on Sunday?

Finally... It's National Happy Hour Day, and we celebrate with a game!