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NFL adds celebrity guest cheerleaders; eight games kick off today
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka performed with the Rams cheerleaders just before halftime of Monday Night Football against the Bills; meanwhile eight games kick off at one Eastern.
On air: Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell on Meet the PressurePublished
Watch it as it aired: Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell on this story, from Meet the Pressure at 9:33 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Variety's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by Variety: “NFL Introduces Celebrity Guest Cheerleaders: On the Sidelines With Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka and the L.A. Rams (EXCLUSIVE)”.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 9:33 AM ET on Meet the Pressure, by Rex "Two-Point" Gridley and Chip Darnell.
- Topics: L.A., Rams, NFL.
- BBN covered this story before: Ella Langley wins the night at L.A.'s Greek, review says (October 16).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorMeanwhile, Variety has an exclusive: the NFL is bringing in celebrity guest cheerleaders.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorComedian Atsuko Okatsuka performed with the Rams cheerleaders just before halftime of Monday Night Football against the Bills.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat sounds great. A comedian gets to dance with the team!
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorThe league can add a guest to halftime, but it can't add a second Sunday.
Rex "Two-Point" Gridley · Sports AnchorI spent four seasons on a bench and nobody ever offered me a pom-pom.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo I'll take the Bears game, and a pom-pom for the other seven.
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Photo: Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bobk2314 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. James Liker · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: albinfo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ank kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
The story so far
- Bears' Sweat gets two games on a PED violation, same as Rams' Jackson · ESPN
- Jackson's two-game ban is official, and the league's receipts are in · ESPN
- Phil Rosenthal offers diner fans a points-for-experiences deal · The Hollywood Reporter
- AI robots roam L.A. grocery aisles as union pushes back · Los Angeles Times
- Dodgers star on 3-0 NLCS hole: 'Playing like s---' · Fox News
- Ella Langley wins the night at L.A.'s Greek, review says · Variety
- NFL adds celebrity guest cheerleaders; eight games kick off today (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, October 18, 2026 · the Sports archive · all months
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