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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: There’s a new Greek spot in town, and it’s bringing the kind of flavor we’ve been missing 🇬🇷🥙✨

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

There’s backlash and then there’s what’s happening to Cleveland.com.

The site used AI-generated avatars to represent the site’s editor Chris Quinn and content director Laura Johnston in an Instagram post about the marriage age (17) vs. the voting age (18) in Ohio.

The IG account has 188K followers. The post received 19 likes — but it did get 100 comments, almost all negative:

Another post -- about Democrat gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton -- features a talking Terminal Tower (its AI reporter ‘TT’) that looks like something out of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine.’

Quinn, who has attacked journalism schools’ for their “backwards” approach to AI, responded to the backlash in a text to subscribers:  

“We’re now in the sandbox, test-publishing videos… I guarantee that traditionalists won’t like them. Some will call them silly. But these videos aren’t for them.”

Rather than weighing in as a mere mortal — or worse, traditionalist — we asked ChatGPT its thoughts:

Avatar clip:

“AI-generated characters (like a talking building or fake “editors”) often land in an awkward middle ground:

That produces the classic uncanny valley reaction:

Amy Acton clip:

“That creates an immediate disconnect:

ChatGPT concludes:

“The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com has a long-standing identity as a traditional news outlet. So when it suddenly adopts:

…it can feel like a brand identity crisis.”

The machine has spoken.

We could read you the Meriam-Webster definition of rip-off. It would be far easier to point you to the NBA playoff telecasts – and the outrage of Cavs fans.

Social media and fan forums have been flooded with complaints about the NBA running games across multiple platforms.

Game one against the Raptors was aired on Amazon Prime. Game two appeared on Peacock – which required fans to subscribe to both platforms to watch a game.

And that’s even if they subscribed to FanDuel Sports Network Ohio to carry regular-season games and, in previous years, the first round of the playoffs.

In 2024, the league announced a $77 billion deal Walt Disney (ABC/ESPN), NBCUniversal (NBC/Peacock), and Amazon Prime Video.

Going forward, Cavs fans will also have to access ESPN, via a cable or streaming provider like Hulu.

“It’s a bunch of bull**** is what it is,” says state Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), who is drafting legislation to prevent exclusive streaming deals for professional sports.

“It’s getting ridiculous for the everyday fan nowadays to watch sports because they have to have a dozen different services, streaming services or otherwise,” he adds.

Welcome to a streaming maze… Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

The Browns were targeting Spencer Fano with the sixth pick. They got the offensive tackle from Utah at nine.

And, by trading down three spots with the Chiefs, they picked up extra third and fifth-round picks.

GM Andrew Berry set out to accumulate extra picks, just as he did last year when he acquired several picks from Jacksonville.

One of them, this year’s 24^th pick, was used to fill another glaring need: KC Concepcion – a small, fast play-making wide receiver who fills glaring need and is a stellar kick returner.

They enter the weekend looking to add center and depth on the defensive line and secondary.

FRIDAY

Last Hike to Eagle’s Nest: CanalWay Center in the Metroparks leads a final hike to the eagle nest along the Cuyahoga River before tree leaves obscure the view. 2 p.m. Info.

Tony Rock: Yeah, he’s Chris Rock’s brother, but Tony is an irreverent, whip-smart comic in his own right. He hits Funny Bone at 7 and 9:30 p.m. (and 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Ray Flanagan: He’s been an engaging performer and deft songwriter for years, and now he’s releasing his debut album, ‘My Mind is Burning Up,” at Dunlap’s Corner Bar. 9 p.m. Info.

SATURDAY

The Best of Steve Martin & Martin Short: The beloved comic legends – and stars of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ hit State Theatre. 8 p.m. (Also 7:30 p.m. Sunday). Info.

Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B: The irreverent, modern-day take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective classic opens at 7 p.m. in Hanna Theatre. It runs through May 10. Info.

SUNDAY

Beachland Tavern Brunch: Cleveland legends Lawrence Daniel Caswell and Chris Kulcsar will spin heavy music and deep cuts at the always lively chowdown. 11 a.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Finally. The much-anticipated EVOO opens Monday in Legacy Village.

“It’s a modern Greek-Mediterranean concept,” says co-owner Brad Friedlander..

EVOO, which takes its name from extra virgin oil, will include healthy, vegan options and focus on fresh and bold flavors in an upscale setting.

It’s been a challenge to find Greek cuisine in Cleveland for years. It’s underrepresented and underappreciated.

Friedlander has been steering the food scene since 1980 -- long before there were foodies.

He’s part of their Cleveland Restaurant Management Group, which owns 17 restaurants in the area.  

The group is strategic when it comes to restaurants: develop concepts that fill a void – his m.o. throughout his career.

Cleveland Browns selected defensive end Myles Garrett from Texas A&M with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The team had three first-round picks that year and chose Jabrill Peppers (S, Michigan) and David Njoku (TE, Miami) with the other two.

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71 °F 🌡️ 52 °F | ⛅➡️🌧️ (Partly Sunny / PM Showers) | 40% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph (≈ 10 knots)

55 °F 🌡️ 44 °F | ☁️ (Cloudy / Cool & Overcast) | 24% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 9 mph (≈ 8 knots)

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Away vs. Blue Jays, 7:07 PM April 24 (Friday)

Away vs. Blue Jays, 3:07 PM April 25 (Saturday)

Away vs. Blue Jays, 1:37 PM April 26 (Sunday)

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