Links we love right now

Johnny Manziel shows off his arm, a giant squid surfaces and Batman makes a precious phone call

Editor's note: There's so much that's beautiful, funny, smart and informative on the Internet. Problem is, there's also a bunch of garbage. Here's the best of the web right now:

1. Johnny Manziel does Dude Perfect. If you aren't familiar with the basketball trick shots of Dude Perfect, well, I feel sorry for your eyeballs. Highlights of this edition include Manziel throwing a football into a basketball goal from the stands of Kyle Field, Manziel skeet shooting at Kyle Field "football style," and, of course, a whole lot of Superman celebrations.

2. Giant squid filmed in Pacific depths. Despite measuring 26 feet, the giant squid has stealthily eluded filming from the dawn of time until now. Japan's National Science Museum, in conjunction with the Discovery Channel, recently captured the tentacled beast in action.

3. Eleven people paying it forward. It's amazing how far a little kindness can go.

4. Internet Explorer appeals to children of the ’90s. The secret's out. All it takes to get a link here is a reference to pogs and fanny packs.

5. Local link shout-out. Preston Hollow People shares the story of Zach Guillot, a Dallas child with acute myeloid leukemia who got a call from Batman (a.k.a. Christian Bale) while in the hospital. The conversation includes Zach explaining the mechanics of his cardboard Batmobile and Bale telling Guillot to be strong. Pass the tissues, please.

If you thought Johnny Manziel was entertaining when he was just playing football, wait until you see him combine pigskin with basketball, darts and skeet shooting.

The Joke Has Landed

New comedy club at Toyota Music Factory in Irving gets set for laughs

Punch Line Irving

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

It's almost time for Punch Line Irving to open its doors, and Dave Chappelle is at the ready. The famous comedian will christen the new comedy club with four sold-out shows on December 17 and 18, but there's plenty more funny business in store for 2026.

First announced in November, this is Punch Line's fifth location — and second in Texas, the first opened in Houston in 2024 — and it's taking up residence at the Toyota Music Factory. The 240-seat club plans to host more than 350 shows and private events annually, featuring a blend of high-wattage celebrity and homegrown talent.

Its decor nods to the brand's belief that comedy is a sport, with feature wall showcasing punching bags and boxing bells signed by "heavy hitter" performers.

The menu also echoes the theme, with such cocktails as the Bellringer (bourbon, lemonade, and Liquid Death half-and-half iced tea), Ringside Ranch Water (blanco tequila, hibiscus, lime, and soda), and the Espresso All-Star, their take on the espresso martini. Food includes Punch Line favorites like the Mic Drop Burger, Punch Line Nachos, and Homemade Punch Pop Tarts in bourbon apple or strawberry cream.

There is also a second, more flexible space outside the main showroom called The Callback Bar that's designed to host smaller performances, as well as a furnished patio.

Punch Line Irving The Callback Bar.Photo by Anna Dolmany

Punch Line Irving

Photo by Anna Dolmany

This is the fifth Punch Line location.

The talent gets treated as well as the audience, with a private comics lounge in place of a traditional dressing room. Designed as a shared gathering space, it sports a custom media wall showing the live-show feed, a dressing table, a private ensuite restroom, and a hospitality station.

Punch Line makes it a point to support the local comedy scene, and its Irving location will be no exception. Twenty-five cents from each ticket at participating shows benefits Comedy Gives Back, a nonprofit organization providing financial grants and resources to stand-up comedians in need. The club also hosted its first open mic on December 9 to welcome the community, with participating comics donating nonperishable items to the North Texas Food Bank.

Don't fret if you didn't snag tickets to Dave Chappelle — big names like Leslie Jones, Tone Bell, Pete Holmes, and Christina P. all have shows scheduled in the first few months of 2026 and tickets are on sale now.

openings dave chappelle punch line irving comedy club stand-up comedy comedians toyota music factory comedy

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