# ‘New Girl was so scary I had to stop smoking pot’: Jake Johnson on perseverance, pickleball and Prince

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-21 17:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Entertainment coverage centers on Jake Johnson, pickleball comedy The Dink, and red carpet premieres.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent entertainment coverage details the release and critical reception of the sports comedy film titled The Dink, starring Jake Johnson and Mary Steenburgen. Critics and reviewers have described the feature as an engagingly silly, laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser that serves up amusing summer fun. Publications such as IndieWire and The Hollywood Reporter highlight Jake Johnson discovering the joys of the sport in the Apple TV comedy.


Additional reviews from AP News and the Hartford Courant emphasize that pickleball itself functions as the true star of the production. The broader narrative surrounding the project also incorporates promotional interviews and reflections from the cast. The Guardian published an extensive piece featuring Jake Johnson discussing perseverance, his past work on New Girl, and encounters with Prince, alongside his current involvement in the pickleball-themed comedy.


Yahoo separately captured remarks from Johnson regarding the experience of filming in Los Angeles and the presence of funny people in the local industry. As reviews continue to circulate from outlets like 9to5Mac and Mashable, the focus remains on the upcoming availability of the Ben Stiller-produced comedy on Apple TV. Coverage does not yet specify exact streaming viewership figures or long-term box office outcomes, leaving observers to monitor audience response as the title officially rolls out to viewers across various platforms in the current cycle.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo | Jake Johnson on filming in LA: 'You get really funny people' | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxOV01PWFl6UUxaT3pzYkduTjd3dnZXQUVSTU1mbUxGYXljenQyMFpvVklJM3o1WVhWa2RXT2J2Z0cxYlk3a1U1Mk5jNlRaRDF3bThMZlBQR0o1MUpOUnRmZGU5M0RiMUVEZG44STJ1UlFweS1FUlh6VVV5QmVGNVRhUUdobWFCbWhkSkVRaXRZSVhudw?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | The Dink review – Jake Johnson’s pickleball comedy serves up engagingly silly laughs | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxNQlRuYjdFUlI0YUhheDExUlZMbFp6MkdmQl9BaGFTWGp0b3FUazVuWmhrVGZvVWt1SUpoelpDbTgxNFNtYnl6VzVfYzdESkhldVltVmJjSmFxYzlVVVktc19mZGNKSE91SVBRbUt3VTdEYkdRMVRkUGlsYzB1V1lJaS1KLUpqT2d4MlRvUTE2UVhCSFJNRlpmZ2ZwWkZNXzhwQjFTclFBWWJmeFl5Q2trak5R?oc=5) |
| Mashable | 'The Dink' review: Apple's pickleball movie is a laugh-out-loud crowd-pleaser | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ0FVX3lxTFBtUUpHY1hjX3kxMldnSVZETDd3WFJPVjJvenQ1aXh2czE4OGl0bVFSTDhuQ1dxMnJXOTZQY2M5VElsbzU0UG93N1JpSUNkR3FzRUNwQVVpLWpHVmNlNVdCbkwwZllmNG8?oc=5) |
| AP News | Movie Review: Pickleball is the star of the sports comedy ‘The Dink’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxPcUJYWVJiLVhoZjE3VVhSWlplZ1BNOEI2X3I5azMzbXdQSVJaOEtwWF9jT1k1LTUxN1hpNHdYdHE1RjI2TG9XMVYyekllZ0dMT3YySEtjX0lPcElKVXdha2cyUW83OE1Oc0ZrQmdHa2JkNkgxSkVQR2pPNHBSM1ptcjFQcw?oc=5) |
| parade.com | Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen Just Had the Sweetest Red Carpet Moment With Their Granddaughters | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxOM3pIcTQ5VEc3Y2lUZjdRWXR4UW9DVTVHNmZWQXpWQnFUak9mTC1TUTdyUDBsc1RXeWlXUWJXNHQ5U3hSOE04MG9BOTFxeFBmTUktc0V2T0NMQkRiRThCOHB5cGdqajNnN2RQa0w5cVM2VVJfbDFNT19HdmFmbGk2TXg0NkVFTWhVNThhRWhuUldaMWQ3ckhXdTBXZXlzLXM?oc=5) |
| Hartford Courant | Movie Review: Pickleball is the star of the sports comedy ‘The Dink’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZ0FVX3lxTE9YU3dILWx6QUFFbmxXQnNHR090S2J4OFpaS2g2OFd0X1NLWEpjbWxQaXhucnpWb0pzeVh4Q3FwUTlMcnZlSEJlTDB0a3ViS1BvNGpiTjFKSm04UmtWUUxRVXlKdjd1WWM?oc=5) |
| 9to5Mac | Apple TV’s new comedy from Ben Stiller is almost here, and reviews are in | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxQWlJJcHJ4ckJlZDFhdklPVVdPUENteUZmcS1fTTYtUDJib0tYb1ZTQXI0ZDNUQXd1YklQdXdNVmcyMDhOLWs3REZsSEtqNUpCNXJjQnB4NWtJN1FwQ2h3UHJnZk1aX1hURURTNkhVeVl4NXVPbkdxcENpRGtLX2g4aFNtT0h0eTBGRTJkMENRRFZZX3YtM0pUVG1BanAxY0hudkRZT3pB?oc=5) |
| IndieWire | ‘The Dink’ Review: Jake Johnson Discovers the Joys of Pickleball in a Sweet Apple TV Comedy | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinAFBVV95cUxNYk5ZYklNUm1PNm00Nno2Vk9HZUt5YVM5bks2VXQ4NjdkTE9nZXhjY2U3c21oZGRnVVZkZUFrMGREdHdPTmx2RW51U1ZFQnVaVzgwc3hwbU1kOFhDSkJ2U2lwbXozZjlXU2RZMkZMMDFpdWJkaXplS2wzTjZUaHIwUG50WXJ3MUM1REFOeDhTRU5aWWp1eko5VlE0Wko?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | How Real Is the Pickleball in ‘The Dink’? A Pickleball Pro Takes on the Cast | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxQNHBKVTktM1RzZlpkWjFGSE1oTVVCXzZRRGpKVnVsZVdUSEs4MTFjb3pQR0pTVUViTnU2T1lCMTVKbm5ZSEY1ZEJVbWk5REJQX2pWdmFNczd5VXZiSXFhTW85aE82cjQxUVM5bWtZMmRrTjhFczNVQk9fampyWVdsc2RqX3VQQXNrXzI2UkliRkptTWFMQjVYNm9TSDF6YTBmXzNZazk3NG42UQ?oc=5) |
| upi.com | In photos: Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen attend 'The Dink' premiere - All Photos | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPZS1yNnhIV0xGYjhIMWY0VW1aejRidzhQMmZtVDI2a1JFeWFXYlBjRU82dGxPRTRabjdrZFU5Szg0X1lDckZqNW40VnNRUjNqYlg4Q3dKS2J4S3YyNTBBSThzSk5lYUJ4LWR0SlNFdVJKdi1vdnZJcmpKZjNma1JVbFJGV3IzLWVWdWdiOVEtLXdMZ1lnMUpEeXN1NWl1bDdNb1dFNGowYnpTWU0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | Movie Review: Pickleball is the star of the sports comedy ‘The Dink’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipAFBVV95cUxQdTRjb3JCTnNWdUxqcW1PX1RoVnpiREZlRENIOWNLcFE1UmJhM0ZOTmwyejhRdWRJcEpCb2l2cFY2U2NpdU0tN0lubWdwdW5aMVY0MEZvM1kzbGdNcEIwX0ZJWUV0NGsxdWNRQUhuMGFWeFI4NXZNOEhIRzNrT1ZObHctc3M0cVU2eWdMMEs0VXRQTWRmb0FRX0JCRExibTJGSnhITQ?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | 'The Dink' Review: Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen in Pickleball Comedy | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxPWEhESnB6aFlzUG5wdFhGbjM0RXdqN1BXMEJLWEZheUV5Z3F0MkI3Ymp6OVRZNGFDa3JLaVJMcXhlSUpwMlFKUVJwVklyU0JXckRVdFVqLVExQzdsWWphQUM2ODFEcGd5UjZnNEdHdkJGN1NJV1hJZThXaXo2bDJXLUJYUlUzY1paVm9fRTIzVWQwQ1FpLVVYSmV3QnhRek5rZTZuM1BkMFhhVkRkamZOQ0cwVmhnUQ?oc=5) |
| The Seattle Times | ‘The Dink’ serves up amusing summer fun - Review | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxOMWJ3YWVwNENTaE5Bbm9hSFpjMFNMMk1ySEdkWUwtM2d0Sm1HUGlVUTdyUFJVOU9DZ3NPZnJCa1FVNFFJX2RveW85VFpzLUpESVRPVUJFcC1MTDIxYlVsS2g0TnFHNFpDdmJSaThWSGFHeHlDOVRYSkE0LVExVjJVLWZuX0xIa2lOcjJsUktxb3B2MDV5SnRKUjJ1QThkXzJkdnZfLW9xZzhIdHJjR3llNG5n?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | ‘New Girl was so scary I had to stop smoking pot’: Jake Johnson on perseverance, pickleball and Prince | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi2wFBVV95cUxOdk44VTZ4dTU2UmxvNWcxWC10RGJZRTlzbmRyRmpJTmtJdElQN1pPdHNfN0I3SU9hcWlDcExYaG1oQ2hSTnlPU0JkQzg4YXQ2djRJbTJMbzlpV1I5a0d5dW9hQ3IzaUNLc094UldQUWNDU2ZwbkNPRzRkZFcwa1BOckQ1OVVyb3BaUzFWQ2J3THF0S1RrS1VUS2hUcUV5OThPMExWR2JZVWE5NjBUOG1LZVV6UTZ2dHhWc0Z2Y2tuTElBRXBXcWttb2NiVzRkcXdVMExWd09STGZPUVE?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-21/new-girl-was-so-scary-i-had-to-stop-smoking-pot-jake-johnson-on-perseverance*