The 10 best pop culture All-Star Week moments

LOS ANGELES -- Whew. That was fun, wasn't it?

From beginning to end, 2022 All-Star Week was a movie. The weather was perfect. The sun was shining. The glitz was glitzing, the glam was glamming.

We know about the baseball: The next generation dazzled in the Futures Game, Juan Soto won the Home Run Derby and the American League secured a ninth straight dub in the All-Star Game. But the baseball was just part of what made these five days in La La Land a wire-to-wire spectacle. With the festivities having concluded and the second half underway, let’s review, in no particular order, some of the top off-the-field moments. (And for the purposes of this exercise -- and artistic license -- we’ll consider the celebrity softball game off the field.)

1. Bad Bunny brings electricity to Dodger Stadium
Mookie Betts could hit a walk-off grand slam in Game 7 of the World Series, and Dodger Stadium (probably) wouldn’t get anywhere near as loud as it was when Bad Bunny graced its dirt and grass. Bad Bunny, the captain for Team Los Angeles, was the celebrity game; everything he did, no matter how minute, was gold. The stadium, filled with fans rocking Bad Bunny shirts and signs, erupted whenever he was shown on the screens. He came with a couple surprises, too. Instead of hitting in his first two plate appearances, Benito subbed himself out for Vladimir Guerrero Sr. and David Ortiz. In his two at-bats, he smacked a pair of singles, much to the crowd’s delight. Two days later, Bad Bunny made another appearance at the Home Run Derby and presented Soto, the contest’s second-youngest winner ever, with a “Derby Champ” chain.

2. Bryan Cranston becomes first celebrity to be ejected
A celebrity softball game, by its nature, is not a serious affair. There’s no actual championship on the line. A handful of players might go full tilt, but these games are more so just opportunities to have fun. But Cranston was there to win, and when a questionable call shifted the game’s tide, he broke bad. With Team Los Angeles trailing by two runs in the bottom of the fifth (the final inning), Cranston was called out on a pretty borderline called third strike. He was immediately incredulous, staring into the soul of the home plate umpire. He kicked some dirt and yelled, “You’re stealing the game. You’re stealing the game from us,” while he was restrained by J.K. Simmons. After walking back to the dugout, Cranston threw a bucket of bubble gum at the home plate umpire, an offense that got him tossed.

3. Cranston serves drinks, talks Dodgers
Before Cranston let his temper get the best of him, he made an appearance at the All-Star House in Hollywood Hills (more on this in a bit). Upon arrival, Cranston was greeted by the house’s attendees. Cranston played the role of bartender, serving up drinks with Dos Hombres Mezcal, his and Aaron Paul’s signature tequila. Towards the end of the night, Cranston sat down with MLB.com at the All-Star House and talked baseball. The Q&A, in full, can be viewed here.

4. Former Giant hits two home runs -- and loses MVP fan vote
There was no love lost. When Hunter Pence, a member of Team Brooklyn, was announced in the pregame introductions, the three-time World Series championship was greeted with a cascade of boos. So how did Pence respond? He went yard twice, one of which came off former Dodger Andre Ethier. As he rounded third base following his first home run, Pence unbuttoned his jersey to reveal a Giants shirt underneath. Forever Giant, indeed. Following Brooklyn’s win, MLB Network’s Stephen Nelson, the game’s on-field host, gave the fans the chance to pick the MVP: Pence or The Miz, the charismatic WWE wrestler, who had a home run of his own. Pence may have had to the better stats, but he didn’t get an ounce of love. The Miz walked away with the honors.

5. DJ Nelson and Luny Tunes bring energy in first Latin Verzuz
The word “versus” implies a battle, a clash, a competition. But when reggaeton producers DJ Nelson and Luny Tunes took the stage at the All-Star House on Sunday for the first Latin Verzuz, there wasn’t an ounce of animosity to be found. The night, from beginning to end, was a celebration of reggaeton. The chemistry, the love between the two was palpable. Near the end of the performance, tribute was paid to Flow La Movie, a legendary reggaeton producer who died in a plane crash in December 2021.

“As a reggaeton producer …. we need platforms like this,” DJ Nelson said. “It was a one-time shot. We [needed] to make it happen.”

6. The All-Star House dazzles in debut
Located in Hollywood Hills, The All-Star House was awe-inspiring in its lavishness. The venue served as a space for celebrities and influencers alike to congregate and curate content, and it hosted events such as the Apple TV+ Watch Party, the aforementioned Verzuz and the 2022 MLB Draft. The house featured batting cages, a fast-pitch bullpen with an accompanying radar gun, a pool, large televisions, a live DJ in The Plug Radio host Nick Nukem and a hand-painted mural by Andrew Thiele.

7. MLB’s All-Stars shine on the red carpet
Is there a setting more appropriate to stunt than a red carpet in Los Angeles? Prior to the All-Star Game, members of the American and National Leagues had the opportunity to show off the sauce, the swag, the drip -- whatever you want to call it. Was there a definitive best fit, best accessory of the day? That’s too subjective. That said, there were some literal and figurative highlights. Ronald Acuña Jr. looked like he was pulled straight out of the future. Jazz Chisholm, a current Marlin, and Starling Marte, a former Marlin, embodied the spirit of Miami. Juan Soto flashed a chain that featured his signature Soto Shuffle. From hats to shoes, from chains to watches, baseball’s stars brought the wave.

8. Ohtani & Chisholm … a fashion collaboration?
On the subject of Chisholm, Miami’s second baseman is arguably baseball’s best dressed player, and the need for an “arguably” qualifier is debatable. From his dyed hair to his Lightning Marbella sunglasses, Chisholm exudes a swagger that few can match. Shohei Ohtani, on the flip side, is more low-key. Baseball’s two-way star can put together a stunning fit, as evidenced by his feature in GQ earlier this year, but Ohtani mentioned on the red carpet that he’s not one to get dressed up, typically opting for sweatsuits, sweatpants and jeans. Would Ohtani ever try to match Jazz’s energy, to come to the red carpet wearing a jacket but no undershirt? “If he's chosen as an All-Star again, he’ll give it a thought,” Ohtani said via interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.

9. Creator's Cup hosts first live The Show tournament
Similar to how the softball game combined former players and celebrities, the Creator’s Cup, the first live MLB The Show esports competition, combined eight of the video game’s best players with eight influencers. Instead of the traditional head-to-head battle, teams of two battled in a co-op, single elimination tournament. Yeyo and Jimmy Hill took home the title with a walk-off single.

10. The hometown kid performs in the hometown venue
Becky G was given a proposition. She could either participate in the celebrity softball game, or she could perform in a concert after the celebrity softball game. There wasn’t much of a choice to be made. Following Team Brooklyn’s 15-13 win over Team Los Angeles in a legitimately thrilling back-and-forth contest, Becky G put on a show for the place that raised her, treating Dodger Stadium to a condensed concert that featured songs like "Shower" and "Mayores". For the 25-year-old singer, the opportunity to perform at Dodger Stadium was “a dream come true,” as she described on social media after the performance. Becky G was born in nearby Inglewood and loves the hometown team, so much so that she released a song in 2017 appropriately titled “Dodger Blue.”