Month: November 2020

(SPOILERS will obviously be found below.)

It’s been a long, tense couple of days and everyone, myself included, is on edge about the presidential election and surging COVID-19 cases and The Bachelorette drama, the biggest stressor of all. So I want to thank “Chapter 10: The Passenger” for being the best episode of The Mandalorian yet. It had everything I needed at the end of a four-month-long week. It didn’t move the overall story along much, but it was thrilling, funny, and felt like a Monster of the Week episode of The X-Files, which were always my favorites. Also, and this is crucial, there was a talking ant (in an episode directed by Ant-Man‘s Peyton Reed) playing sabacc against Amy Sedaris, snow-spiders, Galaxy’s Edge homages, a frog lady, X-wings, Baby Yoda going to town on some admittedly delicious-looking eggs, and the return of Mos Eisley Cantina. Speaking of scum and villainy…

“Chapter 10” also introduced the most-evil (and my most-hated) character to Star Wars.

That might sound hyperbolic, considering Darth Vader blew up a planet, Sheev Palpatine was the mastermind behind Order 66, and Jabba the Hutt licked Leia’s face, which is just gross. But at least they never PUT A KNIFE TO BABY YODA’S THROAT. At the beginning of the episode, a trio of no-goodniks stretch a rope across Mando’s path, so that when he comes flying by on his speeder, he’ll be decapitated or at least immobilized. It works, briefly, until Mando takes out two of the goons. As for the third:

Reader, I gasped.

I would love to know how many boardroom meetings Jon Favreau, who wrote the episode, had with Disney brass about how close the knife could be to Baby Yoda’s throat. He might be the only person on the planet who could threaten to Red Wedding the Child, and all it took was making a billion-dollar-grossing movie for the company and kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As for the alien holding the blade, there’s no information about him yet. But that’s fine, because a) he’s a monster (even if Baby Yoda is the one who eats multiple babies this episode, making him an actual murderer, but he’s sooo cute), and b) he’s killed due to some jetpack shenanigans from Mando. Another reason I liked this episode: jetpack shenanigans. Mad Men never had those.

Jason Sudeikis is forgiven for punching Baby Yoda (and because Ted Lasso rules).

We’re all somewhat used to late-night hosts reacting to the news of the day in ways that veer away from the usual silliness of the form, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when the look and feel of late-night has changed so completely. But it’s not just a recent thing or even a Trump era thing. Recall Craig Ferguson finding empathy when Britney Spears was getting mocked everywhere for concerning public behavior. Or how hosts responded following 9/11.

Still, it does seem to have grown in frequency over these last few years and Stephen Colbert has been unafraid to lead that charge, bringing authenticity and a sense of general concern for the state of things in his nightly dispatches. And on Thursday, with this seemingly interminable election cycle captivating all of us and norms getting pushed to the side, it’s no surprise that Colbert went to a very real place following Donald Trump’s latest barrage of false claims about voter fraud and ballot counts.

Lasting about eight minutes and recorded just after Trump’s speech at The White House, a black-clad Colbert started by saying that he was, “dressed for a funeral because Donald Trump really tried to kill something tonight.” He then ran through Trump’s batch of boasts and groundless assertions, challenging the president to find fresh material.

Colbert then paused for a moment after being overcome by emotions and talking about not realizing that he’d feel so heartbroken over Trump’s predictable response to potential defeat. Which is understandable. With so much of this, it’s not the surprise that gets you but the surprise that you can still be surprised.

Colbert went on, dropping a joke about butt bronzer, but this wasn’t built for laughs, it was built (or conjured from the heart) to deliver a message to Republicans whose silence Colbert views as complicity. It was a message Colbert admitted he wished he could lace with curse words. Because apparently, some norms are still in place for some of us.

Press play on the clip above to hear and absorb the whole thing and see the creative way Colbert gets around his inability to F-bomb on network television.

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While there’s no time of year when it’s wrong to sip rye whiskey, it’s tough to argue the appeal of the spicy, warming spirit during the cool month of November. Falling temperatures and hearty foods pair well with the peppery edge of a well-made rye served neat or on the rocks. You shouldn’t sleep on classic cocktails like the old fashioned or the Sazerac this time of year, either.

As for the price of a good rye, like many whiskey styles, you can end up spending a whole paycheck on a truly memorable bottle or pick up a pretty solid sipper for roughly the cost of a steak dinner. And with rye getting less hype than boubon or scotch, there are still some expressions out there that outkick the coverage — tasting better than the sticker price might indicate. To help you track them down, I opened my tasting diary, picked my personal favorite “good value” ryes (all hovering in the $30 range), and ranked them.

6.) Old Overholt

ABV: 40%

Price: $17.99

The Story:

Like so many whiskeys, Old Overholt is shrouded in legend. It’s believed by many to be the oldest, continually operating whiskey brand in America, going back to 1810. Aged for three years, it’s cheap, subtly spicy, and always there. It’s the kind of bottle you should rgularly keep on your liquor shelf to use in cocktails.

Tasting Notes:

You might not think to give a whiskey at this price point a proper nosing, but you definitely should. You’ll be met not with a pepper bomb, but sweet, creamy vanilla, toasted wood, and rich caramel corn. The first sip yields hints of candied orange peel, spicy pepper, and sweet clover honey. The finish is long, warming, and ends in a surprisingly pleasing hint of white pepper.

Bottom Line:

While nobody should tell you which whiskeys to sip and which to mix with, this is likely a mixer. While not a harsh whiskey by any means, it shines in a classic rye-based cocktail.

5.) Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond

ABV: 50%

Price: $27.49

The Story:

When you crack open this bottle, you might assume you know what you’re in for. It’s 100 proof, but with only 51% rye in the mash bill, it still manages to be mellow and highly drinkable. Made by Heaven Hill, it’s perfect for using as a base for an old fashioned or old pal.

Tasting Notes:

Even though the Pennsylvania style of rye whiskey is usually on the spicier side, the first nosing of this whiskey conjures hints of dried fruits, charred oak, and sweet cream, with very little rye spice. On the palate, is where you get your first real bite of peppery rye. This is paired with rich caramel, honey, and subtle cinnamon. The finish is long, slightly warm, and ends with a pleasant final flourish of pepper.

Bottom Line:

This is a great whiskey for mixing due to its high alcohol content, but it shines as a sipper poured over a single ice cube in a rocks glass.

4.) Redemption

ABV: 46%

Price: $28.99

The Story:

Redemption is the kind of rye whiskey you think about when you envision the style. In part because, while you only need over 50% rye in the mash bill to be considered a rye whiskey, this offering features a whopping 95% rye. The brand wanted to create a whiskey that tasted like the rye whiskeys made before prohibition, when mash bills were far less balanced.

This is designed to be mixed, but it has a warming, peppery presence that makes it great for November sipping.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find aromas of dried fruits, cooking spices, charred oak, and a healthy dose of peppery spice. The first sip delivers hints of brown sugar, salted caramel, sweet vanilla, and a kick of spice. The finish is long, very warming, and ends with a good mixture of sweet vanilla and hot, peppery rye.

Bottom Line:

A fairly young rye, this shines in drinks like a Manhattan or Vieux Carre. It also handles itself well as a warming sipper on a cold, fall night.

3.) High West Double Rye

ABV: 46%

Price: $33.99

The Story:

As the name describes, this is blend of two different rye whiskeys. Both have been aged for at least two (and, at most, seven) years. One comes from renowned rye distiller MGP and the other from High West. The first was distilled in a column still and the second in a pot still. It’s a fascinating entry that’s made plenty of fans.

Tasting Notes:

This highly complex rye whiskey has a nose of sweet caramel, spicy cinnamon, Christmas spices, and subtle pepper. The first sip brings tea-like herbal qualities, along with sweet honey, toasted vanilla, charred oak, and more rye spice. The finish is medium in length, warming, and ends with hints of mint, cocoa, and more spicy pepper.

Bottom Line:

A ton of work was put into this whiskey. To get the most out of it, you should enjoy it over ice as you watch the leaves fall.

2.) Old Forester 100

ABV: 50%

Price: $25.99

The Story:

While this whiskey is made up of 65% rye, it’s the 20% barley content and the brand’s proprietary yeast strain that gives it its unique, smooth flavor. Based on a historic recipe that was first acquired back in 1940, Old Forester’s rye is so well-rounded, mixable, and highly sippable that it might make you forget about the brand’s iconic bourbon (for a little while).

Tasting Notes:

Before taking your first sip, give this whiskey the nosing it deserves. You’ll be met with aromas of dried orange peel, spicy cinnamon, and butterscotch. The first sip offers up baking spices, toasted vanilla beans, caramelized sugar, and peppery spice.

The finish is long, warming, and ends with a hit of resinous pine and cracked black pepper.

Bottom Line:

Due to the complexity of this rye, I consider it one of the best bargain rye whiskeys on the market. It’s perfectly suited for drinking neat or on the rocks.

1.) George Dickel

ABV: 45%

Price: $29.49

The Story:

While George Dickel is located in Tennessee, its rye whiskey is distilled at MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Before being bottled it’s chilled and filtered through sugar maple charcoal at George Dickel. This high rye whiskey is made up of 95% rye, 5% malted barley, and no corn.

It’s meant to be complex, robust, and spicy.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this whiskey. If you give it a proper nosing you’ll be met with subtle spicy rye, followed by charred oak and toasted marshmallows. The first sip yields a great combination of sweet and spicy. The first flavor you’ll find is cracked black pepper. This is followed closely by sweet cream, vanilla, and caramel.

The finish is long, subtly warm, and filled with charred oak and peppery spice.

Bottom Line:

If you’re only going to sip one of the rye whiskeys on this list, make it George Dickel. It’s spicy, sweet, and perfect for slow sipping.

For the first time in his career, 2 Chainz is preparing to release an album for the second straight year. The Atlanta legend promised his So Help Me God album would arrive in September, but a sample clearance issue caused the album to get pushed back a month. However, October came and went and there was no sign of the new album. While a new release date for So Help Me God remains up in their air, it appears 2 Chainz has kicked off the rollout of the album with his new single, “Quarantine Thick” with Mulatto.

Standing as the first track between the two Atlanta natives, 2 Chainz and Mulatto celebrate the women who gained a bit of weight since the quarantine started more than six months ago. Released with a matching visual, the ATL rappers take over a mansion to hold a party that is mostly attended by women and features a high amount of sugary sweets and savory desserts. In the song, the “No Lie” rapper understands that keeping up with one’s gym routine is next to impossible when they’ve been closed due to coronavirus concerns. Mulatto arrives later in the track to provide a verse of her own that is filled with boastful remarks and she plays off the role of the quarantine thick woman.

The song comes after 2 Chainz publically endorsed Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with a performance of “I’m Different.” The rapper also joined Kanye West for a remix of his “Nah Nah Nah” track with DaBaby. Mulatto, on the other hand, is having a phenomenal year thanks to her Queen Of Da Souf project. She recently dropped a video for “On God” and linked with City Girls for another visual effort, this time for their “In N Out” track.

You can give the song a listen in the video above.

Swae Lee has been hard at work on his upcoming solo album as well as Rae Sremmurd’s Sremmlife 4 release. The “No Flex Zone” rapper has graced fans with a number of singles throughout the year and now, he returns with yet another 2020 single. Linking up with Tyga and Lil Mosey, the three rappers lays some melodic bars down over a familiar tune from the Spongebob Squarepants cartoon series for their “Krabby Step” collaboration. The track is filled with references to the children’s show and is a complete contrast from the rappers’ choice of content from their previous releases. “Krabby Step” is also slated to appear in the upcoming The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run film, which will premiere in the United States at some point in 2021.

The track joins Swae Lee’s previous 2020 single which includes “Dance Like No One’s Watching” and “Reality Check.” In a recent interview with Uproxx, Swae Lee spoke on the upcoming Sremmlife 4 album and said fans can expect it to arrive next year. “I don’t even like this year,” he said. “I might wait ‘till 2021 to even drop the project, but I’ve just been giving them singles and features. We definitely just keeping the music in the atmosphere.”

Earlier this year, Lil Mosey shared a deluxe re-issue of his Certified Hitmaker album. The new release included his bubbling hit song, “Blueberry Fargo” and his bouncy single with Lil Baby, “Back At It.” On the other hand, Tyga has spent his 2020 sharing singles which include “Money Mouf” with Saweetie and YG and his Black Eyed Peas-sampling effort with Megan Thee Stallion, “Freak.”

Press play on “Krabby Step” in the video above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Justin Bieber is currently in the process of ushering in a “new era” in his extremely successful career. Months after making his return with his Changes, the pop singer hinted at this new era with some help from his longtime manager Scooter Braun. It began with the release of his triumphant “Holy” single with Chance The Rapper and continued with the somber “Lonely” release from October. Taking a quick moment to entertain other things, Justin Bieber lends his voice for a hearty remix of 24kGoldn and Iann Dior’s “Mood” remix, one that also features J Balvin.

The remix arrives just a couple of weeks after 24kGoldn and Iann Dior saw “Mood” take the No. 1 spot on the singles chart, becoming the first chart-topping effort of their young careers. After receiving word of the achievement, 24kGoldn took to social media to celebrate, saying “ain’t no higher than this. thank you to everyone who ever listened, this is just the start,” on Twitter. In an Instagram video, the rapper would also say, “I’m only 19 years old, I’m not even 20 years old and we’re on top of the world, No. 1 on the Billboard charts. I did not think this sh*t was gonna happen this fast, if I’m being 100 percent honest with y’all. But I’m grateful as f*ck. I knew we could do it, and it was just a matter of time, yo.”

Bieber recently brought his talents to Saturday Night Live to perform his “Holy” and “Lonely” singles while J Balvin recently revealed new partnerships with McDonald’s and Fortnite. While the Latin star had some more highlight moments this year that included a performance at the MTV VMAs and teh announcement of an upcoming documentary with Amazon, the singer unfortunately also came down with a “bad” case of coronavirus, one that pushed him to remind fans that the “virus is real and it’s dangerous.”

Check out the “Mood” remix in the video above.

The halfway point of the 2020 NFL season (to the extent there is one in a 17-week schedule) is here. Through eight weeks, the league has been relatively kind in this space, including a winning performance in Week 8. Still, there is no time to rest, and the Week 9 slate is an intriguing one, with a few marquee matchups on the agenda.

Before we dive into the slate with five selections, let’s take a moment and reflect on the season-long progress.

• Week 8: 3-2
• 2020 Season: 22-17-1

Come get these winners.

Carolina Panthers (+10.5) over Kansas City Chiefs

This is a principle play in a lot of ways. The Panthers have been frisky this season and, even on the road, giving Carolina double-digits seems to be a bit aggressive. Part of that is the tax paid to the Chiefs for, well, being the Chiefs, but the public will coming rolling in on Kansas City. In fact, that sharp side is (quite) clearly going to be the double-digit underdog and, for good measure, Teddy Bridgewater is an obscene 31-11 against the spread (and even better than that as an underdog) as a starter in his career. Just take the candy.

New York Giants and Washington Football Team UNDER 43 points

I know 43 seems low, especially when viewed through the favorable offensive lens of 2020. With that said, these are two defense-first teams with offenses that I simply don’t trust. The fear, more than anything, would be some unfortunate turnovers that lead the way to short fields but, aside from that, there should be many, many punts. Washington is a top-five team in both total defense (on a yardage basis) and defensive DVOA, and the Giants were legitimately good on defense against Tampa Bay. Hold your nose and take the fundamental side.

Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans UNDER 47.5 points

The Bears are breathtakingly bad on offense. Truly, they are. On the bright side (for us), Chicago is pretty stout on defense, and the Titans haven’t been quite as explosive on offense in recent weeks. We’re potentially in trouble if the Bears get to 21, but I don’t think they will. Even if they do, there’s a chance Chicago can slow Tennessee just enough to get us to the window.

Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings UNDER 52.5 points

Minnesota took the air out of the ball last week against Green Bay, and we’re betting they can do it again. The Lions do have a talented offense, but with availability questions, Detroit certainly isn’t a lock to light up the Vikings, even when they have the ball. Dalvin Cook probably won’t dominate the proceedings as much as he did against the Packers, but Minnesota is content to churn clock and this number is a touch high.

Arizona Cardinals (-4.5) over Miami Dolphins

We benefitted from Miami’s win last week, so this certainly isn’t a complaint. However, the Dolphins/Rams box score was comically one-sided in favor of Los Angeles, and it took quite a confluence of events (er, turnovers) to get Miami the outright win. In general, I do think the Dolphins have been undervalued this season, and we’ve been on them a lot as a result. Still, the Cardinals should probably be favored by 6-7 points, so we’ll lay the 4.5 on the home team.

Earlier this week, all signs began pointing to Dec. 22 as, quite easily, the most likely start date for the 2020-21 NBA season. Still, there was a proposal targeting Jan. 18 as an alternative, with members of the NBPA set to vote on the next step some time this week. On Thursday evening, that vote reportedly took place and, in the end, the players voted to move ahead with the Dec. 22 proposal that includes a 72-game season.

The NBPA confirmed the tentative agreement shortly after the initial reports emerged.

It is crucial to note that nothing is official at this juncture, as the NBA and the NBPA still must agree on financial terms for next season and beyond. In addition, COVID-19 protocols will be of great importance, both for scheduling and general operations for a season that is now set to begin in fewer than two months.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the salary cap for 2020-21 is expected to land at $109 million, with ongoing discussions on the potential for a two percent minimum when it comes to the annual growth of that figure. Teams desperately need salary cap details in preparation for the NBA Draft, scheduled for Nov. 18, and at the moment, a moratorium remains in place for transactions, in part due to financial uncertainty. Free agency, meanwhile, will begin “as soon as possible” as teams need to set rosters and have players in cities for camp on Dec. 1.

Earlier in the week, it was reported that the NBA had proposed a new offer that would reduce the amount players were asked to put in escrow to 18 percent for just two years — previous reports suggested over 20 percent and three years could be asked for — as it seemed owners wanted to really make a big push for the December start date and the players apparently felt that was as good of a deal as they could ask for.

Though this result was widely expected for quite some time, reality now sets in across basketball circles. The endless draft cycle will conclude in the coming days but, from there, the league transitions to warp speed, with free agency, training camp, a (shortened) preseason slate and regular season games, all before Christmas arrives. Still, the schedule was a looming topic across the basketball landscape and, barring a drastic change, Dec. 22 is the date to circle.

Nearly a year ago, Kanye West took over the Hollywood Bowl to hold his Nebuchadnezzar opera show. It was held shortly after he delivered his Jesus Is King project, a release that kicked off his dive into the world of gospel music. The opera show was disappointing to fans who attended, as it started two hours behind schedule and lasted only 50 minutes. Now, less than three weeks from the one-year anniversary of the show, West is facing a lawsuit from the opera staffers for unpaid wages.

According to legal documents obtained by Complex, the opera staffers claimed that they were not adequately compensated for their contribution to their Nebuchadnezzar show. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include background actors and a hairstylist who claims she was supposed to receive $550 for two days of work. The hairstylist said after four months they received a $530 check and allegedly she was charged a $20 wire fee to get the payment. Other workers on the opera set said they were also charged the $20 fee, which apparently is a violation of California’s labor code.

“The defendants oversaw, controlled and ran the production, and the aggrieved employees worked many hours on the production and were not timely paid for their work, or paid at all,” a document from the lawsuit reads. “In addition, Defendants misclassified Plaintiffs and Aggrieved Employees as independent contractors as no deductions were made for payroll taxes.”

The plaintiffs are hoping to receive “unpaid wages, continuing wages, damages, civil penalties, statutory penalties and attorney’s fees and costs.”

(via Complex)

Joining the likes of Austin City Limits, Rolling Loud, Appleville, Save Our Stages, and more, Gucci has announced a virtual film and fashion festival, entitled Guccifest, to take place later this month. Among the many high-profile names they invited to appear at the festival, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Florence The Machine are among the highlight names that viewers can expect to see at Guccifest. The festival announcement did not reveal whether Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Florence The Machine, and other acts would perform or appear as models during the festival.

According to the Guccifest announcement, the festival will feature a collection of short films that will celebrate 15 independent young designers and their creations. The event will also be used to reveal Alessandro Michele’s latest Gucci “Ouverture of Something that Never Ended” collection.

In addition to the Guccifest appearance, Billie Eilish also revealed that she would release new music in November, a track that will hopefully be played at the festival if the pop singer gives a performance. Harry Styles is coming off a new video for his Fine Line introduction track, “Golden,” as well as his first No. 1 single with “Watermelon Sugar.” Florence The Machine’s addition to the Guccifest will hopefully lead to new releases from the band as they have not released an album since 2018’s High Hopes.

You can check out the announcement above and additional info here.