When Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty was announced, there was a lot of fanfare and excitement over HBO’s dramatization of Jeff Pearlman’s book, Showtime, starring John C. Reilly. However, for the most part the show has gotten a fairly tepid response from basketball fans, in part due to it premiering in the midst of the NBA Playoffs, pitting the show about basketball up against real, live basketball when it airs live.
While it hasn’t registered as HBO may have hoped with basketball fans, one of the best things going for the show is how mad it has made everyone it is about. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and just about every other former Laker has denounced the show’s depiction of the team, but no one has been madder about it than Jerry West. Seemingly every day there is a new quote from West ripping the show for making him into a cartoonishly angry man — and, in fairness, the first few episodes do really make him seem like an insane person — but even as his character on the show has grown and become more of a human being, West won’t let it go.
The latest comes from the Los Angeles Times, which reports West telling former editor Bill Dwyre that he wants to take the show’s creators to the Supreme Court (!!!) for their crimes of…belittling the Showtime Lakers?
“The series made us all [the Lakers] look like cartoon characters,” West told Dwyre. “They belittled something good. If I have to, I will take this all the way to the Supreme Court.”
Listen, I understand why Jerry West is mad, but it’s hard to stress how much worse he makes it when he offers up quotes like this. This is a show that seems to have a fairly modest following and, in time, figured to get swallowed up by whatever was the next big thing. This isn’t a The Last Dance situation where it was a cultural moment and would create lasting memes we’d be referencing years later, but every time West gets mad and makes a headline about the show, it only makes more people want to tune in to see why exactly this man is so mad.
My advice to West is this, just let it go as hard as it may be. You’re only going to make people buy into the caricature more by getting extremely mad about being shown as a guy who gets extremely mad all the time.
Given how popular Japanese Breakfast has become over the years, a lot of descriptors have been used to discuss Michelle Zauner’s output. Now, she’s faced with another: “music for bottoms,” as one of her friends described her songs.
In an Insider feature, the interviewer noted how “considerate” Zauner’s Coachella crowd was and she responded, “A lot of times, when our tour managers have security meetings at venues, they’re always like, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll be really bored tonight. There’s nothing.’ They’re very sweet and polite.”
The interviewer continued, “Do you think that’s a testament to the type of music you make?” Zauner answered, “My friend calls us ‘music for bottoms [laughs].’ I don’t know. I mean, we just make sensitive, emotional music, so it attracts a certain type of person. I’m a very earnest person, and I think a lot of our fans are very earnest as well.”
Elsewhere, she also spoke about Japanese Breakfast getting a Best New Artist nomination at the 2022 Grammys despite having been active since 2013. She said, “I was just delighted, and then when everyone was like, ‘She’s not a new artist,’ I was like, ‘Shut up. Everyone just be quiet. Let’s just roll with this.’ Because the opportunity to be nominated in a major category and get to actually sit in the main ceremony was such a privilege that I don’t know if I’m ever going to have again. Definitely no complaints about being recognized as a ‘new artist.’”
As you’re aware by now, Elon Musk bought a new toy this week: a $44 billion social media platform called Twitter. Elon Musk flexed that wallet, and after a few road bumps, the platform appears to be his unless there’s a regulatory snag, which seems unlikely to happen, although it should be noted that helming Twitter’s arguably as much of a responsibility as those Tesla autopilot crashes. Regardless of outside issues, The View ladies are not impressed by this Twitter development.
They’re particularly taking umbrage with how Musk’s statement pointed towards his reason for the season-purchase: “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.” He is very excited about this concept:
So, everything goes, and does that include potentially unchecked harassment? Elon loves to troll and rile up people into bad crypto investments, and Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and the rest aren’t here for it. In particular, Hostin (starting at the 0:50 minute mark below) pointed out that Twitter’s very much “not the real world.” And she believes that the “free speech” claim from Musk is actually geared towards a certain community:
“What’s interesting to me about Twitter is only 22 percent of adults are on Twitter in the world,” Hostin declared. “And that’s from a 2019 Pew study. And so Twitter is not the real world. And in fact, on Twitter it is predominantly straight white men. So when Elon Musk says, ‘Wow, this is about free speech,’ it seems to me that it’s about free speech of straight white men.”
Well, that’s a decent point. People also do tend to stay inside their own Twitter bubbles and forget that there’s a larger timeline, but hey, there could be a positive happening here, too. Maybe Ice-T, who’s being cool as always on the issue, will maybe he’ll get the edit button that he’s always wanted.
While I taste a fair amount of whiskey in my day-to-day work, I also taste a lot of tequila, mezcal, vodka, gin, flavored gin, brandies, ready-to-drink cocktails, etc., just to keep my palate and knowledge base up to date. Out of all of those, it’s probably a good reposado tequila — just kissed by ex-bourbon and/or ex-wine casks — that grabs my attention the most. While it’s never a bad time to talk reposado tequila, Cinco De Mayo is also just around the corner.
This year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition ranked 87 reposado tequilas (aged between two months and a year; older than “blanco/silver/plata,” but younger than “añejo”). I was lucky enough to be on two judging panels with 12 of those 87. In the end, only five bottles took home a coveted double gold medal (you can check out the full results here). A double gold means every member of that judging panel anonymously gave that bottle a gold medal, creating a unanimous “double gold” for the expression. That means these five bottles wowed, from the first nose to the last sip.
For this list, I’m adding my tasting notes to those five reposados as I’ve actually tried all of these in the last year or so. Other than that, I can assure you that all of these reposado tequilas are going to hit a sweet spot for you, depending on which flavor profile you’re into. Let’s dive in and find a great reposado tequila just in time for Cinco De Mayo!
This tequila — from NOM 1149 (Tequileña, S.A. distillery) in Tequila, Mexico — is made from 100 percent Weber agave cooked in an autoclave (pressurized chamber). The juice from the agave is extracted by a roller mill and then fermented in open stainless tanks with local spring water. That mash is then twice-distilled in copper pot stills before aging in a combination of used French and American oak.
Tasting Notes:
That “roasted” agave really breaks through on the nose with a touch of grilled pineapple in brown butter, a hint of vanilla, a touch of espresso bean, and a sweet note of caramel sauce. The palate largely delivers on the butter, caramel, and tropical fruits as the agave takes on a greenish mid-palate, leading towards a black pepper spiciness. That pepperiness drives the finish towards a sweetgrass note and a little more of that grilled pineapple with a dusting of clove.
Bottom Line:
This is a nicely complex tequila, not overly so. It’s not challenging you but is providing an easy-drinking flavor profile. Overall, I’d mix a tequila old fashioned with this or just sip it over some rocks.
Hailing from NOM 1438, Destiladora del Valle de Tequila in Tequila, Mexico (the home to dozens of tequila brands), this tequila has a little more nuance. The agave piñas are roasted in both old stone ovens and autoclave. The mash ferments in open-air stainless tanks before the standard double distillation in copper pot stills. The juice is then aged in used whiskey barrels for an undisclosed amount of time.
Tasting Notes:
This is a bourbon lover’s tequila with a nose brimming with vanilla beans, caramel apples, floral agave, and a nice bitter chocolate edge with a black potting soil whisper. The palate largely delivers on the nose with more vanilla and dark chocolate (now touched by cinnamon and clove) with a more robust roasted agave vibe leading to dry grass and porch wicker. The finish has tiny flourishes of pancake syrup and black pepper with a touch of sweet oak on the very end.
Bottom Line:
This is a pretty damn fine sipper, especially if you’re looking for a bridge from bourbon whiskey to aged tequila. Pour this over a rock or two and you’re set.
This “premium” tequila is made in the southern “Los Altos” region of Jalisco at the Fabrica de Tequila Don Nacho distillery (NOM 1508), which only makes this and one other small brand of tequila. The juice is made from piñas cooked in old stone ovens and then fermented with local spring water in open stainless tanks. After the usual distillation, that hot juice is loaded into both used and new American white oak barrels for a short maturation.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a hint of dry cedar on the nose that leads to this mix of dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, old vanilla extract bottles, and a hint of that slow-roasted agave with a very thin sliver of ashiness. The palate has a cream soda vibe with the agave taking on a sweeter edge next to a creamy caramel on the mid-palate. The finish leans away from the sweetness towards a peppery dark chocolate bar with hints of winter spices and peach pits.
Bottom Line:
I tried this the last time I was in Tequila mostly because its name means “Sir Nacho.” Also, this is a pretty good sipper for this price point, with plenty of rocks. Really, this feels like a great cocktail base.
This Los Altos tequila — from Hacienda Capellania or NOM 1545 — follows a very similar path to most tequila. Weber agave, autoclave extraction, stainless fermentation, and local water. This time, the juice is twice-distilled in stainless steel stills and then aged in former bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Roasted agave with a grassy edge meets black peppercorns with a hint of citrus as that vanilla from the bourbon barrels smooths everything out on the nose. The taste has a slight winter cake vibe with plenty of dark spice, a touch of dried fruit, and a rich caramel sauce that’s cut with plenty of that bourbon vanilla. The finish has a hint of burnt sugar next to a dry oak with a very, very mild note of smoke at the very end.
Bottom Line:
This feels like the tequila that fits exactly where it is. It’s an easy-drinking tequila for a fairly good price (in a ridiculously eye-catching bottle). I’d still more likely use it for a cocktail, but I can 100 percent see drinking this over a few rocks with a twist of lime any day.
Rounding out this list of great tequilas, Lobos 1707 also comes from the southern Los Altos region of Jalisco (NOM 1460, Compañia Tequilera de Arandas distillery). The front end of the tequila-making process is pretty much the same — Weber, autoclave, ex-bourbon barrels, etc. — with the finishing on this one standing out. After six months in bourbon barrels, this is aged in Pedro Ximinez sherry casks for a final rest.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a hint of sour cherry on the nose alongside a base of roasted agave, winter spices, and a hint of old oak barrels from a dusty cellar. The palate marries that agave and oak into an earthy note that’s part dry moss and part dry firewood with the agave lurking in the background. The mid-palate to finish has the cottage cheese vibe with pineapple and black pepper making appearances before a dry grassiness and oakiness round out the finish.
Bottom Line:
This is certainly the funkiest tequila on the list. I dig it when these get a little lactic (sour cherry/cottage cheese) but can see that being off-putting for some. That said, this makes a great tequila sour with an egg white or just a tequila soda with a good dose of lime.
Pop media followers are likely familiar with all the drama the Kardashian family gets up to, but today, one member of the family revealed just how wild things have gotten when the cameras aren’t rolling. The tale in question includes two unofficial family members, rappers Blac Chyna and Tyga, who dated Rob Kardashian and Kylie Jenner, respectively, in 2016. Now, Chyna is suing the Kardashians for $100 million in damages for emailing E! network executives about Chyna’s relationship with Rob and possibly having the couple’s planned spin-off show axed, costing Chyna potential profits.
While the family denies putting Rob & Chyna on the chopping block, they admit to contacting the network about the relationship, which they described as “toxic.” Now that the trial has begun, they’re talking about just how toxic it got. Kylie Jenner, who testified today, explained why the family was so concerned, describing Blac Chyna as violent toward not only Rob but other members of the family as well — including Tyga, who she’d previously dated. Jenner said that Tyga showed her a six-inch scar on his arm, which he said was caused by a knife attack by Chyna, with whom he shares a child.
In a move comparable to Jared Leto, Will Smith is allegedly on a “spiritual tour” instead of owning up to his actions at the Oscars. According to People, Smith arrived at a private airport in India this weekend, where he traveled “for spiritual purposes, to practice yoga and meditation.”
While Smith has apologized in a statement on March 27th, he allegedly has yet to reach out to Chris Rock personally to apologize for the whole thing that we all know about and don’t have to discuss further (also known as The Slap).
According to Page Six, Smith’s Hollywood peers aren’t thrilled with his choices, since he has yet to personally apologize to Rock. “Will’s ‘spiritual journey’ to India for yoga and meditation seems cynical and ridiculous, given that he hasn’t apologized personally to the one person he assaulted in front of millions.” Rock has remained relatively quiet since the ordeal, continuing his stand-up comedy tour, but not mentioning the slap.
The ordeal has caused a ripple effect across Hollywood, causing a divide between the millionaires of Hollywood, with some firmly on Smith’s side, and others upset with his actions. Meanwhile, the best actors in Hollywood don’t care at all. In his statement, Smith said his actions were “shocking, painful and inexcusable.”
Smith has since resigned from the Academy, and he has been banned from The Oscars for the next decade.
Prior to Game 4, Kevin Durant had struggled mightily in the Nets first round series against the Celtics, averaging 22 points per game on 36.5 percent shooting as the Nets fell behind 3-0. While he went out swinging to end the sweep, scoring 39 points in a tight Game 4 loss, his early effort raised questions for some about his ability to be the Guy to lead a championship team.
Among the most prominent of those was Charles Barkley, who pointed out how different it is to be leading the charge as opposed to being a “bus rider,” insinuating that Durant’s two titles in Golden State were more from jumping on a super team than him taking them to a different level. That got a number of responses, including some funny ones from proud championship bus riders like Channing Frye and Brendan Haywood.
As a certified championship bus rider I’m offended and slightly triggered, but it was one hell of a ride though. #2011mavshttps://t.co/gIJlrufAZ0
On Tuesday, Durant decided it was time to respond to Barkley with a few photos he posted to his Instagram story reminding everyone of the time Barkley tried to be a bus rider himself, but fell short of a title anyways.
Instagram
InstagramInstagramInstagram
Barkley has gone after KD for forming super teams in the past and his efforts in Houston to team up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler (and later Scottie Pippen) certainly seem to fly in the face of his staunch anti-super team stance. In this case, he went after Durant’s legacy, which got him yelled at by Kenny Smith on Monday night, who pointed out it had been three rough games for KD and he wasn’t willing to reassess his place in history off of that sample.
The point Barkley seems to be trying to make is that he’s grown tired of hearing about Durant being the best player in the world, as he noted that title belongs to Giannis despite Kenny never saying anything to the contrary, when he’s fallen flat in this series and allowed the Celtics to frustrate him into so many mistakes and poor shooting nights. That is a fair argument, but as can happen with the Inside the NBA crew, sometimes the effort to make a point ends up in a shouting match and taking shots at someone’s legacy, which KD seems to have taken issue with understandably.
Is Chris Pratt the Best Chris? No, Chris Pine is. But is he the worst? It depends on who you ask. He played the funniest character on one of the funniest sitcoms of the 2010s, and he’s terrific in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies as that doofus Star-Lord. But there have been frequent calls to recast him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for his association with the “infamously anti-LGBTQ” Hillsong Church, including this week when a side-by-side photo of Pratt and Patrick Wilson went viral on Twitter. “Marvel. Hear me out. Just… replace him,” the tweet reads. Like his wife and other MCU stars before him, Guardians director and writer James Gunn came to Pratt’s defense.
“For what? Because of your made-up, utterly-false beliefs about him? For something that someone else told you about him that’s not true? Chris Pratt would never be replaced as Star-Lord but, if he ever was, we would all be going with him,” Gunn tweeted in response to the Pratt/Wilson photo. He added, “He isn’t. I know the church he currently goes to. Do you? (The answer is you don’t, but you heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone where he goes to church, so decided, ‘yeah, okay, I’ll believe this terrible thing I heard online about this celebrity!’).”
He isn’t. I know the church he currently goes to. Do you? (The answer is you don’t, but you heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone where he goes to church, so decided, “yeah, okay, I’ll believe this terrible thing I heard online about this celebrity!”)
Pratt previously defended the “cult-y” church after actor Elliott Page tweeted that “if you are a famous actor and you belong to an organization that hates a certain group of people, don’t be surprised if someone simply wonders why it’s not addressed. Being anti LGBTQ is wrong, there aren’t two sides. The damage it causes is severe. Full stop.” The Jurassic World star commented that “nothing could be further from the truth. I go to a church that opens its doors to absolutely everyone.” Pratt added that “everyone is entitled to love who they want free from the judgment of their fellow man,” but did not directly address Hillsong’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
In addition to an impressive cast list, the trailer teases some new music from Charli XCX. On the song, appropriately titled “Hot Girl,” XCX rap-sings confident lyrics over a rattling, pulsating drum beat, continuing the timely yet ambitious sounds of her most recent album, Crash.
Bodies Bodies Bodies tells the story of a group of friends gathering together for a party in which events quickly take a turn. “When a group of rich 20-somethings plans a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game goes awry in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong,” per the film’s logline.
Ahead of its wide release, Bodies Bodies Bodies premiered at SXSW in Austin this past March to rave reviews, with IndieWire calling the Halina Rejin-directed film “one of those movies worth a second, third, even fourth watch.”
Check out the trailer above.
Bodies Bodies Bodies hits theatres 8/5 via A24.
Charli XCX is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Last month, Kelly Lee Owens announced LP.8 and released the singles “Sonic 8” and “Olga.” About the album, she said, “For me, 8 meant completion — an album that will ripple infinitely with me personally.” It was written during the pandemic, and the sense of isolation and disconnection seems to splinter throughout it.
Today, she’s back with a new single “One,” and it reverberates with a haunting atmosphere that feels cosmic. It works well against the previously released songs, ensuring that the experience of the full record will be cohesive and immersive. The synths are sensory and her vocals are heavenly and wielded like an instrument. More voices come in as the song continues, turning it into a hallucinogenic, free-floating sound.
In our 2020 interview with her about Inner Song, she explained her songwriting process: “That’s the perfectionist within me, and I think most people who make music are perfectionists in some sense. I also enjoy the detail, but it’s okay if the detail comes at the end, which is also a part of honoring the idea fully […] I know I worked hard, and I know it was exhausting in a satisfying way, but a lot of the details, it’s odd: I can’t remember it. It truly was a whirlwind.”
Listen to “One” above.
LP.8 is out 4/29 via Smalltown Supersound. Pre-order it here.
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Yesss!!! 
