Year: 2022

Seth Meyers was back behind the Late Night desk after an extended Thanksgiving break. And while a lot has happened during that time, including former — and wannabe future — president Donald Trump suggesting we just do away with the Constitution, Meyers seemed even more terrified by another emerging story: MyPillow Man Mike Lindell’s current plan to be named head of the Republican party.

Meyers played a clip of Lindell telling fellow loon Steve Bannon that he is “100 percent in” on challenging current RNC chair Ronna McDaniel — despite the fact that he makes crappy pillows for a living and his only real political experience is spreading election fraud conspiracy theories that have gotten him sued for nearly $2 billion. So, sure, why not put him in charge?

But Lindell is convinced that Republicans are secretly rooting for him. As he told Bannon: “One of the things that one of the big donors said to me, he said, ‘Mike… everybody wants you to be head of the RNC. Some of them just don’t know it yet.’”

“I mean, I’d say he dreamt that conversation,” Meyers said, “but that meant he fell asleep. Which, one, he seems incapable of and, two, is impossible using a MyPillow. The only way Lindell ever got a solid eight hours is if he used a TheirPillow.”

What worries/amuses Meyers most about the very idea of Lindell running the Republican party, is how he would surely use such a position to “obviously focus on his deranged election conspiracy theories,” including his current insistence that the 2022 midterms were rigged against Republicans. He pointed to Arizona, where voters were asked to fill out ballots versus use voting machines in some areas, then mimicked some sort of bizarre motion about “what we do with mail-in ballots” that seemed to resemble what a masturbating gorilla might look like — though Meyers went for “milking a giant cow.” (You can see if for yourself right around the 4:00 mark.)

It turns out that what he was attempting to show was Democrats just pulling random names: “Joe Schmo, Johnny Bananas, Sue Smith,” he attempted to explain — all of which was one step too far for Meyers:

Alright, we’ve had a good time with Mike Lindell over the years, but at some point it stops being funny. So let me say with all seriousness: You leave Johnny Bananas out of this! You think he’s had it easy? Going through life with the name Johnny Bananas? You think that’s a fun trip to the DMV?

As for Sue Smith? “She can go ahead and f**k right off,” says Meyers. “That’s not a real name.”

You can watch the full clip above beginning at the 2:00 mark.

Although some of us may still be living in 2019, you can’t deny that 2022 is about to be over and a new year is upon us. With Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities just weeks away, ABC and Dick Clark Productions announced the lineup to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest on Monday (December 5). And boy, it’s jam-packed.

Continuing its annual tradition of holding celebrations across the country, Rockin’ Eve will take place in Los Angeles’ Disneyland, New Orleans, and New York’s Time Square simultaneously.

Halle Bailey, Fitz And The Tantrums, Maddie & Tae, Shaggy, Ben Platt, Aly & AJ, Bailey Zimmerman, Lauren Spencer Smith and K-pop favorites TOMORROW X TOGETHER will perform at the Disneyland Resort for a pre-recording of the show with Ciara as co-host. D-Nice will host the Los Angeles party with Wiz Khalifa, Finneas, Armani White, Betty Who, Dove Cameron and Nicky Youre performing. Billy Porter is set to perform and host down in New Orleans, Louisiana.

And last, but not least, Ryan Seacrest will take the Rockin’ Eve show in Time Square for the 18th time and will be joined by Liza Koshy.

The live broadcast for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest will begin at 8 p.m. ET on December 31 on ABC.

With December, major holidays, and Best Of list season in full swing, many music lovers might be reflecting on their favorite memories and melodic moments of 2022. However, these pop artists below have their sights set on the present and for some, taking over the charts next year with potential album releases. If you’ve clicked on this, there’s a large possibility you can be ahead of the curve by jamming out to the roundup of new songs.

Here is Uproxx’s guide to this week’s Best New Pop music.

PinkPantheress – “Boy’s A Liar”

Another electronic dance track with a twinkling electronic beat by Mura Masa, PinkPantheress’ “Boy’s A Liar” emphasizes her thoughts on a failed relationship due to a dishonest dude. “Can you take a look inside your heart? / Is there any room for me?” she asks.

RM (feat. Anderson .Paak) – “Still Life”

RM enlisted Anderson Paak for his new song “Still Life,” off his solo album, Indigo. Blending elements of R&B with RM’s heavy-hitting rap verses, .Paak adds a pleasant touch to the optimistic chorus. This is an easy standout from this week.

Alexander 23 (feat. Laufey) – “Ain’t Christmas”

Bringing the emo energy for the holiday season, “Ain’t Christmas” is an acoustic carol between Alexander 23 and Laufey. As she opens the first verse with “the most wonderful time of the year is breaking my heart,” it immediately sets the somber tone for both vocalists. And there’s even a Mariah Carey namedrop.

Noah Cyrus – “Set For Life”

The closing track on her newly-released deluxe album edition, Noah Cyrus shines on the moody “Set For Life” — with her soulful vocals complimented by the piano and percussion. Reminiscent of acts like Lana Del Rey, especially in the second verse, it was a pleasant surprise as someone who wasn’t super familiar with Cyrus’ discography.

Quinn XCII (feat. Chelsea Cutler) – “Let Me Down”

Another collaboration between Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler, “Let Me Down” is an electronic-influenced anthem with tinges of lyrical sadness. “After putting out our sixth collaboration over the last five years, it really never gets old working on music with Chelsea,” Quinn shared via The Honey POP.

J. Maya – “Machine Learning”

J. Maya’s “Machine Learning” is proof that her decision to pursue music instead of Harvard Law is paying off. Relying on a robotic-esque beat as she speaks to societal standards, J. Maya is also offering an uplifting message to someone else.

PNAU, Troye Sivan – “You Know What I Need”

A disco-influenced dance track from DJ trio PNAU and Troye Sivan, “You Know What I Need” contains a catchy beat that will keep listeners returning to this release. “We went deep on this one with legendary pianist Reuben James, we will see you on the dance floor,” PNAU’s Nick Littlemore told Rolling Stone.

Katie Gregson-Macleod – “White Lies”

Gregson-Macleod heartbreakingly details the seemingly-autobiographical memories of a lost relationship in “White Lies.” From “a world where you didn’t keep changing your mind” to pretending to be busy, she eventually boils it down to one line about moving on in the piano-driven chorus, “The truth is, maybe, I don’t.”

Olivia Knox – “Smoke Signal”

“Smoke Signal” is a fiery, fast, synth-pop song that taps into the art of impatience, specifically about trying for her career. “You always have something to say,” Knox mocks at those who doubt her artistry. “But your words, they bore me.”

Emei – “Backtrack”

Emei’s newest release, “Backtrack” is a powerful follow-up to a groundbreaking year for the alt-pop artist. “Turn your words to ice on my bruise / Can’t pull a punch you already threw,” she sings, packing her own lyrical punch in the process.

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

At the beginning of this The White Lotus season, Cameron almost immediately flashed Harper, who didn’t seem like she was into it. At all. Fast forward almost one week of vacation malaise, and Harper might be into it? At least, she has been seemingly encouraging the vibe with giggling mutual drinking after making her thoughts clear on Ethan not really wanting to sleep with her. She might be egging Cameron on, and Ethan is moving close to the brink by hallucinating a sex thing between Harper and his old buddy. None of this bodes well for Ethan’s state of mind and could possibly lead to murder, but Aubrey Plaza doesn’t believe that Harper actually likes Cameron.

As Plaza told Vanity Fair, “I think she’s disgusted by him.” That doesn’t mean that sex is off the table though. In other words thanks a lot, Ethan:

“I don’t think he’s her type, you know? But I think that he’s hitting on a nerve with her, which is that she wants to f*ck, you know? Sorry, but it’s just like we’re all animals. It’s hard when you’re in a long term relationship. It’s like you stop having sex, or the sex gets boring or whatever it is. It’s just human nature, you know? It’s like your pheromones meet somebody and maybe they’re not your type or whatever, but it hits on a thing with her where she’s like, ‘I don’t wanna think.’”

Man, Aubrey knows how to stoke the intrigue. Ethan’s pretty paranoid right about now, but he did pick up on a few possible clues about Harper and Cameron sneaking off to rooms at the same time. It doesn’t feel like Harper would want to go there (since she was so disgusted by the thought of those call girls in her room), but who knows? She may think that hooking up with Cameron wouldn’t upset Daphne at all, and she seems really irked by Ethan these days. Also, the whole gulf between the morning-and-evening sex preferences may be striking more of a long-term chord than expected.

Maybe we’ll find out the truth when this week’s The White Lotus finale airs.

(Via Vanity Fair)

YBN Nahmir is a prime example of the How I Blew Up ethos. As he tells Uproxx’s Cherise Johnson, his preparation met perfect timing when his 2017 single “Rubbin Off The Paint” exploded in 2018, climbing to No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and launching Nahmir and his YBN crew to stardom. He explains that he and his friends launched their efforts because, “We was like, ‘We gotta do something. We don’t wanna work for no other man.’” Unfortunately, he recalls, he still ended up stuck at Journeys selling shoes, but he says he’ll “never again” work another regular job.

The thing that changed everything for him was getting an Xbox Live subscription, which allowed him to meet YBN Almighty Jay and the former YBN Cordae. The group started out as gaming rivals but became friends, and their online freestyle sessions inspired Nahmir to take a swing at recording a solo track on the podcast mic he bought for Twitch streaming. Once “Rubbin Off The Paint” — which Nahmir says was originally a diss song for Jay that eventually sparked their friendship — blew up on SoundCloud, he made sure his friends came along with him.

Although the group’s members have more or less split up, they remain tight, and Nahmir has refocused on his solo career, saying, “I was selfless, but now I’m kind of selfish.”

Watch the full episode of How I Blew Up above.

With twelve different flavors, you’d think Wing Stop would have all its bases covered. And yet it seems like every year the wing chain dishes out a few new flavors that manage to be as delicious as they are inventive. In addition to some hybrid flavors, this year Wing Stop dropped a Hot Honey Rub (which in my opinion is one of Wing Stop’s best flavors) and, beginning today, its take on Carolina Gold. If you’re unfamiliar with Carolina Gold, it’s a variety of barbecue sauce that trades in the smokey and heavily spiced flavors for some mustard-based tang and brightness. Thanks to a sweet brown-sugar-heavy base, it tastes enough like barbecue sauce to register as such on your tastebuds but different enough to earn its distinct name.

Wing Stop’s new Carolina Gold BBQ sauce is now available at all Wing Stop locations nationwide, to get the best sense of the new flavor we tried it in every form factor offered at Wing Stop: as bone-in wings, boneless wings, and in sandwich form. What’s the best way to enjoy the new Carolina Gold flavor?

Let’s find out, starting with the wings!

Carolina Gold — Bone-In Wings

Tasting Notes:

I’m going to begin this review with what I think is the weakest form factor for this wing flavor. Don’t get me wrong, I love bone-in wings and almost always prefer them to their boneless counterparts, which are essentially just chicken nuggets if we’re being real. But my problem with the bone-in is just how messy it leaves your hands. This sauce is sticky as hell, and since bone-in wings are a food that heavily involves both of your hands, it’s impossible to enjoy these without making an absolute mess. Granted, all saucy wings will stain your fingers, but there is a stickiness to this sauce that cakes on your fingers in the worst way.

As far as flavor goes, it’s great, it doesn’t contain as much tang as your typical Carolina Gold BBQ, instead focusing on the honey and brown sugar notes, with just a hint of mustard flavor on the aftertaste. There is almost no smoke here either, so if you like your BBQ sauce smokey, this isn’t going to deliver.

The Bottom Line:

Good, but far too messy to be enjoyable.

Carolina Gold — Boneless Wings

The experience of eating the new Carolina Gold flavor is greatly enhanced by going boneless. You’re still going to get sticky sauce all over your fingers, but you can easily pop an entire boneless wing / nugget into your mouth with just one hand, creating significantly less mess. Hell, you could even use a fork to eat these things if you don’t mind getting roasted by your friends. If they do make fun of you, just pull the ‘ol George Costanza.

Look at them with disdain, scoff at them, and say, “How do you eat it, with your hands?”

The sweetness of this sandwich reminds me less of bbq sauce and more of the sort of Orange Chicken you’d typically find at a Chinese food hot lamp establishment, complete with a thick and sauce-absorbing breading that still manages to have some crisp to it.

The Bottom Line:

A much better experience than going bone-in and that’s coming from someone who generally avoids boneless wings.

Carolina Gold — Chicken Sandwich

The chicken sandwich is easily the best form factor for the Carolina Gold. Thanks to the bun, this thing is mess-free, allowing you to enjoy the intensely sweet and sticky sauce without getting it all over your fingers. Wing Stop introduced chicken sandwiches to the menu earlier this year and at one point I had attempted to order every single flavor for a full ranking, but they sold out completely, so this was my first experience actually tasting Wing Stop’s chicken sandwich.

I fully get the hype. The chicken is incredibly juicy and tender, and unlike most chicken sandwiches, features a completely uniform filet — my guess is they pounded out this chicken breast filet until it was equal on all sides, which makes each bite remarkably consistent. The ratio of sauce to chicken is also a bit different here, the breading is tossed in Carolina Gold sauce, but you get a lot more chicken per bite than all the other form factors allowing you to actually taste some of the meat rather than this brown-sugar heavy honey barbecue sauce. This makes the mustard notes take a bit of a backseat, but thanks to the inclusion of pickles, you still get a nice earthy tang.

My only big complaint about this sandwich is the bun. It’s way too dense and bready, masking a bit of the flavor. I think Wing Stop would have a real contender on their hands for fast food’s best chicken sandwich if they’d just swap out the bun for something softer and butterier like a brioche or potato bun.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re going to try Wing Stop’s Carolina Gold sauce, the best way to enjoy it is hands-down on the chicken sandwich. It doesn’t have that distinct mustard tang that Carolina BBQ sauce fans crave, but the balance of sweet brown sugar and honey makes it incredibly addictive.

Find your nearest Wing Stop here.

The world (or more specifically, the internet) has a tendency to tear people down when they are at their best! For example, Keke Palmer is having a fantastic year after starring in a number of successful projects and literally making a human, but that doesn’t mean that she is immune to evil internet haters.

Palmer took to Twitter to address a bunch of comments she had been getting about her appearance. “I just saw a few comments of ppl saying I was ugly cause I wasn’t wearing any makeup,” Palmer tweeted. “And I really want y’all to get the help y’all need because makeup isn’t real. I’m beautiful in real life, because of who I am, not what I look like.”

The Nope star has been in the industry since she was a child, so she clearly knows how to handle haters. Despite being a relatively private person, Palmer has been open about her struggle with acne over the years, which has inspired her to go confidently makeup-free. She added to the Twitter thread, “I wish I could bottle how I feel about myself and sell it. Because some people take comments to heart and these ppl just say anything. I mean truly it’s insane to say anyone is ugly, but especially me.”

Even though she gets some negative comments, most of Palmer’s social media presence is filled with comments from adoring fans who are grateful for her honesty…and her amazing impressions, which she has a whole separate Instagram for, by the way.

The past year has been huge for pop artist Beabadoobee. Back in July, she released her sophomore album, Beatopia. In October, it was announced that she would be joining Taylor Swift next year as an opener for her The Eras Tour. Last night (December 5), Beabadoobee stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for an intimate performance of Beatopia‘s “The Perfect Pair.”

The stage was transformed into a house holiday party-type setting, in which she is seen delivering her soft, silky vocals, surrounded by guitarists, who are sitting comfortably on couches, as well as violinists, cellists, and drummers.

“If I told you, you’d know how to go and break my heart in two / ‘Cause I would anyways, we’d end up like always / You know me, you better show me that you could say it to my face / ‘Cause you know we’re the same, there’s worse things I can take,” she sings on the song’s chorus.

Beatopia is named after a fictional city Beabadoobee created when she was seven years old. In a recent interview with Coup De Main, she opened up about revisiting the city 15 years later.

“…I realized that the whole idea of Beatopia was just a way for me to escape a lot of things that were happening at the time,” she said. “So it was a sad thing that I had to think about, but it was also really empowering, trying to uncover the feelings I had long repressed — like, very repressed feelings. I just had to face them.”

Check out the performance above.

Trevor Noah’s final episode as the host of The Daily Show is this Thursday, December 8th. Instead of hiring a permanent replacement to take over for Jon Stewart’s successor, the Comedy Central series is pulling a Jeopardy! and employing multiple hosts.

First up: former SNL cast member Leslie Jones, who will sit behind the Daily Show desk when the show returns from holiday break, on January 17, 2023. Vulture reports that guest hosts list also includes Sarah Silverman, Al Franken, Chelsea Handler, Wanda Sykes, D.L. Hughley, John Leguizamo, Kal Penn, Marlon Wayans, and Hasan Minhaj. As for the person who Stephen Colbert hopes gets the permanent gig, “current correspondents and contributors are set to be part of the anchor rotation as well.”

While The Daily Show has had guest hosts in the past, executive producer and showrunner Jen Flanz tells Vulture that, as far as she can remember, “This is the first time we’re really having outsiders into our house.” The nature of Noah’s relatively sudden departure is also unprecedented in the show’s history: It now faces its longest stretch ever without a permanent host.

The Daily Show isn’t expected to make a decision on a full-time host until September 2023, so there’s still time for Craig Kilborn to dust off the ol’ resume.

(Via Vulture)

A lot has changed about Cardi B since entering the limelight, but her love for her family is not one of those things. Although the Grammy winner is an anchor of emotional support to her husband Offset (following the passing of his cousin and former group member, Takeoff), the mother of two is not happy with Casey Anthony re-entering the public eye.

In Peacock’s new docuseries, Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, Anthony revisits the circumstances surrounding the 2008 death of her daughter, Caylee Marie Anthony.

After news of the series hit the internet, Cardi B took to Twitter to write, “I don’t give a damn how they flip it, switch it, turn it, toss it Casey Anthony is a disgrace of a mother, and she shouldn’t have a uterus. I don’t feel bad for her or for the daddy YALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED to that baby!!!!”

The Bronx native is no stranger to the court system. Although Cardi B has appeared in front of a judge several times over the past two years, the “Up” rapper draws the line at children. Although many followers agreed with her statement, some felt the rapper was out of line for sharing her seemingly harsh opinion. This isn’t the first time the rapper’s addiction to historical television landed her in hot water. Last month, her binge fest of Netflix’s The Crown ended in a chaotic series of live tweets challenging the monarchy.

If you are interested in watching Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies, head here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.