Month: January 2023

Several prominent artists came together to pay their respects at Lisa Marie Presley’s funeral. Lisa Marie, the only child of rock pioneer Elvis Presley, died at 54 after suffering from cardiac arrest. The singer had followed in her father’s footsteps, making chart-topping hits of her own. She also had two high-profile marriages to Nicholas Cage and pop icon Michael Jackson. So it’s no surprise some of the biggest artists in music came to pay tribute to the late star.

Guns N’ Roses’ frontman Axl Rose, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, and Alanis Morissette were among the artists to pay musical tributes to Lisa Marie Presley at the Graceland public memorial service Sunday, Rolling Stone reports.

Corgan was the first performer at the memorial service, delivering an acoustic rendition of the Smashing Pumpkins’ ballad “To Sheila.”

Later, Rose would perform a heartfelt solo rendition of Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain.”

“I never in a million years imagined being here, singing under these circumstances,” Rose said before his performance. “I do know Lisa loved her family very much and was fiercely protective of her father and his legacy.”

Toward the end of the service, following a speech from Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, Morissette, accompanied by a pianist, performed her song “Rest.”

Elvis’associate Jerry Schilling, her mother, Priscilla Presley, and Riley Keough, Lisa Marie’s daughter, were also in attendance. Riley penned a note to her mother that her husband, Ben Smith-Petersen, read aloud.

SNL hasn’t been live for over a month, thanks to the holidays. But when they returned they made sure to tackle the biggest story to emerge since they went on break: the ever-escalating and often strange allegations made about George Santos. The newly sworn-in GOP lawmaker has been a frequent target of late night comedy, thanks to his propensity for embellishment and outright lies. He was a natural fit for the latest episode’s Cold Open, in which he made some glaring fibs about his athletic prowess.

The first SNL of 2023 began about a half hour after the divisional round game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants. (The Eagles crushed it.) So it was only fitting that the latest Cold Open spoofed NFL on Fox. But most of the sketch’s real estate was dedicated to Santos jokes, with Bowen Yang playing the embattled fabulist, making one tall claim after another.

“I’m sort of the real Bo Jackson, and I’m proud to be first African American quarterback to ever dunk a football,” Yang’s Santos said.

The host asked him about claims that he was a drag queen in Brazil. “Well, I didn’t do drag in Brazil,” he replied. “I didn’t do drag in Brazil under the name Kitara Ravache! Whoever did that was very, very good at it and won many, many pageants.”

Yang’s Santos also laid out some of his alleged NFL stats, including “12 touchdowns,” “17 rebounds,” and “10 RBI.”

He returned later in the sketch, appearing in drag and claiming he was “Kitara Revache,” Santos’ alleged drag queen name. “Now allow me to give you my real stats: Death drops, 26. Duck walks, 19. Wigs snatched, infinity,” he boasted. “And I was also given the award for tightest tuck.”

You can watch the Cold Open in the video above.

There are a lot of strange and alarming (and strange/alarming) allegations about George Santos. A lot. Almost too many. It’s a surprise the newly sworn-in GOP representative can get any work done. Everywhere he goes he’s plagued by reporters questioning him about the neverending avalanche of claims made about him. Among the latest is that, in his youth, he was a drag queen in Brazil — an allegation that wouldn’t sit so well with a political party that’s spent months inexplicably demonizing them. Now he’s trying to thread the needle of admitting the truth without alienating his base.

As per TMZ, reporters hounded Santos after he landed at LaGuardia airport in New York City. Rather than ignore them, as he often does, he witheringly responded.

“No, I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys,” an exasperated Santos replied. “I was young and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.”

Even that claim was fishy. Politico recently dug into the Wikipedia bio for one “Anthony Devolder,” an alias Santos’ often used, in which he bragged (amidst a flurry of typos and grammatical errors) that he was, in all caps, a “DRAG QUEEN” who “won sevral [sic] GAY ‘BEAUTY PAGENTS [sic].’”

Of course, Santos allegedly being a former drag queen is hardly one of the more scandalous claims made about him. That might be the one about him allegedly stealing money from a GoFundMe for a dying dog (that later died).

(Via TMZ)

Who’s the most famous resident of the thrilling state of Delaware? Some may say it’s the guy currently sitting in the Oval Office. Others might say it’s Aubrey Plaza, one of the standouts on the most recent season of The White Lotus and the star of last year’s Emily the Criminal. Whatever the case, only one of them hosted the most recent episode of SNL. But at least the sitting U.S. president took a minute or two out of his busy schedule to record a brief interruption.

During her opening monologue, Plaza spent most of her time delving into her past, namely her time in college when she was a page at 30 Rockefeller Center, where SNL is shot. She was awful at her job, she freely admitted, showing up an hour late, sometimes hungover and forbidden from taking calls because she just happened to be rude to strangers.

But look at her now! She’s a popular and acclaimed actress who had a great 2022. She’s doing so well for herself that she claimed she was “actually voted the most famous person” from the Blue Hen State. (She didn’t cite which poll bestowed upon her that honor, nor did she mention that the 46th president was actually born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and only moved to Delaware when he was 10.) Plaza claimed Biden “was pissed, he was livid” when he heard the news. He was so furious that he recorded a pre-taped video addressing the upset.

“Aubrey, you’re the most famous person out of Delaware and there’s no question about that,” Biden said in the video. “We’re just grateful you made it out of White Lotus alive.”

You can watch Plaza’s monologue — and Biden’s interruption — in the video above.

There’s a chance the first time you saw Aubrey Plaza was on Parks and Recreation. For seven seasons she played April Ludgate, the eternally cranky small town government employee who rarely spoke above a withering monotone. Since then Plaza has shown incredible range. Last year she played both the desperate schemer in Emily the Criminal and an unraveling member of the nouveau riche on The White Lotus. But for her first-ever SNL, Plaza dusted off the character that made her name.

Plaza’s April joined Michael Che and Colin Jost on Weekend Update, ostensibly to encourage young viewers to get involved in local government despite, you know, how weird people are about such matters these days. It was, inevitably, like pulling teeth. Her advice included becoming a dog catcher, but instead of doing your job she advised you “just say you couldn’t find any.”

She was soon joined by a much more enthusiastic colleague, Leslie Knope, the eternally bubbly mid-level bureaucrat played by SNL alum Amy Poehler. However, Leslie found herself more enamored with being on the long-running sketch show. Instead of begging people to join local government, she grilled Jost and Che on how the show works. Eventually she even told a joke — not a mean one, but a nice one about a dog.

You can watch the Parks and Rec reunion in the video above.

Every single week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

TIE: 10. The Pale Blue Eye (Netflix film)

Christian Bale took a break from his intense method acting, and this film is arguably more refreshing for it. In this fictional story, The Machinist star portrays a seasoned detective who recruits a then-unknown Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Milling) to investigate a rash of suspicious deaths. In the process, the pulpy story and gorgeous-looking cinematography paint a convincing portrait of what could have led to the Poe that we know today.

TIE: 10. Mayor Of Kingstown (Paramount+ series)

Alongside co-star Kyle Chandler and Taylor Handley, Jeremy Renner plays a McLusky family leader in this Taylor Sheridan-universe offshoot that somehow isn’t related to all of those Yellowstone shows. Sheridan co-created this series, which is now spinning through Season 2, alongside Hugh Dillon in this story inspired by Dillon’s time growing up near the Kingston Penitentiary in Ontario. Renner’s character plays the wheeler and dealer between inmates and law enforcement, and he appears to truly relish the intense ride in a crime thriller that took him far away from the MCU.

9. Velma (HBO Max series)

This series isn’t grabbing good attention, but nonetheless, people are talking about it. Creator Mindy Kaling voices the lead role of this Velma Dinkley origin story that reinvents several Scooby Doo gang members without a Scooby to be seen. That’s probably for the better at this point, and the show does have a fine time playing with some of Velma’s freshly canonized personal details as confirmed in last year’s Trick Or Treat Scooby Doo movie. At least Fred (Glenn Howerton) doesn’t change his doofus status, so that stays consistent.

8. The Banshees Of Inisherin (Searchlight Pictures film streaming on HBO Max)

Look for this film to stick around until at least Oscar time because Colin Farrell‘s Globes presence practically guaranteed that his performance will be rewarded. He reteams here with In Bruges co-star Brendan Gleeson to boil down a century of Irish history within their characters in a bleakly funny way. As well, Barry Keoghan continues to be omnipresent these days while adding to the central dynamic.

7. Servant (Apple TV+ series)

Few would have thought that M. Night Shyalmalan would be showrunning to his (and the audience’s) content in this well-plotted series that brings us post-Harry Potter Rupert Grint at his best. This will be the final season, and hopefully, we won’t see on of those notorious gotcha twists because so far, this carefully crafted series has impressed after the initially tragic circumstances with which it first began.

6. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (Netflix documentary)

Netflix’s true crime coffers run far and wide, and so far, they’re killing the genre at a bloodier, more sinister rate than all other streaming services. This new entry is both engrossing and infuriating while it traces the path of the viral sensation who halted a mass murder in process. Yep, he used a hatchet, as the title indicates, and this film charts his rise and rapid fall while still living (behind bars) in infamy.

5. Night Court (NBC series streaming on Peacock)

John Larroquette takes center stage in this revival that you may not have wanted to see but will likely end up checking out anyway. The 1980s legal sitcom rode high with Cheers, Family Ties, and The Cosby Show (ugh), and it’s rather wild that this is the revival that we’re seeing in 2023. There’s been no trace of Richard Moll or Markie Post or Harry Anderson thus far, but people will nonetheless enjoy revisiting that laugh track.

4. That ’90s Show (Netflix series)

Speaking of nostalgia, this show has done a reversal and brought back almost all of the principal cast members, other than Danny Masterson (for… reasons). Jackie and Kelso are somehow married, and good times in the Forman basement are still alive and well (as are Red and Kitty), and we’ll see a new primary cast of characters, including the daughter of Eric and Donna. Bob comes back, and Tommy Chong returns as Leo, along with Wilmer Valderrama as Fez. Time will tell if this reaches levels of Cobra Kai success, and speaking of which, that show recently scored a final-season renewal.

3. The Walking Dead (AMC series on AMC+ and Netflix)

Season 11 finally landed on Netflix, which partially accounts for the resurrection of this show on streaming. That gives people plenty of time to catch up and prepare for the final season of Fear The Walking Dead, which is otherwise streaming over on Hulu. Once you’re done there, get ready for three upcoming universe spinoffs, including the Rick Grimes/Michonne series, the Daryl Dixon show, and The Walking Dead: Dead City, which will give us extra terrifying Walkers and the unlikely dream team of Negan and Maggie.

2. The Menu (Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios film streaming on HBO Max)

Ralph Fiennes plays one of several intriguing chefs who have arrived on the menu over the past year. He’s not exactly The Bear‘s Carmy or Emily In Paris‘ Gabriel, but that’s alright. More than alright, actually, and Anya Taylor-Joy holds her own against a psychopath in this merciless foodie-comedy of horrors. You and I will undoubtedly never drop $1,250+ on one meal, but this movie should make you feel happy about it.

1. The Last Of Us (HBO series streaming on HBO Max)

A different take on zombies arrives in this rare success of a video game adaptation, and surprisingly enough, you don’t have to know anything about the video game in order to enjoy the series. In fact, you might actually enjoy it more because you won’t know what’s coming. If anyone could tell this story like it’s currently going down, that would be Chernobyl showrunner Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. Amid all of the apocalyptic touches, which will simultaneously fill you with awe and dread, you’ll get some bonus Depeche Mode. Those are sure signs of the beginning of another epic HBO show.

“M3GAN, you messy ho, I’m obsessed with you…. oh my god, are you from the show Girls?”

SNL didn’t waste an opportunity once news of M3GAN 2.0 arrived. Host Aubrey Plaza picks up the role of the sequel bot who’s ready to replace Chloe Fineman as the original, and of course, this skit wouldn’t be complete without Bowen Yang’s intentionally messy reactions. Plaza almost seems too convincing as a homicidal doll (she has experience dealing with them after starring in a Child’s Play reboot), but then again, she delivered ominous vibes in The White Lotus and also spoofed that show this week on SNL.

M3GAN gets another upgrade here, given that this framing of the sequel largely takes place in a gay bar, where everyone adores M3GAN. Naturally, Allison Williams is welcomed while warning everyone away from the evil doll, and SNL does not miss. They seized the opportunity to welcome Allison to the party because she “had her butt eaten.” And as Allison recently mentioned, yes, she does hear about that scene a lot. That’s very funny but also unfair to that scene’s, uh, giver, which would be The Bear‘s Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who really should hear about these things, too. Not enough people ask him about that scene. Maybe he’ll do it again in The Bear Season 2. (Please.)

Alright, so we’ve established that Allison Williams is very gracious for enduring these butt jokes, years after that scene. Further, Aubrey makes a terrifying but stylish M3GAN. SNL has done a fine job casting for the James Wan/Jason Blumhouse sequel. A+ work.

SNL recently tiptoed/tripped into The White Lotus territory with Chloe Fineman doing her best Jennifer Coolidge impression, and the Dancing Queen of the Emmys sure dug it. Since Aubrey Plaza stepped up as host this week, there was no time like the present to fire up a full-on take, which means that we got The Black Lotus. Fineman returns as Jennifer/Tanya, but this is no butt-kissing resort for sure.

With locations in Atlanta, D.C., and “It’ly,” these staffers love to tell guests where to stuff it, so we receive Kenan Thompson dealing with a dude who strongly resembles Jake Lacy’s spoiled nightmare character, Shane, in Season 2. Yet if any hotel employee was going to be pooping in anyone’s suitcase after this segment ended, my money is on Aubrey Plaza’s character. She steps up as a wild Latina bartender, who has no problem getting in Not Shane’s face in response to his attitude.

All in all, this was a marvelous hosting turn from Aubrey, who finally got to do the honors after her failed audition back in the day. She also revived her Parks and Rec character, April Ludgate, on Weekend Update with Amy Poehler popping in to do her part.

All of this got me thinking (which is dangerous): if that SNL audition had worked out way back when, we may have never seen any of these skits happen. Aubrey’s career is on fire these days, which proves that awkwardly failing upward can work some magic.

In their second performance of the night, Sam Smith delivered a performance of “Gloria” on the Saturday Night Live stage. During the performance, Smith was joined by a choir, who delivered beautiful harmonies throughout the song.

“Demons on my shoulder / Monsters in my head / Shadow in the water / Will you be my friend? / The world revolves around me / As I lay in my bed / Dreaming of more, more,” sing Smith and the choir on the song’s opening verse.

Sharon Stone also made an appearance during the performance, laying face-up in a chair, then arising midway through the song.

The performance took place days before their upcoming fourth studio album, also called Gloria, is set for release.

While Smith is largely known for their break-up songs and heartbreak anthems, they said in an interview with Refinery29 that Gloria will be rooted in pure queer joy.

“I wanted to make an album that was joyful,” Smith said. “I felt like heartbreak had become such a safe place for me in terms of writing music that it was quite scary to write something joyful.”

You can check out the performance above.

Gloria is out 1/27 via Capitol and EMI. You can pre-save it here.

After Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz fought to a controversial split draw at UFC 282, the promotion was determined to fill the vacant light heavyweight and swiftly moved to Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill in the main event of UFC 283.

On Saturday night, there was no doubt who the next champion was, as Hill (12-1) overwhelmed Teixeira (33-9) with a unanimous decision victory to take the gold.

Teixeira immediately went for the takedown, but Hill fought him off and kept the former champ at distance. Hill landed a few knees to the head from the clinch and snapped low kicks to avoid the level changes. Teixeira snapped a calf kick that looked to bother Hill toward the end of the round, but Hill went back to combinations up top.

Hill wobbled Teixeira with a massive head kick in the second and backed the former champ against the cage, looking to close the deal with shot after shot. Teixeira found his legs and went right back at Hill, opening a cut on the up-and-comer. Hill snapped a huge head kick again, but Teixeira kept his feet and followed with his first successful takedown of the night. Teixeira took Hill’s back, but Hill spun through into guard. Teixeira swarmed Hill on the ground and moved into side control as Hill slid to sitting against the cage. Hill slipped up from Teixeira’s grip and made his way back to his feet. Teixeira continued pressing forward as Hill threw counter attacks moving backward.

Hill sent Teixeira on his back to open the third and Teixeira fought off Hill as best he could from his back. Back on his feet, Teixeira kept moving forward and Hill’s conditioning began to become an issue. Teixeira went to his jab over and again, while Hill loaded up with big shots of his own.

Hill was rejuvenated opening the fourth, mixing in jabs and going back to his stinging head kick. Teixeira connected on a big uppercut that appeared to hurt his opponent, but he couldn’t follow up with anything of substance. Between rounds, Teixeira’s corner discussed stopping the fight, but ultimately didn’t.

In the fifth and final round, Teixeira walked Hill against the cage and earned a takedown. From side control, Teixeira moved into half guard, then full mount. Hill slid under Teixeira and earned a takedown himself. With about a minute remaining, Hill stepped up and allowed Teixeira to get back to his feet before the final bell rung.

The light heavyweight title scene has been in disarray since Jiri Prochazka vacated the belt due to a shoulder injury that required surgery and would keep him out of action for six months. Teixeira, who was slated to face off in a rematch against Prochazka following his submission loss, reportedly declined a title opportunity and last-minute switch to fight Ankalaev. He instead requested a move one month later to UFC 283, which was declined, and the showdown at 282 was handed to Blachowicz. Saturday night, he got a fight on his terms in his first return to the Octagon since his loss last June.

Hill headed into the biggest fight of his career on a three-fight win streak, finishing former title contender Thiago Santos with a fourth-round TKO.