Month: March 2023

Fall Out Boy’s new album So Much (For) Stardust is on its way, as the project is set to drop on March 24. When it comes to features, there’s only one on the album, and of all people, it’s Ethan Hawke, appearing on a song called “The Pink Seashell.”

When discussing a potential solo album in a 2020 interview with NME, the band’s Pete Wentz spoke about an idea that appears to have become “The Pink Seashell,” saying:

“There’s this bit in the movie Reality Bites where Ethan Hawke’s character talks about seeing his dad after he found out he had cancer. They’d talk about life and he gave Ethan’s character a pink seashell to help explain things. He realized the shell is empty and maybe life is pointless. ‘It’s all a random lottery of meaningless tragedy in a series of near escapes,’ he says. That’s why he enjoys the little things in life, like eating a burger or smoking a cigarette. I think there’s a whole record from that perspective, taking part in these little pieces of life without the consequence. It’s important to not forget those little granular moments of life. To me, there’s a record in that pink seashell.”

Between the new Hawke feature and the band’s song “Uma Thurman,” they’ve represented both of Stranger Things star Maya Hawke’s parents in their music. Now, we await the inevitable Maya Hawke collab (which feels especially possible since she’s an active recording artist herself).

So Much (For) Stardust is out 3/24 via Fueled By Ramen/DCD2. Find more information here.

Fall Out Boy is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In life, everyone makes mistakes and thankfully for most people the missteps are minor even if the lesson feels hard at the time. But sometimes people make bigger mistakes that can lead to prison time and it could change the trajectory of their life. While some crimes are committed out of desire or impulsivity, others are committed out of desperation due to lack of resources.

22-year-old Rashaan Turner found himself in the second category when he made the decision to burglarize a non-profit run by Harrisburg, Pennsylvania city councilman Ralph Rodriguez. Surprisingly, it was Rodriguez who caught the would be burglar and scared him away and even though the person was caught on doorbell video, the image was so grainy he likely would’ve gotten away. But the young perpetrator decided to reach out to Rodriguez and confess, giving him his name.

Turner was ready and willing to face the consequences of his actions, except the city councilman had another idea. Once Rodriguez found out the man was was struggling to help his father meet basic needs and acted out of desperation, he did something radical. The councilman decided to extend an olive branch and help the man who tried to break into his non-profit.

The story really is remarkable. Other people would’ve informed the police and went on without much of a second thought until the court date came around. But Rodriguez saw that the man who had no previous criminal record needed community not punishment so he employed Turner at the same non-profit he tried to break into. He even started giving him money to help make ends meet.

“What he doesn’t need anymore is any more disappointments. I’m pretty sure people have told him things in his life and dropped the ball 10 out of 10 times. It’s just not what I’m prepared to do,” Rodriguez told CBS Sunday Morning.

Watching the incredible story below:

After weeks of testimonies, witness statements, and evidence review, jury members in the Murdaugh Murders trial have rendered their verdict — and it’s one few saw coming.

Since January 2023, disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh has been on trial for the brutal killings of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and his youngest son, Paul Murdaugh. Prosecutors made the case that Alex murdered the pair in cold blood in an effort to delay court cases related to a fatal boating accident that Paul was involved in years prior, and to cover up the fact that he’d been stealing millions from the clients at his family’s law firm. At one point, Murdaugh even took the stand, admitting he’d lied to investigators about his whereabouts on the night of the murder and purposefully misled South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents about the timeline of events.

Still, those covering the case were skeptical that the emphasis on Murdaugh’s many financial crimes — including stealing the million-dollar life insurance settlement of his longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died under mysterious circumstances on his property — was enough to convince jury members he was capable of murdering his wife and child.

What Was The Verdict In The Murdaugh Murders Trial?

After closing arguments, courtroom experts expected the 12-person jury to deliberate for a period of a few days before a verdict was reached. Some speculated we wouldn’t know the outcome of the trial until next week. But, after just three hours of reviewing the evidence, the jury returned (via NPR) with a guilty verdict, with all 12 members confirming they believed Murdaugh killed both Maggie and Paul using two types of firearms, dispelling the theory that two shooters were present on the night of the murders.

How Long Was Alex Murdaugh Sentenced For?

Less than 24 hours after the jury rendered its verdict, Judge Clifton Newman sentenced Murdaugh to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of his wife and son. Murdaugh was given the opportunity to address the court where he continued to plead his innocence saying, “I would never hurt my wife Maggie, and I would never hurt my son, Paw-Paw,” but Newman was not moved by his statement. Instead, the judge rendered a scathing statement against Murdaugh saying he had become a “monster,” and had all but ruined his family’s legacy.

“Where will it end?” Newman questioned. “It’s already ended for many. Within your own soul, you have to deal with that. You have to see Paul and Maggie during the nighttime when you’re attempting to go to sleep. I’m sure they come and visit you.”

Murdaugh’s defense team has said they plan to appeal the verdict while fighting the 99 other counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and evading taxes raised against him by former clients and the state.

(Via NPR)

There are only two episodes of The Last of Us left (behind) this season, and a lot of ground to cover. Is Joel going to be OK? Where are the Fireflies? And most importantly, is there a third volume in Will Livingston’s No Pun Intended book series? Bella Ramsey, who plays Ellie on the HBO series, didn’t answer that last question, but she did tease episode eight and the season finale.

“It was… exhausting,” Ramsey told Vogue UK about this Sunday’s episode, “but those were some of my favorite days on set. That sounds really masochistic, but it’s the scenes that break me that I love the most, in a way.”

As for the season finale, she teased, “It’s going to divide people massively – massively.” You thought the discourse for this (excellent) show was already Too Much? Just wait, not only for the finale but — speaking as someone who has played the video games the series is based on — most of season two.

Not everything about The Last of Us has been divise, though. It’s helped a lot of people who relate to Ellie. “I’ve had people message me and say that it’s helped people come to terms with who they are,” Ramsey told W magazine. “That’s been really nice to hear as well. I guess I just want to be authentic.”

The Last of Us season finale airs on March 12.

(Via Vogue UK)

One of the more fascinating budding rivalries in the Western Conference is between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies. The two sides faced off in a tense, 6-game series in the conference semifinals last year, and while Memphis is ahead of the defending champions in the standings this year, Golden State is still the established power in the conference that they’ll need to overcome in their quest for a title.

The teams feature two of the best instigators in basketball, as the Warriors have Draymond Green and the Grizzlies have Dillon Brooks. The latter was the subject of a profile by Tim Keown of ESPN that published on Friday, and in it, a comparison was made between the two players. It turns out Brooks wasn’t fan of that, as he has some pretty strong feelings about Green.

Via ESPN:

The look in his eyes and the strain in his jaw muscles makes it instantly clear: The comparison is not a compliment.

“I don’t like Draymond at all,” he says. “I just don’t like Golden State. I don’t like anything to do with them. Draymond talks a lot. Gets away with a lot, too. His game is cool — with Golden State — but if you put him anywhere else, you’re not going to know who Draymond is. He plays with heart, plays hard, knows the ins and outs of their defense. I guess that’s why they like him over there.”

Saying that Green is a product of the Warriors’ system and he’d struggle elsewhere is a line that has followed the 4-time All-Star around for much of his career. While he did not respond to ESPN’s request for a comment with anything other than a laugh, Green will get the chance to address Brooks in person on two occasions before the end of the regular season, as Golden State will travel to Memphis on March 9 and 18.

(Spoilers from The Walking Dead will be found below.)

After a pair of uneventful promotional images, we’re finally seeing how Rick Grimes looks these days in his The Walking Dead spinoff with Michonne.

Let me back up a moment. It’s not as though I didn’t appreciate the warm, hand-holding image of Rick and Michonne that AMC already released. The empty chairs were disappointing, but the hands were alright. It’s nice to know that Rick and Michonne are reunited and united in the true sense of the words. Yet if we really go back to where Rick Grimes left off in the action of The Walking Dead — and I’m not talking about the series finale scene that confirms how he’s been under CRM control — a warm, hand-holding image ain’t gonna satisfy. I mean, look at the chain of events when Rick really left the show. It’s like the worst possible scenario (dude should not ride horses) that he could have ended up in while a horde of Walkers approached.

And yet he didn’t give up on returning to his family. He used his belt to un-impale himself. He kept going and blew up a bridge to save his family and friends. And then he got traded away and separated from everyone without anyone knowing whether or where to look for him.

Does a hand-holding image do anything to acknowledge the visceral experience of being Rick Grimes? Does it give us any sense of how Rick Grimes has coped internally or externally after this devastating turn of events, years later when nothing has improved for him until now? No, it does not. And so it is with great appreciation that one notices how Michonne actress Danai Gurira apparently got the greenlight to give us a tiny peek at how Rick’s actually been doing lately.

Clearly, blood has spilled. We don’t know why or how, or whether he’s feeling happy or vengeful. Andrew Lincoln can kind-of convey both at the same time, so let’s simply roll with both. Maybe he’s lost it, a little bit, after his extended ordeal. We do know that his possessions were discovered by Michonne, and she set off to find him, and here we are. Yet it’s nice to know that some things will never change, and Rick Grimes is still messy as hell.

The Walking Dead‘s Rick and Michonne party will debut in 2024.

Today is a great day for Miley Cyrus fans. The star unveiled a demo of her No. 1 hit “Flowers” earlier today, and now she’s back with even more.

After Disney+ stirred up conversation with a cryptic tweet of lyrics from “Flowers,” they’ve announced Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Sessions). Premiering March 10 — the day of the album release — the television special was executive produced by Cyrus and gives fans an inside look into the record. It’s packed with performances and interviews in her Los Angeles home, and it “opens the door to audiences around the world, providing insight into her new album and the person she is today,” as per the press release.

Last month, Cyrus teased Endless Summer Vacation by mailing out postcards to fans. They read: “I’m driving around town in a beat-up old Mercedes. You think I’m crazy; you might be right.” She’s also had plenty of mysterious promo to build up the anticipation, including countdowns and posters.

The “Backyard Sessions” began in 2012 as a way for Cyrus to let her fans see her in a more intimate setting.

Watch the teaser for the television special above.

Endless Summer Vacation is out 3/10 via Columbia Records. Find more information here.

Fenix Flexin found success earlier in his music career thanks partly to his contributions to several platinum singles and acclaimed full-length projects as a collective. Now, as a solo act, the West Coast rapper is looking to continue the streak.

After securing collaborations with the late Drakeo the Ruler and D-Block Europe on his project, Fenix Flexin Vol. 1, released in 2021, Fenix is well on his way. To show just how ready he is, the recording artist dropped by the UPROXX studio for a zealous in-studio performance of his song, “We On It.”

Quickly after the video went live, fans began to pour into the comment section to sing his praises. One user even shared how Fenix is, but according to the rapper, this won’t be for too long.

Watch Fenix Flexin’s UPROXX Sessions performance of “We On It” above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.

Fenix Flexin is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Rolling Loud has returned to Los Angeles for the first time since 2019 with a new location and a lineup including headlining performances by Future, Playboi Carti, and Travis Scott. While all three are festival mainstays, it’ll be Carti’s first time headlining and Travis’s first official time back in the spotlight since the 2021 Astroworld disaster — although he did show up as a surprise special guest during Future’s set at the Miami festival last year.

Today, Rolling Loud announced the set times and livestream information for the LA edition of the fest, which will take place this weekend at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. Beginning today at 3 pm, the festival kicks off with a slew of up-and-coming acts spread across three stages. Carti will close the Friday night show after performances from Rich The Kid, Chief Keef, Kodak Black, and more.

Travis Scott will play the last set on Saturday across from Lil Wayne and Blueface, while Future will wrap things up Sunday night alongside Polo G and Sheck Wes. You can see more information below:

The livestream will be hosted by Brittany Renner, Drea Jackson, Funny Marco, Hakeem Rowe, Tee, and YesJulz. The times are below.

Rolling Loud Livestream live hours:
Friday, March 3: 3:30 pm PT – 11:30 pm PT
Saturday, March 4: 1:30 pm PT – 11:30 pm PT
Sunday, March 5: 1:30 pm PT – 11:30 pm PT

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

It’s no surprise that Jeopardy! has a pretty dedicated fan base, the series has been on for nearly 60 years, after all, so some who grew up watching it have already gone through their own midlife crisis or two. But what sets the fans apart from, say, The Price Is Right viewers, is that they are not afraid to call out the show when it gets boring.

The latest tournament has been bringing back former teen champions for the High School Reunion tournament, which is now three weeks (!) long. That isn’t going over well with fans who are a little sick of college students who have just been trying to shoot their shot with Mayim Bialik instead of playing the game!

Fans on both Reddit and Twitter have been criticizing the new format, which consists of 27 former teen contestants returning to the stage over the course of three weeks, as opposed to the old format which was more contained. Many agreed that the tournament would take away from regular season games, or deter potential viewers. As one user pointed out, “As much as I want everyone to have a chance it seems a bit long, folks may lose interest; the ratings will tell. Right or wrong, at the end of the day that’s the number one priority.”

Jeopardy! has gone through a number of changes lately, thanks to hosting duties being handed off between Bialik and Ken Jennings. Another user said that they don’t even watch the tournament, which is now hosted by Bialik, while the normal episodes are hosted by Jennings. “I agree that three weeks is too long for this tournament. I don’t watch many of the tournaments, like Celebrity, Teen, College or this one. Not that they are ‘bad,’, I just prefer regular play and tournaments that are similar.”

One of the biggest complaints from regulars is that the questions are just too dang easy. One fan commented, “That’s my beef with this tournament, the questions have been easier than regular games.” Maybe they should tune into Wheel! It’s been a lot harder lately. For some.

The High School Reunion Tournament will continue until March 9th…unless everyone tunes out by then.

(Via TVInsider)