Month: June 2023

Father, football team owner, and freakish superhero portrayer Ryan Reynolds has reached the ultimate goal of every performer: putting us to sleep. He’s also launched a new channel in partnership with Fubo (the way people without cable watch sports). The Maximum Effort Channel is available on Fubo as of June 20th, with Bedtime Stories with Ryan as its flagship program and more shows on the way. Maximum Effort will also be on other streaming platforms in the near future.

Like the title promises, the show features bedtime stories with Ryan, who uses his sonorous voice to tell “new and classic bedtime stories in an attempt to soothe your mind and soul (and also his own).” Fortunately, all the advertisements will be whispered.

“We’re so happy to create a program with the express goal of putting people to sleep. This show has actually been a dream of mine for a while,” Reynolds said. “Story time is a nighttime staple in our home and is a daily reminder of the power of storytelling.”

This won’t be the first storytelling series to try to get listeners to nod off. It’s basically its own podcasting subgenre at this point. Yet Reynolds’ voice is clearly up to the velvety task. Good luck making it to the end of an episode.

Sexyy Red and Tay Keith have a hit on their hands with “Pound Town,” which received further attention when Nicki Minaj hopped on the remix, dubbed “Pound Town 2.” It’s a super saucy song, so naturally, people who aren’t into that sort of explicit lyric won’t love it. In that category of reaction content, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has become the ultimate purveyor of flabbergasted music responses since going viral for his reading of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” back in 2020.

Now, he has some thoughts about both “Pound Town” versions. Minaj and Red, though, are just brushing it off: Responding to a clip of Shapiro discussing “Pound Town,” Minaj tweeted, “Roman said leave his ass out of it sir! No pun intended.” Red also retweeted a six-second video of Shapiro reciting the “My coochie pink, my booty-hole brown” line of the song.

As for Shapiro’s take on “Pound Town” and the remix, he tackled the subject in a recent video from his Daily Wire outlet, in which he sarcastically calls the song “one of the great pieces of art in the history of Western civilization.” After breaking down some of Red’s background, he declared that “Pound Town” is so explicit that “it makes ‘WAP’ look childhood-friendly.”

He then played a clip from Red’s recent UPROXX Sessions performance of “Pound Town,” in which Red raps the opening verse: “I’m out of town, thuggin’ with my rounds / My coochie pink, my booty-hole brown / Where the n****s? I’m lookin’ for the hoes / Quit playin’, n****, come suck a b*tch toe.”

Shapiro could only snicker and laugh before immediately launching into some ad reads. After that, Shapiro recited the lyrics himself and questioned Minaj’s decision to hop on the remix. Shapiro acknowledged that his reading of the “Pound Town” lyrics will probably go viral, and since Minaj and Red themselves have caught wind of it, it seems like he was right on that one.

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

Secret Invasion has only been streaming for a few hours, but already the new Marvel series has sparked a wave of controversy thanks to a foreboding creative decision for the opening credit scenes. According to Secret Invasion director and executive producer Ali Selim, the “artwork” featured in the title sequence was created using artificial intelligence. Marvel fans are not taking it well.

The use of AI art has been a contentious issue for years, but thanks to the writers’ strike, AI-generated content has become even more of a hot topic as studios have signaled their willingness to bypass human writers and/or artists. However, Selim has attempted to justify the use of AI art as a commentary on the themes present in Secret Invasion.

Via Polygon:

“When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it — it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? Who did this? Who is this?” Selim says.

Like many people, Selim says he doesn’t “really understand” how the artificial intelligence works, but was fascinated with the ways in which the AI could translate the sense of foreboding he wanted for the series. “We would talk to them about ideas and themes and words, and then the computer would go off and do something. And then we could change it a little bit by using words, and it would change.”

Unfortunately for Selim and Marvel, fans are not buying the meta-commentary excuse for using AI art. On Twitter, the Secret Invasion hashtag has been inundated with backlash to the opening credits sequence.

You can see some of the reactions below:

New episodes of Marvel’s Secret Invasion stream Wednesday on Disney+.

(Via Polygon)

The Boston Celtics are looking to reinforce their roster in the aftermath of the Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Miami Heat. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, one way they’re trying to do that involves reaching out to the Washington Wizards and seeing if there is any way they can pull off a trade for Kristaps Porzingis.

As Charania notes, the best path forward for the Celtics to pull this off would involve Porzingis opting into the final year of his contract in which he is owed $36 million and then working out an agreement on a trade. There are a number of ways this could end up going, though, as Charania brings word that the Wizards would like him to come back on a new deal, while contending teams have gotten in touch about bringing him on board.

Porzingis has until Wednesday afternoon to make a decision on the final year of his player option. He’s coming off of perhaps his best year in the NBA, as the former New York Knicks lottery pick averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game while connecting on 38.5 percent of his attempts from behind the three-point line.

If Washington does end up trading Porzingis, it would mark the second major trade the team has made in recent days — the Wizards recently agreed to a deal with the Suns that sent Bradley Beal to Phoenix.

It’s been a long time since André 3000 and Big Boi operated together as Outkast, and appearances from the more elusive half of that duo have gotten fewer and further between since then. However, we recently got a new André 3000 verse on Killer Mike’s new album Michael on the song “Scientists & Engineers,” and if Mike’s to be believed, there’s much more coming in the near future. Mike recently told Sway In The Morning that Three Stacks had played him “nine” songs for him and that he’s flying out in a few weeks to listen to it. You can check a clip below, courtesy of HipHop-N-More:

Mike had previously revealed that “Scientists & Engineers” was almost shelved at André’s request until he heard the completed version with Eryn Allen Kane singing the chorus. After the song was initially recorded, Mike said, André wanted to nix the collab: “He called me, he’s like, ‘Kill, I don’t know about the song, man. We just got a good rap record, man.’ And then Cuz [Lightyear] was like, ‘You sent him the final record?’ I’m like, ‘Nah.’ I sent it over with Eryn’s hook and stuff. He hit back with, ‘Yeah, yeah, you got the record. Who is that?!’ So thank you, Eryn, I really appreciate you for that.”

However, they also recorded another song with a seven-minute André verse, as Mike told The Breakfast Club, so here’s hoping we get that one — along with the rest of André’s album, sooner rather than later.

It’s not a summer without Bad Bunny. Despite taking a year of rest, he may release some new music later this year. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the Puerto Rican superstar teased his new sounds. While he’s not sure when a new album — or even a single — will arrive, he confirmed a collaboration with Travis Scott is on the way.

“We worked on that a while back — and I think Travis has been working on his project for a minute,” said Bunny.

But outside of this collaboration, as well as a Jersey club-influenced track called “Where She Goes,” which was released last month, Bunny will likely continue his lax approach to releasing music, which he began taking on this year.

“I don’t know if maybe I’ll release a song [this year] if I like it enough, but I don’t think so,” he said. “I said this year was for resting.”

Bunny also noted that while he’s not sure when they’ll see the light of day, he’s sitting on albums worth of new material. He’s confident that they will stand the test of time.

“I spend so much time thinking about what I’m going to do next, thinking and creating, imagining things,” he said. “I already know where I’m going.”

Based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me, Sofia Coppola‘s biopic of the actress, entrepreneur, and bride will look at her life from meeting Elvis to divorcing him in 1972 while keeping Priscilla firmly center stage. It’s likely that the famous singer will be in the film as much as Priscilla was in Bas Luhrmann’s Elvis.

The first trailer for the A24 film is gorgeous (no surprise) and doesn’t feel like most other trailers — offering an alienating rhythm of images until Priscilla’s mother’s voice emerges from the organ-driven wall of pop sound to inquire about boys at school she might be into. The unspoken answer for the teenaged Priscilla, of course, is the 24-year-old Elvis. That relationship would place her teenage years and young adulthood into an odd crucible of fame and spotlight-adjacent mayhem.

Coppola told Vogue early on in the project that, “I was just so interested in Priscilla’s story and her perspective on what it all felt like to grow up as a teenager in Graceland. She was going through all the stages of young womanhood in such an amplified world—kinda similar to Marie Antoinette.”

It’s a beautiful way to put it. Amplified. Everything a little faster, brighter, more dangerous, and more scrutinized. All while living in an ornate palace with a flamboyant lord of the manor.

Priscilla, starring Cailee Spaeny (Mare of Easttown) as Priscilla and Jacob Elordi (Euphoria) as Elvis, should hit theaters sometime later this year.

Summerfest has revealed their set times ahead of the first weekend kicking off in just a few days. Here’s what to expect.

Tomorrow, June 22, the festival kicks off with Tommy Odetto as the first performance at 1:45 p.m.. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, La Sra. Tomasa, Chris Duarte, Jupiter & Okwess, Sias, Reverend Horton Heat, Larry Fleet, Frank Walker, Robert Pluer With The Rhythm Club, and more will play on the various stages.

Later that night, a few key acts to catch include Eric Church with Elle King at 7:30 p.m. and Three 6 Mafia, Declan McKenna, The Wailers, and more playing around the festival grounds at 10 p.m.

The rest of the first weekend follows a similar schedule. On Friday, Crocodyle starts things at the same time of 1:45 p.m. The Avett Brothers and Bleachers both play at 9:30 p.m. As the last acts of Friday night, Tegan & Sara play at 10 p.m., followed by Sofi Tukker on a separate stage at 10:15 p.m.

On Saturday, the final day of the first weekend, things change slightly. James Taylor plays with Sheryl Crow at 7 p.m., instead of the previous schedule for the stage. Elvis Costello and NLE Choppa perform at 9:30 p.m. and Noah Kahan is at 10 p.m.

View the complete Summerfest weekend one schedule above.

No matter how you mark it, summer in the Northern Hemisphere has officially begun. And there’s nothing more quintessentially summer than a beach vacation. While it’s no secret that there are gorgeous beaches along California, Florida, and Hawaii coasts (no shade to Oregon, New York, and South Carolina, among others, either), you may not know that many of the most pristine beaches in the United States are part of the National Park System.

With over 400 units, the NPS protects various environments and ecosystems – including coastlines, lakeshores, seashores, and islands. And it’s no surprise that a protected or more remote beach will often offer a better experience than some of its more popular or less protected peers.

As a solo National Park traveler, I’ve visited countless beaches within the National Park system and am constantly asked for my recommendations. So I picked out my top twenty beaches and ranked them on a scale from great to phenomenal – because let’s get real, even the lowest ranked is still a dreamy beach in a National Park. What’s not to love?

METHODOLOGY

I considered a few things in my rankings.

1. Access was important, so beaches that could be driven or easily boated to ranked higher than those that are only accessible via a hike.
2. I gave a higher ranking to beaches that are nearby cities while not being directly in them, so not totally remote but also not overrun.
3. Of course, the landscape was the greatest factor in the ranking. While some of the beaches on this list are lakeside and not oceanside, they still got included if the lake is unique and offers more than simply a sandy area near the water.
4. It was also important that the beaches have other easily available activities – so hiking, wildlife, paddling, and snorkeling opportunities helped some beaches in their rankings.

Onward!

20 – APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE – WISCONSIN

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, 21 islands off the northern coast of Wisconsin in Lake Superior, are well known in the midwest and beyond for their beautiful beaches. Located in Bayfield, just off the Bayfield Peninsula, ample opportunities exist to explore picturesque coves and bays, sunbathe, swim, picnic, and enjoy the view.

You’ll want to hit up a beach while you visit — Little Sand Bay, Meyers Beach on the mainland, and Julian Bay on Stockton Island are great options. Or you can catch the ferry to Big Bay State Park on Madeline Island, the largest and only inhabited island in the park, to enjoy a sandy beach, hiking, and camping opportunities.

19 – CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE – FLORIDA

Canaveral National Seashore is the longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coast in Florida. Spanning over 24 miles along a barrier island between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, the National Seashore encompasses diverse ecosystems, including pristine beaches, dunes, salt marshes, lagoons, and maritime forests.

There are three major sections of beaches at Canaveral National Seashore – all known for their remote, beautiful landscapes: northern Apollo Beach, middle Klondike Beach, and southern Playalinda Beach. Visitors can enjoy swimming, horseback riding, bird watching, backcountry camping, kayaking, fishing, and even surfing along the unspoiled shore.

18 – GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE – FLORIDA AND MISSISSIPPI

The Gulf Islands National Seashore boasts untouched, white sandy beaches that attract visitors from all over the world. Stretching across the coastlines of Florida and Mississippi, the National Seashore is known for crystal-clear emerald coast waters, ideal for swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, and picnicking.

With 160 miles of shoreline on the Northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the seashore is surprisingly diverse – as it encompasses barrier islands, marine habitats, historic forts, and maritime habitats. Visitors have many options for visiting the Gulf Islands: jumping on a tour boat for a cruise, camping on the sand, snorkeling and diving, hiking, fishing, biking, or swimming. Opal Beach is a great pick if you don’t know where to start.

17 – CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE – MASSACHUSETTS

Cape Cod National Seashore, located on the eastern coast of Massachusetts, encompasses 40 miles of shoreline along Cape Cod. Known for its unspoiled beaches, the seashore is an idyllic spot for swimming, hiking, over-sand beach driving, paddling, and biking.

The seashore boasts six different beaches with lifeguards on duty during summer. There are seasonal beach fees, and many beach campfire permits are issued daily. Coast Guard Beach is a stunner with beautiful views and surf opportunities.

16 – PADRE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE – TEXAS

Not to be confused with South Padre Island, Padre Island National Seashore is sixty-six miles of wild shoreline along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Known for its long stretches of dazzling sandy beaches, the narrow barrier island is, according to the National Park Service, home to one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats. In addition to swimming and beach-lounging, the seashore offers camping, beachcombing, fishing, birding, and paddling opportunities.

15 – PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL LAKESHORE – MICHIGAN

Located along the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is known for its stunning cliffs, waterfalls, colorful sandstone formations, dunes, and tremendous wild beauty.

Lake Superior boasts clean and clear – but cold – water for swimming, so enter at your own risk. Although no lifeguards are on duty, the glistening beaches are popular summer destinations for visitors – with Sand Point Beach as a favorite.

14 – SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE – MICHIGAN

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, located along the northwestern coast of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, is known for its towering scalable sand dunes, miles of undefiled beaches, and 21 crystal-clear lakes.

Swimming is popular in Lake Michigan, and visitors can access several beaches easily in the park. Try Platte River Point, Esch Beach, Peterson Beach, Glen Haven Beach, or North Bar Lake.

13 – INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK – INDIANA

Indiana Dunes is one of the newest parks in the NPS system to garner the designation of “National Park.” On my visit, I was surprised that this landscape was just 35 miles from Chicago — with views of the city skyline from parts of the shore. Admittedly, this park has a bit of a different and less remote feel; it is an amazing option for a quick getaway from the city.

The park boasts 15 miles of beaches on the shore of Lake Michigan, ready for you to take a dip or lay in the sun. West Beach is the most popular and also the only beach with lifeguards. Through the summer months, there is a small extra fee for the summer amenities ($6 per car or $3 with your America the Beautiful pass).

12 – GOLDEN GATE RECREATION AREA — CALIFORNIA

Golden Gate Recreation Area is extremely diverse — to put it mildly. With 19 different ecosystems and 2,000 different plant and animal species in the park, it is a gem close to San Francisco with recreation options of all kinds.

If you haven’t visited before — although chances are you have as it’s consistently one of the top visits NPS sites — you may be surprised that Golden Gate Recreation Area includes gorgeous beaches. Muir Beach is a favorite of mine to sit back and watch the sunset. Head to Baker Beach for an incredible Golden Gate Bridge View.

11 – OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — WASHINGTON

There is nothing quite like watching the sunset from a beach in Olympic National Park. While the vibe is decidedly less sun and sand, the moody and ruggedness is a great respite from the summer heat and crowds elsewhere.

Olympic, a peninsula home to 73 miles of undisturbed coastal wilderness, is a playground for visitors who hike, tide pool, beach comb, and watch those amazing sunsets. There are rocky and wild beaches and access points all along the coast of Olympic, but I am partial to Rialto and Second Beach.

10 – ASSATEAGUE ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE — MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA

Assateague Island is another National Seashore I fell in love with on my first visit. Like Cape Lookout, it is famously home to wild horses, sandy beaches, and ample exploration opportunities.

A 37-mile-long barrier island is a great place to camp, fish, crab, bike, or swim. Located between Virginia and Maryland, it is the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and watch the waves any time of year.

9 – POINT REYES NATIONAL SEASHORE — CALIFORNIA

Just 38 miles outside of San Francisco is Point Reyes National Seashore. Popular for beaches, as well as hiking and wildlife spotting, Point Reyes has it all. Walk down the famous cypress tree tunnel before visiting one of the 12 beaches in Point Reyes.

With 80 miles of shoreline in the park, there is a beach for everyone. I always stop by Drake’s Beach for a dip and North Beach on a quick visit to the sand – the water here and many other areas on Point Reyes are generally unsafe to swim in.

8 – CAPE HATTERAS NATIONAL SEASHORE — NORTH CAROLINA

If you’ve spent time in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina, then the ranking of Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the top ten will be no surprise.

The wide sandy beaches and warm Atlantic water are what summer vacation dreams are made of. Spend time on the beach swimming, surfing, or relaxing before camping near the ocean, watching for wildlife, or taking your vehicle off-road onto the sand in designated areas.

7 – ACADIA NATIONAL PARK — MAINE

While Acadia National Park is well-known for its rugged and rocky coastline, you might be surprised that it is also home to a gorgeous sandy beach. Sand Beach is a perennial favorite with locals and visitors alike – as sand beaches are few and far between on the Maine coastline.

Located within the main park boundaries, Sand Beach is located at the beginning of Acadia’s Park Road. Enjoy the views before heading on a scenic drive, hiking, or over to Jordan Pond House for popovers and prosecco.

6 – REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK — CALIFORNIA

You may be surprised that there’s more to Redwood National Park than just the towering trees it’s legendary for. My favorite place to visit while in the park is the beach! I love relaxing on Gold Bluffs Beach, a gray-sand beach and campground near the otherworldly Fern Canyon.

You can also spend time exploring Enderts Beach, which is accessible from a rugged ½ mile trail. Enderts isn’t great for swimming but is a popular spot for tide-pooling and taking in the scenery.

5 – NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA — AMERICAN SAMOA

As the least visited National Park of 2022, you might imagine the National Park of American Samoa has truly unspoiled beaches. It’s hard to describe the beauty of this island in the South Pacific and the glistening white sand and blue waters that greet you at every turn.

While there aren’t many public access points to beaches on the main island of Tutuila (as the American Samoan people own the land) — there are some spots if you’re industrious. As the park is distributed through three islands, Ofu Lagoon on Ofu Island is the best place to beach. Outside of beaches, the park is also a great place to snorkel, learn about Samoan culture, and hike through the rainforest.

4 – CAPE LOOKOUT NATIONAL SEASHORE — NORTH CAROLINA

The National Park system is more than just the 63 parks designated “National Parks.” There are over 400 NPS-managed sites, including historical sites, preserves, and National seashores. I’ve visited many National Seashores over the years, and one always sticks out in my mind — Cape Lookout. A three-mile ferry ride from Beaufort or Harkers Island, North Carolina, transports you to underdeveloped, almost secret-feeling beaches.

Camp, fish, hike, rent cabins, or climb the lighthouse. If you visit Shackleford Banks, the southernmost barrier island, you might encounter some of the 100 wild horses that inhabit the island. Or simply enjoy a day relaxing on the glistening sand.

3 – CUMBERLAND ISLAND NATIONAL SEASHORE — GEORGIA

After visiting 59 of 63 major National Parks and countless other NPS sites, one of my favorites continues to be Cumberland Island National Seashore, A barrier island off the coast of southern Georgia, full of history, wildlife, and beauty. I felt like stepping into another world while walking on the undeveloped beaches and learning about the island’s rich history on my first visit.

Known for wild horses and loggerhead turtles, visitors access Cumberland Island via a 45-minute ferry from the visitors center in St. Mary’s, Georgia. And then immediately wonder why it took them so long to explore this incredible island.

2 – DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK — FLORIDA

Dry Tortugas National Park is a series of islands 70 miles west of Key West, so there are, of course, ample beaches. I spent a day snorkeling at the swim beach outside the historic Fort Jefferson and lounging on the pristine sands. The beach feels otherworldly, and you are much further outside the continental United States than you are.

It is truly a bucket list-worthy trip. Dry Tortugas can only be accessed by boat or seaplane — making your trip even more interesting — and leaving the beach less crowded with a private island vibe.

1 – US VIRGIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK — US VIRGIN ISLANDS

In ranking National Park beaches, none hold a candle to those in US Virgin Islands National Park. The white sand beaches on the island of St. John are breathtaking, and the crystal clear blue water transports you to another world entirely. The water is warm, the landscape is astounding, and the local culture and history are fascinating.

With two-thirds of St. John part of the National Park, many beach options exist. I love Honeymoon Bay, Trunk Bay, and Watermelon Cay.

As the OceanGate submersible continues to go missing after attempting a deep sea voyage to view the Titanic, The View‘s Joy Behar had some blunt thoughts on the rescue operation that’s been capturing the world’s attention. Like most people, Behar and the co-hosts were surprised that the expedition even happened given the numerous safety risks involved. In fact, one particular red flag caught Behar’s attention.

“They say that the… submersible has been certified to withstand the pressure of 1300 meters of depth, but the Titanic wreck wreckage is 3800 meters of depth,” Behar noted. “So that’s a tip-off right there.”

However, Behar went even further by highlighting the irony of the OceanGate expedition getting lost (and possibly worse) while searching for the Titanic, another famed vessel that met a disastrous fate. In true Behar fashion, the longtime comedian didn’t pull her punches.

Via The Wrap:

“It’s interesting, because the Titanic itself went down because of human incompetence and stupidity on the part of — according to the movies — hubris,” she said. “Same with this. That’s the irony of it. They’re going to see the same thing that’s happening to them. It’s very sad and scary.”

As of this writing, the OceanGate submersible is still missing. However, there have been reports of “banging” being detected on sonar, and the U.S. Coast Guard has emphasized that its efforts are “100%” a “search and rescue mission,” according to CNN.

“We’re smack dab in the middle of a search and rescue and we’ll continue to put every available asset that we have in an effort to find the Titan and the crew members,” Captain Jamie Frederick said during a press conference on Wednesday.

(Via The Wrap)