Month: August 2023

When I ranked Starbucks’ full summer drinks lineup last week, I knew it was late, but I wasn’t under the impression that just one week later Starbucks would drop its fall drinks lineup. I thought for sure that Starbucks would at least wait until September (summer is still rolling!) before trying to force-feed us pumpkin spice. I mean c’mon, temperatures across the country are still sitting between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit — spicy autumnal flavors don’t taste right while you’re still wearing swim shorts, bikini tops, and cranking up the AC.

Well, season be damned, I’m determined to not be late this time — which is why I tried all four of Starbucks’ new fall drinks, including the legendary Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and the brand new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, and the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, all on drop day. Beginning today, you can roll up to a Starbucks nationwide and grab any of these fall-flavored treats. But how many of them are actually worth the pull-up?

We’re going to break it down in this in-depth review and ranking of each flavor. Happy Halloween and we hope you have a great Thanksgiving (see how f*cking weird this is — IT’S TOO EARLY!). Anyway, let’s dive in.

4. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate the flavor here with a soft silky mouthfeel and mild roasted coffee notes on the backend. Truly, it was hard to name even one of these drinks the least essential, they’re all pretty solid, but if I had to pick (which I do) it’s this one.

Is it possible that Starbucks’ fall drinks lineup is its strongest? I think so. When the bottom tastes this good it’s a testament to the quality of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice sauce.

The Bottom Line:

If your go-to drink is already a cold brew coffee, definitely give this drink a taste, it has a nice cinnamon-forward and that familiar silky cold brew texture.

3. Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

Buttery and toasty with some tart green apple notes, a hint of sweetness, and a rich and creamy body. The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a brand new drink in the Starbucks lineup and I think it’s a great addition that reflects the season, without tasting like something you’re used to.

It’s the only drink on the fall menu that doesn’t rely on pumpkin so if you have no love for pumpkin spice but still want something that captures the vibe of the fall season, this is your drink.

The Bottom Line:

Tart, fruity, rich, and creamy, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is tailor-made for people who aren’t interested in pumpkin spice but still want a fruity finish to their iced espresso.

2. Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

A soft and creamy body makes way for a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice and vanilla with a hint of earthy black tea bitterness. It tastes like autumn in a cup. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte is another brand-new drink in the Starbucks lineup and I was very very close to giving this drink the top spot.

The only reason I didn’t was because I feel like this drink is just a bit too sweet and creamy so much so that I would consider adding a shot of espresso in here to balance things out. Without a doubt, that hack would make this drink my number one pick, but I didn’t feel it was fair to hack a drink and name it number one, so it’ll have to live in second place.

The Bottom Line:

Add a shot of espresso and you’ll deepen the flavor and complexity of this drink, making it the best Starbucks Fall menu drink, hands down. With the stock recipe, it’s very good but a bit too sweet for me to say it’s the best.

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

The Pumpkin Spice Latte tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass (or in this case, paper cup). It has a perfect balance of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice flavors that start sweet and end spicy. The espresso helps to balance out the sweetness and add bold roasted coffee bitterness. The strength of this drink is its balance, it’s never too sweet, too spicy, or too bitter.

Does it feel incredibly lame to name it the best drink on Starbucks’ fall menu? Yes, but I think it just might be Starbucks’ best drink, period. The drink is available hot as well as iced, so if you feel weird drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte when it’s still f*cking 85 degrees in the dog days of summer, get it iced!

The Bottom Line:

There is a reason pumpkin spice-flavored drinks are even a thing, and this is that reason. Starbucks kicked off the trend and they’re still the best to do it.

Find your nearest Starbucks here.

Adult Swim has officially announced the premiere date for Rick and Morty Season 7, which will feature the first episodes where the main characters are not voiced by Justin Roiland.

In true Rick and Morty fashion, the show is already leaning into Roiland being replaced even if the circumstances are significantly dark. Roiland was arrested for felony domestic violence charges, but the charges were later dropped due to “insufficient evidence.” However, the arrest prompted reports of his alleged behind-the-scenes behavior, which included barely being involved in the show for years.

Rick and Morty Season 7 will premiere October 10, and the official synopsis doesn’t shy away from the character’s new voices. Via The The Hollywood Reporter:

Rick and Morty are back and sounding more like themselves than ever! It’s season seven, and the possibilities are endless: what’s up with Jerry? EVIL Summer?! And will they ever go back to the high school?! Maybe not! But let’s find out! There’s probably less piss than last season. Rick and Morty, 100 years! Or at least until season 10!

Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen also released a statement touting the Season 7 premiere and praising the creative team that is now Roiland-free.

“Thanks to the talent of the entire show team, we can all enjoy 10 new episodes that yet again raise the bar for comedy and animation,” Ouweleen said. “This season proves that the geniuses at work on Rick and Morty are just getting started.”

Rick and Morty Season 7 premieres October 10 on Adult Swim.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Adult Swim has officially announced the premiere date for Rick and Morty Season 7, which will feature the first episodes where the main characters are not voiced by Justin Roiland.

In true Rick and Morty fashion, the show is already leaning into Roiland being replaced even if the circumstances are significantly dark. Roiland was arrested for felony domestic violence charges, but the charges were later dropped due to “insufficient evidence.” However, the arrest prompted reports of his alleged behind-the-scenes behavior, which included barely being involved in the show for years.

Rick and Morty Season 7 will premiere October 10, and the official synopsis doesn’t shy away from the character’s new voices. Via The The Hollywood Reporter:

Rick and Morty are back and sounding more like themselves than ever! It’s season seven, and the possibilities are endless: what’s up with Jerry? EVIL Summer?! And will they ever go back to the high school?! Maybe not! But let’s find out! There’s probably less piss than last season. Rick and Morty, 100 years! Or at least until season 10!

Adult Swim president Michael Ouweleen also released a statement touting the Season 7 premiere and praising the creative team that is now Roiland-free.

“Thanks to the talent of the entire show team, we can all enjoy 10 new episodes that yet again raise the bar for comedy and animation,” Ouweleen said. “This season proves that the geniuses at work on Rick and Morty are just getting started.”

Rick and Morty Season 7 premieres October 10 on Adult Swim.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Although live entertainment has been back for two years, the industry is still being hampered by logistical issues, leading to the cancellations of a number of festivals this year, including Made In America, Kid Cudi’s Moon Man’s Landing, and Rolling Loud New York, among others.

The latest event to suffer this fate is the third edition of HER’s Lights On Festival, which has been canceled just one month before it was due to return to Mountain View, California’s Shoreline Amphitheatre. The festival, which was to have been headlined by Jazmine Sullivan and supported by Alina Baraz, Don Toliver, PartyNextDoor, Smino, and Syd in addition to rising Bay Area stars like Rexx Life Raj and Symba, was scheduled for September 16-17.

In a statement sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, a representative of the festival wrote, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lights On Festival will not take place this year. We sincerely appreciate and value the Lights On Festival community and look forward to returning with an incredible experience in 2024.” Refunds are expected to be processed automatically.

Lights On was previously held at the Concord Pavilion in 2019 and 2021, postponed in 2020, and was not held in 2022. It moved to the larger Shoreline Amphitheater this year to accommodate a larger fan turnout.

Although live entertainment has been back for two years, the industry is still being hampered by logistical issues, leading to the cancellations of a number of festivals this year, including Made In America, Kid Cudi’s Moon Man’s Landing, and Rolling Loud New York, among others.

The latest event to suffer this fate is the third edition of HER’s Lights On Festival, which has been canceled just one month before it was due to return to Mountain View, California’s Shoreline Amphitheatre. The festival, which was to have been headlined by Jazmine Sullivan and supported by Alina Baraz, Don Toliver, PartyNextDoor, Smino, and Syd in addition to rising Bay Area stars like Rexx Life Raj and Symba, was scheduled for September 16-17.

In a statement sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, a representative of the festival wrote, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Lights On Festival will not take place this year. We sincerely appreciate and value the Lights On Festival community and look forward to returning with an incredible experience in 2024.” Refunds are expected to be processed automatically.

Lights On was previously held at the Concord Pavilion in 2019 and 2021, postponed in 2020, and was not held in 2022. It moved to the larger Shoreline Amphitheater this year to accommodate a larger fan turnout.

Donald Trump has confirmed that he will be arrested in Georgia on Thursday. Anticipation is high to see the former president’s mugshot, and of course, Trump is playing the whole thing up like a primetime event.

In a new Truth Social post, Trump not only confirms his arrest time, but he makes sure to promote his interview with Tucker Carlson, which took place during the first GOP debate. Trump didn’t feel the need to attend the event because he’s already the frontrunner, but there’s also been chatter that he’s afraid of facing off with Chris Christie.

Trump also used the arrest announcement to insult Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, and we’re guessing his legal team is just loving that.

Via Truth Social:

231,000,000 Views, and still counting. The Biggest Video on Social Media, EVER, more than double the Super Bowl! But please excuse me, I have to start getting ready to head down to Atlanta, Georgia, where Murder and other Violent Crimes have reached levels never seen before, to get ARRESTED by a Radical Left, Lowlife District Attorney, Fani Willis, for A PERFECT PHONE CALL, and having the audacity to challenge a RIGGED & STOLEN ELECTION. THE EVIDENCE IS IRREFUTABLE! ARREST TIME: 7:30 P.M.

Despite his all-caps bravado in public, Trump is reportedly “nervous” behind the scenes. The former president is concerned that the numerous defendants in the Georgia indictment are going to “make deals and flip on him.”

“He’s not so confident anymore,” a source told Page Six. “He’s not acting so cocky anymore. He’s not lashing out so much. The arrogance is gone.”

(Via Donald Trump on Truth Social)

Princess Diana was the most beloved member of the royal family, so a lot of attention will be paid on how The Crown covers her death next season. She was the people’s princess, after all. But the Netflix show’s producers want viewers to know it will be handled with “enormous sensitivity.”

While speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, executive producer Suzanne Mackie said, “The show might be big and noisy, but we’re not. We’re thoughtful people and we’re sensitive people. There were very careful, long conversations about how we were going to do it. The audience will judge it in the end, but I think it’s been delicately, thoughtfully recreated. Elizabeth Debicki is an extraordinary actress and she was so thoughtful and considerate. She loved Diana. There’s a huge amount of respect from us all, I hope that’s evident.”

Deadline has more:

The death will feature in the early episodes of the final season of The Crown. The scenes were shot over a two-week period last October, with Deadline reporting that there was anxiety behind the scenes. There was a flurry of press interest in the filming of the episode, with Princes William and Harry having both previously recalled the trauma of that period in their lives. Prince Harry has admitted to watching The Crown.

The sixth and final season of The Crown is expected to premiere later this year.

(Via Deadline)

Part of what makes international basketball so great is getting the chance to watch players who may not be known for being among the NBA’s elite elevate their game when national pride is on the line. Group E at the 2023 FIBA World Cup possesses a number of dudes for whom that can apply, and as a result, there’s a real chance that all six group play games can be competitive and compelling.

The favorites in the group are the Australians, although they are going to face a very, very difficult test in their hopes to top the group via the Germans. (The Aussies, it must be said, have the fourth-best odds in the entire tournament to win the World Cup.) Finland and Japan round out the group as sizable underdogs to advance. Here’s how the odds in this group break down (via DraftKings).

Australia -175
Germany +175
Finland +1800
Japan +3500

Below, we’ll look at most notable players to watch, the biggest game, and the entire schedule for this group.

Players to Watch

Josh Giddey (Australia): International basketball happens so fast that being able to process things quickly is crucial. Fortunately for Australia, Giddey thinks through the game as well as anyone, and has more than enough size to be able to hold up against physical defenses. He helped the Boomers beat France in a pre-World Cup exhibition, and is primed to make a huge splash in his first major international tournament with the team.

Patty Mills (Australia): On the other side of the age spectrum for Australia is Mills, who has been one of the faces in Australian basketball for years and finally helped the team get over the hump and pick up a medal in Tokyo. Mills has always elevated his game for the Aussies whenever he’s taken the floor for them, and even though he’s in the final years of his NBA career, his ability to provide a spark on offense and leadership/toughness have been crucial for the national team.

Lauri Markkanen (Finland): It’s not exactly a stretch to say that Finland’s basketball program lacks the firepower of Australia and Germany. Any chance they do have of navigating a very tricky group revolves around Markkanen, the All-Star center for the Utah Jazz whose presence changes everything for the Fins. Here’s some proof: The team played a pair of hard-fought exhibition games before the World Cup against Lithuania and split a pair of close games where Markkanen had 24 points in one game and 32 in the other. Then, he rested against a Kristaps Porzingis-less Latvia team and watched as Finland lost, 94-57.

Franz Wagner (Germany): Wagner has turned into one of NBA Twitter’s favorite players, as the heady forward for the Orlando Magic is arguably the main reason where there’s optimism surrounding the team long-term. Despite that, the Magic’s struggles during his time in Orlando have meant that he hasn’t really broken through, but his ability to contribute to winning and his comfort as both a primary option and a supporting man should translate very well to the international game. When the going gets tough for a German team that medaled at EuroBasket this year, look for Wagner and the next guy on this list to take over games.

Dennis Schroder (Germany): Schroder’s had a very, very interesting NBA career. One thing he’s usually been pretty good at, however, is finding that extra gear and embracing his role as the top option for Germany’s national side. He was an all-tournament selection at EuroBasket last year and was legitimately excellent as he led Germany to a bronze, its first international medal since the EuroBasket in 2005. Now, he’ll look to do the same thing for the Germans as they look to medal at the World Cup for the first time since 2002.

Schedule/TV Info (all times EST)

Aug. 25
Finland vs. Australia, 4:00 a.m., ESPN+
Germany vs. Japan, 8:00 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 27
Australia vs. Germany, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Japan vs. Finland, 8:00 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 29
Germany vs. Finland, 3:30 a.m., ESPN+
Australia vs. Japan, 7:00 a.m., ESPN+

Game to Watch

Australia vs. Germany: Despite being in a golden age of its basketball program for some time, Australia had never medaled in the Olympics or the World Cup until the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. As such, they’re the favorites to make it out of this group, but they’re going to have to get past a German squad that has a ton of NBA talent, came in eighth in Tokyo, and gave the Americans all they could handle in a pre-World Cup tune-up before Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton took the game over. This very easily can be the game that determines which team ends up winning the group, but even beyond that, this should just be a really fun basketball game to watch, one loaded with NBA talent. Just maybe catch the replay if you’re in the U.S., as it starts quite early.

Allow her to reintroduce herself. LA-based, Boston-bred singer/songwriter/rapper TeaMarrr has been building her buzz working behind the scenes and appearing on soundtracks like the one for Rap Sh!. But for her latest UPROXX Sessions performance, the Issa Rae-approved artist wanted to make a statement — and what better way to do that than hijack a ’90s classic for your own freestyle?

That’s exactly what TeaMarrr does with “Teacup Commandments,” repurposing The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 Life After Death standout “Ten Crack Commandments” to declare her rules for life, love, and friendship. An example: “Rule number two, never let them pour for you / Don’t you know bad boys move in silence? They’ll try it.” It’s a departure from what longtime listeners might be used to from the mellow R&B star, but it might just be the perfect way to capture new fans’ attention.

Watch TeaMarrr’s return to the UPROXX Sessions stage 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.

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

Polo G‘s Los Angeles home was raided by police on Wednesday (August 23) for a search in connection to a robbery. The rapper’s lawyer Bradford Cohen later shared a statement saying the search was only conducted to “verify” that Polo G isn’t a convicted felon. Now, though, the story continues.

XXL reported today (August 24) that last night, Polo G and his brother, rapper Trench Baby, were arrested for kidnapping, robbery, and assault charges. He was taken into custody and booked by the Burbank, California Police Department.

A spokesperson for the Burbank Police Department told the publication, “Last night, Mr. Taurus Bartlett (Polo G) and his brother, Mr. Taurean Bartlett (Trench Baby), were arrested and booked on kidnapping, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon charges. The charges stem from a report filed in April of this year in which Taurus and Taurean Bartlett were listed as suspects.”

The statement continued, “Once Mr. Taurus and Taurean Bartlett were released from LAPD’s custody on unrelated charges, Burbank PD investigators were standing by to take them into custody on the Burbank case. They were taken into custody without incident and have since been released on $100,000 bail. Formal charges are pending review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.”