Month: September 2023

Thanks to a carefully crafted hairstyle, the scheduled drop date of Drake’s forthcoming solo album, For All The Dogs, is finally known. Although the project is slated to hit online platforms on Friday, September 22 (the same day as Doja Cat’s Scarlet), Drake let it slip that he will treat fans to a sample of what the body of work has to offer soon.

Yesterday (September 11), during his It’s All A Blur Tour stop at the Moody Center, Drake shared that supporters should expect a single in the coming days. “I’m even going to say something in Austin, Texas, that I haven’t said already. I know y’all are excited to hear the album. I know it’s like two weeks. But I’m going to drop a song this week just to let y’all know what’s up… I appreciate y’all, deeply, by the way,” he told the crowd.

So far, those closest to the Grammy Award-winning rapper who has had the opportunity to hear it ahead of its release have sung its praises.

On September 7, during a taping of his podcast, A Safe Place, Lil Yachty said, “[For All The Dogs] has the most, I would say, like the most ‘performance’ album he’ll have, as far as like energy. […] I think some of the best Drake verses that I ever heard are on this album.”

Even Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, enthusiastically declared the project “some of the best music” he’s heard from his son.

The exact date of the song’s release hasn’t been announced.

Barbie is a good movie. But you know how it could have been even better? If Helen Mirren flipped off the camera.

Mirren is heard but not seen in 2023’s highest-grossing film, but there’s a featurette on the digital release, “All-Star Barbie Party,” which includes an interview with the actress. “Rather like David Attenborough doing a narration on a nature film, I’m the wise and knowledgeable and objective voice telling the story of Barbie,” she says. Then, Decider reports, it “cuts to footage of Mirren, clearly in costume and on the Barbie world set, with her back turned to the camera throwing up her middle finger as she stalks away in anger.”

Oppenheimer is the frontrunner to win Best Picture at the Oscars, but only because “sexy forever” Helen Mirren flipping the bird was cut from Barbie.

Previously, director Greta Gerwig revealed another scene with Mirren that was cut from the final cut. “There was a page-one F bomb that sort of set the tone for the whole thing. What the line was, it was actually Helen Mirren saying to Marie Curie, ‘Pipe the f*ck down, Marie Curie!’ That was like my favorite,” she told the ReelBlend podcast. “But we knew we only got one F bomb, and we were like, ‘Let’s use it at the very beginning.’ And there’s just something, to me, [about] Helen Mirren saying, ‘Pipe the f*ck down, Marie Curie.’”

The campaign to get Helen Mirren to drive Barbie’s pink Corvette in Fast XI begins now.

(Via Decider)

A few months have passed since Jenny Lewis dropped her recent record, Joy’All. However, she still has some surprises in store for fans tied to the project. Lewis announced that she’ll be heading out on the road again this winter for the Joy’All Ball Tour.

Lewis has truly had a busy 2023, as she is already playing shows with The Postal Service as part of the joint anniversary tour with Death Cab For Cutie. Even earlier this year, she played the east coast on the Joy’All Tour and performed at Bonnaroo.

“I keep leaving behind versions of myself,” Lewis shared with The Guardian about her constant style to keep her career going strong, no matter what form it may take. “The actor version, the girl in a band version, the start a band with your boyfriend version, the all-girl New York punk band version. I’m constantly starting these things and then moving forward.”

Special guests for Lewis’ tour are scheduled to be announce soon. General onsale for tickets opens Friday, September 15 at 10 a.m. PT — as the shows are all on the west coast. More information can be found here.

Continue scrolling for Jenny Lewis’ Joy’All Ball Tour dates.

11/27 — Ventura, CA @ Ventura Music Hall
11/28 — San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater
11/29 — Healdsburg, CA @ Little Saint
12/01 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
12/02 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
12/03 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
12/05 — San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
12/06 — Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
12/08 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium

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

Travis Kelce has proven himself to be an especially eligible bachelor: The Kansas City Chiefs tight end has a couple Super Bowls to his name and is considered one of the greatest football players ever. On top of that, he also showed he’s down to have fun when he hosted Saturday Night Live earlier this year. When he shot his shot with Taylor Swift this summer, though, things didn’t go how he hoped. Rumor has it, however, that the situation has progressed since then.

A source reportedly told The Messenger, “Taylor and Travis have been quietly hanging out. She saw him when she was in NYC a few weeks ago.” A source also reportedly told TMSPN, “Taylor Swift had scheduled to go to a place she frequents with Travis Kelce.”

Neither Swift nor Kelce have made a public comment about their potential relationship.

As for Kelce’s first attempt at getting in touch with Swift, he explained on a July episode of the New Heights podcast, “I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings, so I was a little butthurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her. She doesn’t meet anybody — or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal.” (He was presumably joking about taking it personally.)

Millionaire property developer Tim Gurner is getting absolutely wrecked on social media after the Gurner Group CEO told a financial summit audience that workers have become too arrogant after the Covid pandemic.

Gurner made his remarks during the Financial Review Property Summit in Australia where he also floated his solution to “kill their attitude.” According to Gurner, “we need to remind people they work for the employer, not the other way around,” and the easiest way to do that is start laying people off.

Via Daily Mail:

‘People decided they didn’t really want to work so much through Covid and that has had a massive issue on productivity,’ he said. ‘Tradies have definitely pulled back on productivity. They have been paid a lot to do not too much in the last few years, and we need to see that change.’

A major issue in the workforce was employees feeling that their bosses were ‘extremely lucky’ to have them, Mr Gurner added.

Gurner noted companies are already starting to have “major layoffs,” and it’s having the desired effect of reminding these lowly workers who’s in charge around here.

“People are definitely laying people off and we’re starting to see less arrogance in the employment market,” Gurner said. “That has to continue because that will cascade across the costs balance.”

As a clip of Gurner’s remarks went viral, the Financial Review was forced to shut down replies, but not before large swaths of Twitter had a field day slamming Gurner for his callous take.

You can see some of the reactions below:

(Via Financial Review on Twitter, Daily Mail)

We all know that Americans pay more for healthcare than every other country in the world. But how much more?

According an American expatriate who shared the story of his ER visit in a Taiwanese hospital, Americans are being taken to the cleaners when we go to the doctor. We live in a country that claims to be the greatest in the world, but where an emergency trip to the hospital can easily bankrupt someone.

Kevin Bozeat had that fact in mind when he fell ill while living in Taiwan and needed to go to the hospital. He didn’t have insurance and he had no idea how much it was going to cost him. He shared the experience in a now-viral Facebook post he called “The Horrors of Socialized Medicine: A first hand experience.”

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Bozeat started vomiting one evening and couldn’t stop, unable to even keep water down. “My symptoms showed no signs of abating,” he wrote. “At this point I had to seek medical treatment, I knew I had to go to the hospital.”

“I wanted to avoid it,” he added. “I had no idea how different Taiwanese hospitals would be, whether I would be able to find an English speaking doctor, or what it would cost me (my US health insurance has lapsed and I don’t qualify for Taiwanese NHI).”

Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) is a single-payer system that covers all residents of Taiwan. Foreigners can take part in the system immediately upon obtaining a work permit, or after six months of living in the country. Bozeat was a student and hadn’t lived there long enough to be eligible yet.

But he needn’t have worried.

Bozeat’s bill for his entire hospital stay was a fraction of many insured American’s copays for emergency services.

And it’s not like he received substandard service for what he paid.

“My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to the ER at NTU Hospital,” Bozeat wrote. “I was immediately checked-in by an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did an ultrasound to ensure it wasn’t gall stones or appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV, I began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and my stomach began to calm down.”

Bozeat was discharged with a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication, and after a few days he was back to normal. This is when most of us would start panicking as we wait for the hospital bills to start arriving. But Bozeat was pleasantly surprised:

“The bill for the ER visit?…US $80.00. Eighty. American. Dollars. Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance. At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan. And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that. This could have easily cost me hundreds or even thousands in the US without insurance. But here in Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital for relatively small amount of money.”

And it’s not like he received substandard service for what he paid.

“My Taiwanese roommate called a taxi and took me to the ER at NTU Hospital,” Bozeat wrote. “I was immediately checked-in by an English speaking nurse. Within 20 minutes I was given IV fluids and anti-emetics. They took blood tests and did an ultrasound to ensure it wasn’t gall stones or appendicitis. From there I was given a diagnosis: a particularly severe case of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis (aka the stomach flu). After about 3 hours on an IV, I began to feel slightly better, my nausea disappeared and my stomach began to calm down.”

Bozeat was discharged with a prescription for anti-emetics and pain medication, and after a few days he was back to normal. This is when most of us would start panicking as we wait for the hospital bills to start arriving. But Bozeat was pleasantly surprised:

“The bill for the ER visit?…US $80.00. Eighty. American. Dollars. Out of pocket. Full cost. No discounts. No insurance. At one of the best hospitals in Taiwan. And if I had NHI, it would have been a fraction of that. This could have easily cost me hundreds or even thousands in the US without insurance. But here in Taiwan I was able to receive speedy, quality care comparable to what I would have gotten in a US hospital for relatively small amount of money.”

I did some research, and the cost of living overall in Taiwan is about half what it is here. There is not a hospital that I know of in the U.S. where you can be admitted and discharged for anything close to $160, even for something as simple as a bee sting. (Seriously, an ER visit for a bee sting can set you back $12,000 in the U.S.)

Bozeat also pointed out that the taxes that pay for Taiwan’s health system are not that high.

Responding to the common complaint that we’d have to raise taxes to pay for universal healthcare, Bozeat continued his list:

“5: Yes, taxes pay for the healthcare here. No, they are not high. Try for yourself: The formula for the NHI monthly premium contribution for a single employed adult is: [your monthly income] x 0.0469 (4.69%) x 0.3 (30%) = Your monthly out-of-pocket healthcare premium.”

I did the math for a $60,000 per year income—it comes to $70.53/month. [Sigh.]

But Bozeat wasn’t done:

“6: It’s not perfect. Not everything is 100% covered. I had a good experience, but Im sure many people have had [non-financial] medical horror stories here.

7: This system exists because the Taiwanese government believes that healthcare is a right for all of its citizens, rather than a privilege for those who can afford it. Those aren’t my words, thats what the Ministry of Health said in its English language brochure. Every Taiwanese citizen and foreign permanent resident is entitled to, and required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Program (NHI). Everyone is covered, regardless of employment status, no one is uninsured, no one ever goes bankrupt due to medical bills.”

And the quality of care does not appear to be compromised in this system, either.

“I have yet to meet a Taiwanese person who wasn’t satisfied with, or even outright proud of their healthcare system,” Bozeat wrote. “My expat friends praise it, even those from countries with universal healthcare systems of their own. “

But Bozeat wasn’t done:”6: It’s not perfect. Not everything is 100% covered. I had a good experience, but Im sure many people have had [non-financial] medical horror stories here.7: This system exists because the Taiwanese government believes that healthcare is a right for all of its citizens, rather than a privilege for those who can afford it. Those aren’t my words, thats what the Ministry of Health said in its English language brochure. Every Taiwanese citizen and foreign permanent resident is entitled to, and required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Program (NHI). Everyone is covered, regardless of employment status, no one is uninsured, no one ever goes bankrupt due to medical bills.”
And the quality of care does not appear to be compromised in this system, either.”I have yet to meet a Taiwanese person who wasn’t satisfied with, or even outright proud of their healthcare system,” Bozeat wrote. “My expat friends praise it, even those from countries with universal healthcare systems of their own.”

This article originally appeared on 02.28.19

You know what they say…everyone’s a critic. Meaning that, as inevitable as the sun rising each morning, there’s always going to be someone who simply is not buying what you’re selling. The cut of your jib just isn’t up to their snuff. That thing you do…the one that everybody else likes…well, this person hates it.

This was certainly the case for comedy legend Martin Short, who was the subject of an op-ed for Slate titled “Why We Keep Putting Up With Martin Short,” written by Dan Kois. In the piece, Kois described Short as “unbelievably annoying” “try-hard” and wrote that his “whole schtick” was “exhausting, sweaty, and desperately unfunny.”

Ouch.

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Short, a Tony and two-time Emmy winner, is known for eccentric, over-the top roles. He first came to fame during his stint on “Saturday Night Live” playing characters like the greasy, unkempt Ed Grimley. And since then has brought the world a womanizing White House Press Secretary on “Mars Attacks,” a flamboyant German wedding planner in “Father of The Bride,” and most recently, a grandiose theatre director in “Only Murders in The Building”…to name a few.

It’s probably understandable that certain bold styles aren’t for everyone. It’s also pretty natural to have a few celebrities that truly grate you for whatever reason. But this article pulled no punches while decimating Short’s entire life’s work.

“Throughout his evolution from sketch-comedy standout to uneasy movie star to twice-failed talk-show host to enthusiastic song-and-dance man, I’ve wrinkled my nose,” Kois wrote. “Every time he dresses up in a silly outfit or says something outrageous or mugs for the audience, I want to shout at the screen: Why are you being like this?”

Luckily, Short has racked up a loyal following of regular fans and other comedy legends alike, and they all wholeheartedly disagree.

Following the scathing op-ed, fellow “SNL” alumni Ben Stiller took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to declare “Martin Short is a comedic genius. End o story.”

Martin Short is a comedic genius. End o story.

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) September 9, 2023

Referring one of Short’s characters from “Second City Television,” actor John Cusack also tweeted: “I don’t know what people are on about re Martin short – But his Mr. Rodgers boxing Match is my fav.”

I don’t know what people are on about re Martin short –
But his mr rodgers boxing Match is my fav

— John Cusack (@johncusack) September 9, 2023

Even Luke Skywalker came to Short’s defense. Mark Hamill wrote, “Hard to believe people are actually debating whether or not Martin Short is funny. Newsflash: He is HILARIOUS” alongside some photos of Short’s most well known characters.

Hard to believe people are actually debating whether or not Martin Short is funny.

Newsflash: He is HILARIOUS. #ComicGenius pic.twitter.com/RGlajNHOzN

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) September 9, 2023

As television writer Todd Spence pointed out, he is also funny while not playing characters, sharing a compilation of Short roasting his longtime collaborator Steve Martin.

Martin Short ripping Steve Martin for 2 minutes. If you don’t think this man is hilarious, you have no soul. pic.twitter.com/lQ2mNbsUHK

— Todd Spence (@Todd_Spence) September 11, 2023

“If you don’t think this man is hilarious, you have no soul.” Spence wrote.

All in all, The Martin Short fan club rallied in glorious fashion.

I think he will be remembered as one of the all time greats. I’m glad he’s getting this fanfare after that hatchet job of an article. He deserves every bit of it and more.

— Maureen Y. E. S. (Mo) (@HeroCallMovie) September 9, 2023

He’s a comedy god. Let’s ignore failed hacks. I absolutely love his turn in Arrested Development, so many, hilarious moments in his career, but for me that’s got to be my favourite.

— wayne ruddell (@ruddell_wayne) September 11, 2023

A Canadian treasure

— Danielle Savage (@ddlarue68) September 10, 2023

Of course everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But it does raise the interesting question of: does it really do the world a favor to completely tear down someone simply because it doesn’t suit our tastes?

via GIPHY

Either way, it doesn’t seem like Short is going to be too fazed. Certainly not after so many came together to praise him.

After spending Monday evening going through listening to this week’s songs again, it does feel like another truly great bunch of releases. Many major pop artists and some other new rising stars released their full projects, whether it’s an album or an EP. There was so much to choose from, and while it was hard to pick a favorite from a few of these, we hope you’ll feel happy with the decisions.

Continue scrolling for Uproxx’s Best New Pop roundup.

Olivia Rodrigo — “Get Him Back”

Finally returning with her new album, Guts, Olivia Rodrigo’s “Get Him Back” is a personal standout among the bunch. Pulling inspo from Beck’s “Loser,” the angsty, rock-inspired song finds Rodrigo being creative in her approach. Does she want revenge or want the boy? Why not both?

Laufey — “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self”

Laufey‘s “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self” gives new listeners an idea of what to expect from her latest album, Bewitched, which dropped this week. Her blend of experimental jazz has built her fandom as people love her truly unique sound. This sweet ballad serves as a reflection, extending kindness to a past version of yourself — as being a teen is hard.

V — “Slow Dancing”

V from BTS has officially dropped his first full solo record with Layover. After some early singles from the project, “Slow Dancing” is among the new songs. The music video finds the musician enjoying the breeze on the open road, which matches the chill pop vibes he brings to the track.

Kelly Clarkson — “Roses”

Clarkson’s new song “Roses” is part of the deluxe version of her Chemistry album. Of her recent music, heartbreak plays a significant role, and this one is no different, but still powerful. The pop star finds herself rejecting the material objects, as she recognizes they’re just to save a shattered relationship.

Alex Warren — “How Could You (Be Ok)”

“How Could You (Be Ok)” finds Warren reflecting on the experience of an ex cheating on him. He feels that the other person was “heartless” in the way they treated him, making for a deep dive into all the aspects of his thoughts.

Marshmello, Dove Cameron — “Other Boys”

Dove Cameron described her “Other Boys” song with Marshmello as a “dream collaboration,” and we can see why. Cameron finds herself hoping for some more attention while emotionally having a tough time. “Silhouettes, a city of shadows / They all take your shape / In my defense, you’ve got me unraveled / And I can’t see straight,” she sings.

Emilia — “GTA.mp3”

Emilia’s “GTA.mp3” is immediately a fun ride from the title alone. The Argentinian star finds herself going full speed ahead on the dance track — and pulls new listeners in with an eagerness to check out the rest of her discography.

Leigh-Anne, Ayra Starr — “My Love”

Another collaboration from this week, Leigh-Anne and Ayra Starr’s “My Love” finds the two showing off their vocal talent as they touch on themes of loving yourself.

“When we wrote this song, I just knew it was something special, it perfectly captures the essence of who I want to be as a solo artist,” Leigh-Anne said. “That feel-good, powerful, and anthemic song – it’s all about celebrating self-love and embracing its incredible power.”

Whethan, Nessa Barrett — “Sick Of Myself”

Whethan brought along Nessa Barrett for “Sick Of Myself,” a track that details the struggles of feeling like you don’t fit in. Instead, she would rather “trade places” and be someone else, a painfully relatable moment.

D4vd — “Once More”

D4vd’s “Once More” is an emotional piece of the puzzle that is his new EP, The Lost Petals. The calming and hypnotizing instrumental works well, even with lyrics about his heart breaking again.

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

Anna Kendrick recently dove into heavy fare with Alice, Darling, a film that she says mirrored her experience in an emotionally abusive relationship. The Oscar winner is now making her directorial debut in a project (with a different but still dark tone) previously known as The Dating Game but retitled as Woman Of The Hour. The project is a true-crime thriller feature, and last year — even before the project was filmed — it sold in several international markets.

The film was originally going to be a Netflix-produced film, but the streamer pulled out of the funding game when they started to overall step back from pouring out dollars for many projects. However, Variety now reports that after Kendrick went ahead and did the thing — replacing the exiting director and continuing to star in the movie — Netflix has ponied up around $11 million for U.S. rights and international rights not claimed thus far.

The film went over well with TIFF critics, and here are only a few of the raves:

Now, let’s talk more about what to expect from Woman Of The Hour.

Plot

The story follows the appearance and aftermath of serial killer Rodney Alcala on 1970s romance-roulette show, The Dating Game, and Kendrick portrays bachelorette Cheryl Bradshaw, who did end up picking Alcaca but fortunately did not end up being one of his victims.

Alcaca engaged in a protracted murder spree, killing at least 130 people after luring them into his web by posing as a photographer. He died on death row in 2021 while awaiting execution. The NYPD previously asked for help identifying women in his chilling portfolio who could possibly be unnamed victims.

TIFF published this description of the “stranger-than-fiction story” that appears to take a bold stance in addition to fueling true crime appetites:

Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut uses this stranger-than-fiction story to examine the distressing dynamics of gender. In addition to directing, Kendrick also plays Sheryl, the struggling actor who decided to book an appearance on the show where she would have a chilling run-in with Alcala. While this confrontation serves as the spine of the film, we’re taken backward and forward through time, exploring Alcala’s murders, with a performance by Daniel Zovatto that captures the disquieting hubris of a man who knows he’s operating in a world too skewed to catch him.

Instead of dwelling on the gruesome details that often preoccupy true-crime tales, Kendrick uses the case to make an incisive statement on the way women are forced to navigate their encounters with men. In addition to being an intelligent metaphor for those uncomfortable nuances, Woman of the Hour also harbours a dark truth: when you’re confronted by the rage of men, the only way to make it out alive is to play the game.

Cast

As mentioned above, Kendrick portrays Cheryl Bradshaw, who fortunately never ended up going on a date with Alcaca, who is portrayed by Daniel Zovatto. The cast also includes Tony Hale, Kathryn Gallagher, Kelley Jakle, Max Lloyd-Jones, Darcy Laurie, Dylan Schmid, and Nicolette Robinson.

Release Date

Netflix hasn’t publicized a release date yet, but considering that they only just acquired streaming rights, that missing information is only to be expected. Hopefully, they will pick one sooner rather than later.

Trailer

No trailer has materialized yet either. However, one really should watch this clip of Alcaca’s appearance on The Dating Game.

We don’t know when Woman Of The Hour will come to Netflix, but once we do, then you will know as well.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind for “Cut” singer Tori Kelly. On July 23, Kelly was reportedly rushed to the hospital after passing out at a dinner with friends and family. Days after, the songwriter’s husband, André Murillo, took to Instagram to provide fans with an update regarding Kelly’s health.

Now, during an interview with ET released today (September 12), Kelly has detailed her health scare caused by blood clots. “That just made me even more grateful and not want to take a single moment for granted. Looking out in the audience and seeing all my amazing fans again has been keeping my spirits high,” said Kelly while making reference to her The Take Control Tour.

She went on to tell host Rachel Smith about the moment leading up to the incident: “It happened out of nowhere. I was feeling just a little tired throughout the day, and my heart rate was kind of high. I was at dinner with my husband and so thankful he was there because I ended up collapsing and was rushed to the hospital, and they found blood clots.”

Somehow, Kelly has maintained to keep a positive outlook on it all as she remarked, “On one end, it was scary, and then on another end, I did feel this sense of unexplainable peace that it was gonna be OK. I just felt like God had me, and it was gonna be OK, but yeah, definitely in the midst of that, it was just kind of a confusing whirlwind.”

Tori is out now via Epic Records. Find more information here.