Month: January 2024

I should hold a grudge against Andy Reid. I should be furious with him. I am a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, a team known for having raucous and unruly and deeply petty fans. He coached the team for many years and never won a Super Bowl despite numerous runs deep into the playoffs. Then, after his tenure in Philly ended, he signed on with the Kansas City Chiefs and went on to win two Super Bowls, including the one held in 2023 where he faced, you guessed it, my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. In any rational world, based on the stereotypes of the fanbase I represent and my own personal deeply petty streak, just seeing his mustachioed face on my television should raise my blood pressure to worrying heights.

And yet.

Here I am.

Watching the “nuggies” commercial again and smiling like a huge goofball.

Look at Andy Reid in that commercial. Look at his face. Look, specifically, at his eyes and the little devious twinkle that appears as he walks his fingers across the table to snatch another nibble from his quarterback’s tray. He’s adorable. I want to hug him. I also want to go out and get a bunch of chicken nuggets to eat, which is extra funny because it’s not even a commercial for food. It’s a commercial for State Farm insurance. I already have State Farm insurance. This commercial, which I love, has accomplished exactly nothing for them with me as an individual consumer, other than making me love Andy Reid and crave junk food. I don’t even know if my own State Farm coverage is good. I should look into that at some point. After I get some chicken nuggets. An important part of being an adult is prioritizing things based on necessity.

It’s not his only State Farm commercial, either. There’s a whole campaign built around him and Jake. Look at this one where he’s being a little rascal with a Sharpie…

… and this one where he gives Patrick Mahomes an award and ends up thwarted by the quarterback’s loose-cannon shenanigans.

Again, adorable. Again, look at Andy Reid’s face this entire time. The man is a natural at this. He’s so good at it. He’s so good at it. Better than any football coach should be. Football coaches are maniacs, a fraternity of too-intense weirdos you would probably never want to talk to at a barbecue. Most of them look like they are in physical pain when they’re forced to talk or think about anything other than football. Most of them even chew intensely, like if they go at it hardcore enough they can somehow defeat a stick of Juicy Fruit.

But there’s Andy, right up there, a cuddly little giggle bear popping up between airings of that godforsaken Jardiance commercial, looking like the friendliest and silliest dude you’ve ever met. I… I think I love him. I’m not even conflicted about it, even given the Eagles of it all, which is ironically something I feel kind of conflicted about. And it’s all brought me, after a lot of thought, to two conclusions…

ONE: Somehow, against staggering odds, despite a slew of deep-pocketed advertising agencies mining every improv class in California to pluck out charismatic theater geeks who score well with various test groups, Andy Reid — a man who has spent most of his adult life in a dark film room watching people bonk their heads together — has become America’s greatest working commercial actor.

TWO: If he ever decides to hand in his clipboard and headset and move on from the grind of being a head coach in the NFL, someone — looking mainly at Mike Schur here, for reasons that will become clear in a second — should cast him as like the goofy chief of a bumbling police force in a sitcom set in a small town, or as the goofy manager of a diner staffed by goofball servers and cooks or really anything along those lines. Just put him in charge of a group of bozos and let him cook. Give him the kind of gig that Nick Offerman had on Parks and Recreation and Andre Braugher had on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Steve Carell had on The Office. Not exactly like any of them, obviously. Tailor it to his strengths the way those roles were tailored to those actors’ strengths. But it could work. I swear. I swear it could work. I am as sure about this as I have ever been about anything.

In conclusion, not only is Andy Reid so good at this that he’s made me — Eagles fan, idiot, not necessarily in that order — find him absolutely adorable, he’s also so good at it that I didn’t even get mad when Snickers hired him to basically rip-off their own iconic “Who are the Chefs?” commercial from a few decades ago.

Please.

Someone.

Mike Schur.

Listen to me.

Get Andy Reid on television.

It’ll be great.

I bet.

Think about it.

Thank you.

This time of the year is usually a season of new beginnings, but for singers Stefflon Don and Jada Kingdom, it has been a time for the airing of grievances. The two artists have spent the week exchanging shots at each other in a feud that has drawn in Nigerian superstar Burna Boy and spawned a never-ending stream of reactions from fans. So, here’s an explanation of the players and how it all went down.

Who Is Stefflon Don?

Stefflon Don is a British-Jamaican rapper and singer whose 2017 breakout included appearances on tracks with the likes of Lil Yachty and French Montana and a MOBO Awards win for Best Female artist. She was featured on the 2018 XXL Freshman cover, and has continued to release singles throughout the past few years. She dated Burna Boy from 2019-2021, which is relevant to her feud with Jada Kingdom.

Who Is Jada Kingdom?

Jada Kingdom is a Jamaican dancehall singer who has gained popularity over the past four years thanks to high-profile collabs with artists like Popcaan and Skillibeng, with her most recent EP, Love Experience, dropping early this week. Her debut album, Twinkle will likely release sometime this year. She was romantically connected with Burna Boy in 2023, but has more recently been linked with Pardison Fontaine after his break from Megan Thee Stallion.

Why Do Stefflon Don And Jada Kingdom Have Beef?

On Tuesday (January 9), Stefflon Don released a new song, “Dat A Dat,” in which she slags off an unidentified female rival, accusing her of substance abuse, high body count, and selling her body for favors like jet trips. While she does not name Jada Kingdom specifically, the implication is that their time with shared beau Burna Boy may have had some overlap.

In any case, hit dogs holler, and Jada Kingdom may have felt like Stefflon Don was calling her out. She released her own track later that day, called “London Bed,” and cut through any ambiguity by making the artwork a photo of Steff with her eyes Xed out. She appears to respond, calling out the Londoner to “buss a move an’ meet mi anyweh.”

Today, Steff woke up and chose violence, coming back with her own response song, “Deadgyal Walking.” Like Jada, she dispenses with any pleasantries, getting right to the point — which is that she doesn’t think much of her would-be rival. The disses continue in much the same vein as “Dat A Dat,” accusing Jada of being a… shall we say, “loose woman.”

While Jada has yet to respond to this latest diss track, she doesn’t seem too invested in the beef to begin with. She had already seemingly moved on Tuesday, dropping an unrelated single called “Big Buddy,” as if to suggest she has more important things to do. She also said during a live she wasn’t sweating Burna Boy, who she deems kind of a hoe.

Meanwhile, fans have been watching and laughing, somewhat flabbergasted that all this apparently started over a man.

Hip-hop’s consummate trickster, Lil Nas X, has started off the new year doing what he always does: Riling folks up on the internet. After all the complaints about devil worship that were flung at the rollout of his last project, Montero, he’s apparently adopted a policy of malicious compliance, going to the other extreme with a “holy man” persona that has the same exact demographic calling for his head again — big surprise, right?

The accusations being leveled at him this time are that he’s “mocking” Christians — i.e. the same people who spent a year throwing him under the bus for his method of self-expression (not to mention his sexuality). While Nas accepts that his reputation as a troll somewhat demands that his actions be taken with a heavy grain of salt, he also denies that the purpose of this rollout is to mess with his biggest critics — at least, not solely.

But even looking at the imagery he’s shared at face value, it could hardly be said he’s mocking anything. He’s got a point; his reputation has led to this interpretation more than anything he’s shared about the new direction his visuals have taken. By casting himself as the subject in reproductions of well-known art pieces — pieces that do admittedly have religious overtones, if inaccurate ones — he has much more to say, though, than sticking out his tongue at religious adversaries.

First things first, it seems we need some art history lessons. Just like when Doja Cat had to explain the 15th-century inspirations behind her tattoos last year, it seems that adding some context could shed light on why so many people are up in arms about Nas’ promotional artwork. The single cover, which depicts Nas in the process of being crucified, is a clear reference to tons of Renaissance-era depictions of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion from the Bible, but it’s not like those depictions are strictly accurate.

https://twitter.com/LilNasX/status/174439236029821424

In fact, depictions of Christ have been controversial throughout history, with some traditions outright banning them. The Renaissance works from which we’ve taken the majority of our modern understanding of religious imagery were commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th and 16th centuries, long after anyone would have even known what the historical Jesus would have looked like. Nas is reproducing these images, yes, but more as an expression of his appreciation of Renaissance art than as the mockery some assumed — for instance, the cover art for his No. 1 single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” took inspiration from Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, which adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Likewise, Nas is far from the first artist to reproduce famous Renaissance depictions of Christ and similar iconography in his work. Before pop matron Madonna was wearing grills and du-rags, she was irritating conservative thinkers with videos for songs such as “Like A Prayer,” which juxtaposed crucifixes with sexual imagery, evoking the Church’s long, knotty entanglement with the subject of sex. The elder rap Nas depicted himself being crucified — a rather common execution practice during the Roman Empire, it should be noted — in his video for “Hate Me Now.”

As fans on Twitter pointed out, artists ranging from Kanye West to DaBaby to Tupac to Kendrick Lamar have all incorporated some aspect of these well-known symbols into the presentation and promotion of their art — symbols that were, again, invented in at least their broad aspects by artists who lived over 1,000 years after the events imagined in their work. Likewise, contrary to come of the complaints leveled at Lil Nas X, these religion-themed works are far from the only classical artwork that modern artists have reproduced or referenced to sell their music.

As for why it may seem that way, well, it’s probably because those are the works that are the most ubiquitous in Western culture. After all, it’s not like there were toy commercials disguised as kids’ cartoons name-checking the most famous West African or East Asian artists. Much like some of those early Christian traditions, some religions outright ban depiction of their most holy figures — why do you think no one ever dressed up as Muhammad for Halloween?

While Lil Nas X is far from the first or only artist to receive some modicum of backlash for his reproductions of classical Renaissance interpretations of Biblical stories, it does seem as though he’s gotten an outsized amount of it. While some of that can probably be attributed to his rep as a troll, with folks interpreting anything he does as making fun of something, it’s obvious that a lot of it stems from religion’s inability to reckon with queerness as a concept. The sad part is, like the Renaissance images Nas appropriates for his promotional campaigns, homophobia isn’t actually intrinsic to Christianity, either. But that’s a conversation for another day.

Lil Nas X has been active in the lead-up to his new single “J Christ,” whether he’s maybe (but maybe not) enrolling in a Biblical studies program, showing off some genuine gospel music, or re-creating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. His “J Christ” video is set to drop this Friday, but ahead of then, he has again indulged in attention-grabbing antics with a new video teaser.

The 20-second video shows a long line of people in white robes, walking through a field, which looks like the iconic Windows XP wallpaper, and up a literal stairway to Heaven. In that line are a bunch of celebrity impersonators, of Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, and Barack Obama, as well as a couple who aren’t quite as perfect a visual match but who appear to represent Ed Sheeran and Oprah Winfrey.

Ever since he first burst onto the scene with “Old Town Road,” Nas has proven that he’s a viral marketing master, and this whole “J Christ” rollout is just another shining example of that.

In response to backlash over his crucifixion image, Nas wrote, “the crazy thing is nowhere in the picture is a mockery of jesus. Jesus’s image is used throughout history in people’s art all over the world. I’m not making fun of sh*t. yall just gotta stop trying to gatekeep a religion that was here before any of us were even born. stfu.”

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

The first reviews are in for Echo, the new Marvel series on Disney+ (and Hulu), and well, they are definitely mixed.

Debuting under the new Marvel Spotlight banner, Echo marks a return to the more gritty vibes of the Netflix series, which it pulls off quite readily thanks to the appearance of both Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Vincent D’Onoforio’s Kingpin, the latter of whom plays a significant part in the events of the show. Echo also boasts a TV-MA rating, which allows the series to up the violence compared to prior MCU series.

However, there’s definitely a divide among critics about whether the show’s street-level approach offers a breath of fresh air or is just more of the same. Alaqua Cox is clearly formidable in the role, prompting some critics to rave about her character bringing a unique perspective to the MCU. Others were not as blown away and found Echo’s background to be superficial trappings.

You can see what the critics are saying below, but note that these reviews were based on only the first three episodes of Echo that were provided ahead of its full season release:

Mike Ryan, Uproxx:

Echo is a show I want to like but didn’t quite get there. As much as Echo wants to distinguish itself apart from the rest of the MCU – especially the more recent efforts that have turned off a lot of people – there’s, unfortunately, still a sense of, “here we go again.” How Maya’s Native American heritage is used, incorporating flashbacks to ancestors, is interesting. (And anytime Graham Greene shows up is a treat.) But the rest still, at least so far, feels like the typical MCU formula … only with some more violence.

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge:

It’s going to be very fascinating to see how this pivot to “grownup” superhero projects plays out for Disney going forward, especially considering that Marvel also has its first R-rated MCU film on the horizon. But if Echo’s any indication, the studio knows what it’s doing, and the MCU’s probably going to start getting a bit more bloody around the edges in a very satisfying way.

Aramide Tinubu, Variety:

While “Echo” is beautifully filmed, compressing it down to a two-hour event and cutting away many redundant displays may have increased the emotional impact for viewers. Also, had the series unpacked Maya’s inner thoughts, the audience might feel more intimately connected to a character who has shut out everyone around her. Without this grounding in her psyche, it’s taxing to appreciate her motivations when her end game seems so hazy. Had the series been tapered down, the pacing would have aided in capturing Maya’s pent-up emotions and vulnerability, keeping viewers invested in this antihero overall, and not just enraptured in the fighting and shooting sequences.

Proma Khosla, IndieWire:

“Echo” doesn’t just center a character with disabilities, but builds itself around her. Maya’s identity and life experience — and Cox’s by extension — permeate the entire show. For every network, studio executive, or other powerful creative who recoils from highlighting underrepresented communities, “Echo” is here to humble them, to make the task look not only easy but exhilarating. When shows like “Master of None” and “Only Murders in the Building” made the admirable decisions to share deaf characters’ viewpoints, they inevitably had to retreat from this perspective. … Here, it’s a commitment, not an experiment.

Nick Schager, The Daily Beast:

Cox mostly scowls and grimaces intensely as Echo, and she adeptly handles her more acrobatics-oriented responsibilities. Yet there’s nothing compelling about the protagonist’s quest or her familial frictions, all of which have been conceived in threadbare and clichéd fashion. Another footnote that’s neither interesting on its own nor must-watch necessary in order to keep apprised of the grander MCU saga, Echo continues Marvel’s “Phase Five” floundering.

Sam Barsanti, The A.V. Club:

Throughout all of that, it’s impressive just how good Cox is here. She carries the show completely with her body language, facial expressions, and signing, and it genuinely feels special that Marvel is introducing a hero here who is a deaf Native American woman who uses a prosthetic leg played by a deaf Native American woman who uses a prosthetic leg. As tired of superhero stories as people may be, it’s really goddamn cool that they can be used for stuff like this.

All five episodes of Echo are now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

One of the leading stories of the last week-plus in the sports world (and generally, the media world) has been Aaron Rodgers’ weekly appearances on The Pat McAfee Show, where his propensity for spouting conspiracy theories landed him and McAfee in some very hot water.

Rodgers said that Jimmy Kimmel, who is one of Disney’s highest paid employees along with McAfee, was hoping the Jeffrey Epstein list wouldn’t come out publicly. That crossed the line from just “talking sh*t,” as McAfee tried to call it in a half-apology later, and had Kimmel threatening legal action against Rodgers and then torched him on his late night show. Rodgers then returned to the McAfee show this Tuesday and, while he wouldn’t apologize, he said he was hoping everyone could move past it (which is certainly what someone who might get sued would want). He then continued to spout various COVID conspiracies and other things while A.J. Hawk stared blankly at the camera, and it was all just a lot.

On Wednesday, McAfee opened his show by proudly saying Aaron Rodgers’ fourth season of appearances on the show had come to an end, as they would not bring him in through the playoffs.

It was the decision of McAfee and company, but certainly one ESPN is probably very relieved by. The real question will be what happens next fall and whether Rodgers returns to McAfee’s airwaves, as that door certainly wasn’t closed by Pat in this segment. In the meantime, McAfee says he’s glad his mentions will not include people yelling at Rodgers — which, again, that’s Pat’s decision to bring him on knowing exactly how Rodgers is going to act — and hopes he will stay out of hot water with ESPN’s brass for a bit.

Hangout Festival unveiled its 2024 lineup today, with Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, and Odesza set to headline. The fest will take place in Gulf Shores, Alabama from May 17 to 19.

For those looking to head down to the beach to catch their favorite artists, here’s what to know about the ticket sale.

When Do Hangout 2024 Festival Tickets Go On Sale?

Right now, Hangout Festival is allowing interested attendees to register on their website for presale access to tickets. They will then hand out a code, with the presale taking place this Friday, January 12 at 12 a.m. ET.

The site also notes that tickets can be secured with “as little as 20% down” and they offer a number of payment plans.

As for what to expect about specific prices for the Hangout Festival tickets, there are a few different tiered options. Right now, a 3-day General Admission pass is $299 with fees, but will increase to $359 as a max — with different time waves increasing the cost. A GA+ pass starts at $519, and provides access to air-conditioned restrooms and a private bar.

The VIP pass starts at $1,299. It includes access to the VIP Grove with complimentary drinks, side stage pool access, and more exclusive perks.

Finally, the Super VIP ticket starts at $2,299 currently. It includes access to a private VIP deck, as well as up-close viewing areas at the stages and WiFi access, and more.

For more information, visit Hangout Festival’s website.

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

Hangout Festival is set to return to Gulf Shores, Alabama this spring. Entering its 13th iteration, Hangout Festival encapsulates good vibes and an eclectic blend of music.

Taking place over the course of three days (May 17 to 19), this year’s hangout is offering a mix of hip-hop, rock, R&B, and pop performers. Headlining this year’s Hangout are Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, Odesza, The Chainsmokers, Cafe The Elephant, Reneé Rapp, Dominic Fike, and Jessie Murph.

Also on the bill are Alison Wonderland, Doechii, Nelly, Sexyy Red, Chappell Roan, and more.

In addition to music, attendees can look forward to all sorts of beach activities, including swimming, sand volleyball, dancing at an onsite club, and more.

“Beyond the music, a weekend spent at Hangout offers the most perfectly-timed and carefree antidote to winter where adulting takes a back seat to picturesque sunsets and leisurely days spent with toes in the sand,” reads a statement accompanying the announcement. “Imagine posting up at Hammock Beach, playing beach volleyball or sliding down a slip-and-slide at Camp Hangout, catching heartfelt vows at the Beach Wedding Chapel, then popping into a beach dance club with direct swimming access in the refreshing Gulf of Mexico, all between sets and before retiring to your condo, beach house, or nearby hotel.”

Pre-sale for Hangout Festival 2024 begins Friday, January 12 at 11 a.m. CT. Fans can purchase tickets here.

You can see the full lineup below.

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

We all know that Keanu Reeves can act, we all know he can destroy anyone in a thrilling game of pool, and we all know that he can essentially do no wrong (except for that one movie we don’t talk about). But next up, the actor/driving enthusiast is dipping his toes into the world of writing, presumably because Nic Cage won’t play pool with him again and he just needs something else to do.

Reeves’ popular comic book series, BRZRKR, is getting a new installment in the form of a novel titled The Book Of Elsewhere. The novel will take place in the same universe as Reeves’ series, which follows an immortal warrior named Berzerker who embarks on various dangerous adventures to discover the key to his immortality. The novel will be released on July 23rd.

Reeves is co-writing the novel with New York Times best-selling author China Mieville, who helped expand the ever-growing BRZRKR universe. Maybe one day they will expand to using vowels.

In a statement, Reeves said, “It was extraordinary to have the opportunity to collaborate on The Book of Elsewhere with one of my favorite authors, China Mieville. China did exactly what I was hoping for – he came in with a clear architecture for the story and how he wanted to play with the world of BRZRKR, a world that I love so much. I was thrilled with his vision and feel honored to be a part of this collaborative process.”

Not only will BRZKRK be getting a novel, but Reeves is also attached to star in a live-action adaption of the comics for Netflix, in addition to the upcoming anime series. John Wick might be dead, but Keanu will continue beating up men for years and possibly decades to come, and that’s enough to keep us all going.

(Via Deadline)

Netflix’s push to continue getting into the sports space will continue with its latest offering in the world of sports documentaries, as they will follow up their Quarterback series that followed Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota two years ago with an NBA version.

For the currently untitled NBA series, Shams Charania reports five players have agreed to be part of the doc, headlined by LeBron James along with Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, Jimmy Butler, and Domantas Sabonis.

The NBA series won’t provide quite the same perspective Quarterback did, which had the biggest QB star on the planet, a “good but not great” in Cousins, and a journeyman who spent most of his career as a backup in Mariota. It’s understandable why they wouldn’t go that route, because the same levels of NBA players aren’t as well-known as quarterbacks in the NFL.

Instead, they opted to go with stars in different stages of their careers, from the legend finishing up his career in LeBron James to someone entering his prime in Tatum to a budding superstar in Edwards — along with an established veteran in Butler and an under the radar All-Star in Sabonis. Quarterback allowed fans to get to know those players a bit better off the field, and I’m sure that’s what we can expect from the NBA edition, with the caveat that the subjects have to open up their real selves in front of the cameras for it to have the intended effect.